FREE HAND

My introduction to the world of Gentle Giant, was at the end off a tape that my sister had recorded, on it was Aqualong by Jethto Tull and on the B side, In the court of the Crimson King by King Crimson. That was the part i was listening to, i had jus discoverd King Crimson at the time so for me it was a good album to start, but on the remaining of that side there was 2 song by a unknown band to me at the time, Gentle Giant. The songs were Just The Same and On reflection. The strange thing to me was that i like those to song better than the rest of that tape, so i definitly had to put my hand on the whole album because these to song where the best thing i had eard in a long time. So i brought the album second hand and my love to Gentle Giant never stop after that, it became my favorite band of all time. So, the album?, the song? Not the best effort by Gentle Giant but still, it can't be less that a five stars. Why?

Just The Same: What a opener!!!!! The cliking of the finger really make you strait into the song and the album. The groove on Just The Same is what got me to like the band in the first place. The vocal line is on the same pace as the groove under it making that song a must in the Gentle Giant catalog of songs. In all the progressive album that i got, there is no keyboards solo like the one on this song, very original!

On Reflection: With Just the Same you had the groovy sound of Gentle Giant, with On Reflection you have the vocal conterpoint and classical sound of Gentle Giant. What a song!!! the first time heard it, i could'nt belived my ear! Just the way it's mixed, one voice at the right, another at left, another in the middle... do you get confused? The middle part is very beautiful. Another must track in the Gentle Giant catalog.

Free Hand: INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!! The best song Gentle Giant have written, in my top 5 best song of all time! Just for the title track, you must get this album. Everything that i love in the music of Gentle Giant is on that song. The strange rhythm, the agressive guitar parts, the beatiful and classical mellow parts + a great vocal line that get you to sing it every time you ear it. A must!!!!

Time To Kill: It took me a wile to get into that song, especially because the rhythm on this song is unconventional. But, i force myself to a lot of earing so i could get it and it worked!! Very imaginative structure and very good ending with the «haaaa, haaaa, whooo, whooo» sing at the end.

His Last Voyage: A very beatiful mellow song like only Gentle Giant have the secret to. The vocals interplay is really what gets me in this song, it as a almost mytical feel to it + you get to have a very strong bluesy guitar solo by Gary Green near the end. Wow another highlight to me.

Talybont: It may be the weakest song in the album. Completely instrumental, it was intended at first for a robin hood movie that never got filmed so, they, Gentle, took the song back and include it on the album. The most medieval song in the Giant catalog. Good but a little bit repetitive.

Mobile: Another good track, cool vocal line, cool violin solo, good rhythm. John Weathers is a very underrated drummer. His talen shows particulary on this song. A very good ending to a another outsanding effort from Gentle Giant.

In the end, this is a must own for every progressive fan, it as to be in your music library. If it's not, go buy it, the remaster version just came out and the price for it is very cheap.