FREE HAND

On Reflection. After the complex, brilliant but frankly difficult album Power and The Glory, Free Hand is a real breath of fresh air.The compositions are by and large just as complex and sophisticated as anything they had thus recorded but essentially the album is also by far their most accessible (up to that point of its release anyway) and is easily the best introduction to the band.Much of that is due not only to the slick production but the actual instrumentation itself.For example the guitar solo in the opening track "Just the Same" is beautifully melodic and lyrical instead of the interlocking jigsaw like guitar parts typical in GGs music.The album also indicates a definite lightning up generally best represented on the delightful medieval flavoured instrumental "Talybont" with its recorder and harpsichord instrumentation.It could have almost been produced by Gryphon."On Reflection" features their madrigal-like interlocking vocals slightly reminiscent of Knots" from the Octopus LP but here is smoother ie easier to listen to ie easier to enjoy.The title track is another standout with an almost funky keyboard pattern albeit with a harpsichord sound and the closing track "Mobile" is a terrific little rocker similar in some ways to the music on In a Glass House.Overall this album is about as close to perfectection GG ever got. Complex, sophisticated and easy on the ear. Is it their best album? Debatable but it is definitely my favourite. A real masterpiece- 5 stars