GENTLE GIANT

THE FOLLOW-UP TO 1974'S SURPRISINGLY WELL RECEIVED "THE POWER AND THE GLORY", GENTAL GIANT "FREE HAND" MARKS THE PINNACLE OF THE BRITISH PROG-ROCK GROUP'S INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS. (LIKE ITS PREDECESSOR, IT APPEARED ON THE USA CHARTS) WHILE THE BAND'S ECCENTRICITIES COMPLEX SONG STRUCTURES, STRANGE VOCAL HARMONIES ARE PRESENT, THESE TUNES ARE FRAMED IN A SLIGHTLY MORE POP CONCISE WAY, AS ON THE FUNKY, ELASTIC TITLE TRACK. THE ENSEMBLE ALSO INDUGES IN ITS OCCASIONAL PENCHANT FOR MEDIEVAL MUSIC ON THE JAUNTY "TALYBONT", ARGUABLY MAKING THIS THE ARCHTYPE GENTAL GIANT ALBUM.