FREE HAND

Gentle Giant

Eclectic Prog

4.30 | 1741 ratings

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OpethGuitarist
Prog Reviewer

More polished, but old hat.

Gentle Giant is perhaps the most unheralded "great" prog band of the 70's along with VDGG. A wealth of talented musicians and songwriters never seemed to stop the GG machine from chugging along. That being said, this record seems like DeJa Vu. The music is great, but it seems as if GG really never "progresses" as a band while being in a genre of prog. Sure it's much more polished than Acquiring the Taste, but I'lol conclude with tuxon, essentially it's all been done before, even if it is one of their better records.

Just the Same and Free Hand are my personal favorites here, both are fun rocking prog tracks. Both highlights are on a creative and quirky chorus and a solid middle instrumental section.

GG is probably at their most accessible of their quality releases here, something that wouldn't be too awkward to play at social events. On Reflection has some of the best vocal work since the absence of the other brother, and Mobile is a folksy tune thats packaged nicely and includes a dark riff that sounds awkward among the other music, but seems to fit ok.

Talybont is a Medieval sound that sort of crosses ELP's keys with Camel's "The Procession". Time to Kill is one of the darker sounding tunes here, with some dissonant notes building tension to the main riff. His Last Voyage should have been the closer here, as it was really the "Last Voyage" of a great GG album.

Overall it's a nice and interesting little record, but nothing is too moving about it. As a GG fan it's an important part of their collection, but me, I just was hoping for a bit more when I came to this one.

OpethGuitarist | 3/5 | 2006-11-28

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