FREE HAND

In terms of my favourite GG album a tie between Freehand and Octopus. Both are brilliant of course, but freehand seems a little more relaxed - not quite to precise and hard edged, maybe a bit more jovial.

Either way, Freehand is an must purchase for anyone into prog. Although there isn't a weak track on the album, the highlights for me are the first 2 songs - Just the same is whimsical at times but still multi-layered and played with incredible talent. How do you even begin to think of a melody like that? On reflection, voted the greatest every GG song by the people of (the rather aptly name) On Reflection mailing list. It's easy to see why - whilst not my favourite GG song, it is mind blowing in it's lyrical scope. Figuring out for the first time that the instrumentation at the climax of the song mirrors the vocal harmonies at the start is one of my favourite musical moments.

I could go on about the album, but really it's sufficient to say that it's one of the most interesting recordings from one of progs greatest bands. Give it a chance, give it one more listen - it's complex and hard on the ears at first, but with Gentle Giant you get out of it what you put in.

Essential.