GENTLE GIANT

The first of the Gentle Giant albums is already an impressive release. Most of the Gentle Giant sound is already here in a more than embryonic state. The complexity, the medieval / renaissance touch, the almost gritty guitar sound sometimes, beauty next to strangeness, the almost lo-fi production sometimes, but on the other hand a powerful, effective sound, the many instruments that are being used, the harmony vocals as well as some unsettling solo vocals ... It's all there. The compositions are well crafted too. The lyrics are already fascinating. Sounds, spheres and imagination. This album has it all.

Still, this is not the ultimate GG offering. It's hard to put the finger on why that is not the case. One could say that GG would sound dreamier and more other-wordly on "Acquiring The Taste", more eclectic on "Octopus", their complex sound brought more efficiently on "Free Hand"... In general, the parts don't gel together as a completely unified sound, not like on most of the six studio albums that would follow after their debut. Although the album is a real treat, the band would bring their talents into full blossom on later albums.

But the debut album is nevertheless a classic album in itself. Songs like "Funny Ways" and "Alucard" are reason enough to check the album out, but there are quite some other moments which are enjoyable. Still, the real breathtaking GG sound is to be heard to full effect on some of the later albums.