FREE HAND

This is the first album in which the band tried a more commercial approach and it worked. The result is an accessible, yet complex album that tries to keep little experimentation, and play the normal Gentle Giant Way.

1. Just The Same : is the opener and is an avant-garde workout that is unusually easy to get into. There are piano/keyboard solos,and a saxophone joins in the piece. Very good. 7/10

2. On Reflection : This is the classic of Gentle Giant, but it is flawed in my opinion. The first minute is one of the best and most complex vocal harmony moments I have ever heard in progressive rock, but I dislike the 'all around all around all around' repetitive vocal part. the second half of the song is ballad-like and has gorgeous melodies. 7.5/10

3. Free Hand : Another classic of the band. This song shows how beautiful complex music can be, and this song is flawless. 8/10

4. Time To Kill : The weakest song of the album. It is a rocker that is a little incoherent and messy, but if you like ELP, you may like this. 4/10

5. His Last Voyage : an underrated mellow track with beautiful slow vocal harmonies. The guitar riff going in most of the song is delicate, and gives imagery of sailing on a boat. The bass riff in the beginning will grow on you, and the vocal driven middle section for me was likable at first listen. 8.5/10

6. Talybont : A short instrumental with keyboards, clavinet and woodwinds ... A nice track. 6/10

7. Mobile : a very dynamic closer that sounds more like music from Octopus. 5/10

Just like Three Friends, this is a good way to begin your journey with Gentle Giant. It is not very hard to get into, and contains some of their best songs.

My Grade : C+

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