GENTLE GIANT

Since I started listening to Progressive Rock and discovering the bands that fit under that label two bands became my favorites and they're still my favorites nowadays; it's really hard for me to choose one of these bands over the other so I just interchange the first position between these two groups over and over again; these two groups are KING CRIMSON and GENTLE GIANT.

I've been listening to all of GENTLE GIANT studio albums since I was 15 years old and (with the sad exception of the last two albums) I believe every single one of them is amazing; the debut album was extremely innovative even in Progressive Rock: all the members of GENTLE GIANT were multi-instrumentalists, capable of creating very interesting musical compositions outside the monotonous guitar-bass-drums-keyboards classic rock band type.

GENTLE GIANT emerged from the ashes of SIMON DUPREE & THE BIG SOUND, an R&B group from the late sixties with occasional psychedelic moments in which the three SHULMAN brothers (Ray, Phillip, and Derek) were the main musicians; after breaking up the band in 1969 (because none of the SHULMAN brothers really liked the kind of music that the record label wanted them to play) they formed a new group with a completely different musical style featuring Kerry MINNEAR, Gary GREEN, and Martin SMITH.

Once I read that BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO cited GENTLE GIANT as one of their major influences, I can't find the article right now but I can find a lot of this album in several Italian Progressive Rock bands of the early seventies such as PREMIATA FORNERIA MARCONI, AREA, and LE ORME, so I don't find that really hard to believe.

1.- Giant (06:22): The opening track is very intense and concise; a very consistent guitar riff accompanied by powerful bass lines and a jazzy organ is the main instrumentation of the first part, then the song has an instrumental middle section that changes the rhythm with a majestic organ solo that reminds a lot to THE MOODY BLUES' "Days of future passed" and then the song comes back to the initial sung structure.

2.-Funny ways (04:21): The most recognizable song from this album: GENTLE GIANT played it in most of (or maybe every single one of) their live performances. The medieval instrumentation under the leadership of Phil SHULMAN's violin changes to a jazzy middle section with a frenetic trumpet solo played by Ray SHULMAN.

3.- Alucard (06:00): This is a more moved rock piece with nice keyboard arrangements by Kerry MINNEAR; it is also a great example of how well synchronized the members of the band were to play vocal roles, something that would become characteristic in every GENTLE GIANT album. Jazzy at some moments, rocky and even obscure in others

4.- Isn't it quiet and cold? (05:51): This is a beautiful medieval stylized tune with string instruments; once again the medieval essence is interpreted with jazzy elements. The xylophone in this piece was very original for its time: probably Frank ZAPPA and GENTLE GIANT were the first musicians to incorporate this instrument to Progressive Rock.

5.- Nothing at all (09:08): As I said before: several Italian Progressive Rock bands sound similar to GENTLE GIANT in some moments whether it was intentional or not; I hear a lot of this song in PFM's first two albums. The middle part is actually the one that contains the hardest rock with a very powerful riff and a wonderful drum solo played by Martin SMITH.

6.- Why not? (05:31): A nice Hard Rock piece with the very classy touch of the giant; the riff played in this tune is easy to recognize. This is probably the heaviest song of the album, almost reminds me of ATOMIC ROOSTER or WISHBONE ASH.

7.- The queen (01:40): The instrumental short piece that closes the album is an arrangement of "God save the Queen", UK's National Anthem and it is played quite great.

The debut album of one of the most beloved and respected Progressive Rock bands of all time is probably not their best job, but still, it is a really amazing one.

SONG RATING: Giant, 5 Funny ways, 5 Alucard, 4 Isn't it quiet and cold? 4 Nothing at all, 4 Why not? 5 The queen, 3

AVERAGE: 4.29

PERCENTAGE: 85.71

ALBUM RATING: 4 stars

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