GENTLE GIANT

An interesting piece of history for any prog fan. Gentle Giant debut is very rooted at the late sixties sound, with some hints of what was to come in the later albums. Yet, where else can you hear a hard blues song by this band so much linked to complexity, classical and medieval music? In their debut, we can hear it, with Why Not?, which reminds me a bit of Procol Harum even (including the contrast between the raspy voice of Shulman and the clean voice of Minnear, a lot like Brooker and Fisher).

Their debut is a mix of late sixties psychedelia, with Funny Ways, Isn't It Quiet and Cold? and their rendition of The Queen, which was obviously something very much linked to Psychedelic Rock. At the same time, we have some great tunes that could figure out among the top 10 from the band, like Alucard and the high experimental and highly creative Nothing at All.

The dated sounds of those songs also make them special, as they sound exactly like part of the canon of the countless experimental bands of the late sixties, but at the same time, it is possible to see that there is something extra about these guys, not just the experimental meandering of the psychedelic bands. It is what make their songs stand out among the crowd.

Even that in hindsight it is a good thing that they evolved from that stlye, that didn't have a lot of future, it is amazing to listen how Gentle Giant and all their pompous complexity sounded raw and experimental in the late sixties/early seventies. Because it sounded great and listening to their debut is a rewarding experience.