INTERVIEW

"Interview" is the record that marks the beginning of the end of the Gentle Giant. Quickly recorded to exploit the success of "Free Hand", it shows obvious gaps in the arrangements. And one wonders: how they thought to climb the charts with songs so ardous? In fact, compared to "Power and Glory" and Free Hand, the songs are not linear and flowing but pervaded by cybernetic, robotic, redundant cadences, which cancel every melody and every rock moment, and in fact are missing medieval moments and rock explosions. Remains a music driven by a spastic rythm.

The songs: 1) Interview is the best song, for its aggression and variety (vote 8); 2) Give It Back accentuates these robotic rhythms but keeps well (vote 7.5 / 8); 3) Design got original chorus and percussion but without adequate music, it appears unfinished and has rough lines almost unattainable (vote 7); 4) Another Show, short and fast, does not go anywhere (vote 5.5); 5) Empty city, with its relaxed rhythm, seems an instrumental piece, at first, but then develops, little and badly (vote 6+); 6) Timing at least has violins and a guitar solo, but again presents moments with unlistenable rhythms, even for the dissonance of violins, excessive (vote 6,5); 7) I Lost My Head has intimate part and then become rock, but the chords are always the same: the arrangement this time hides the poverty of writing (vote 7.5).

Interview, apart from the first two pieces, and in part the last, is a mediocre album, which brings the GG out of the progressive and close to an electronic and cybernetic rock. It remains an original Lp, but overall little more than enough.

Medium quality: 6.93. Vote 6.5 Two stars.