ACQUIRING THE TASTE

Gentle Giant wouldn't get that legendary status of groups like Genesis and Yes, which probably had much to do with their frequent hints to avant-prog. During their prolific career they wouldn't further any preconceived song format or style, but would start drawing new music from scratch. To the point that you can't actually really name bands that clearly influenced them (like Genesis was clearly a continuation in style of Family, Procol Harum, Moody Blues and SRC). Moreover, Gentle Giant would do something - like a great organ or guitar sound - only once on an album. On the second album Gentle Giant delivers a complete original work of progressive rock with influences of different types of classical music, jazz, brass-rock and folk. With all members being multi-instrumentalist the possibilities for sounds and styles were endless and recording something eclectic in 1971 must have felt quite right. Compared to other highly creative groups Gentle Giant had little mojo, almost sounding like a medieval chamber group that happened to pick up electric instruments one day. The electric guitar of Gary Green helps the band to get some rock-vibes, but the overall aesthetics are too alien to attract any Uriah Heep type of prog fan. The vocals by keyboardist Kerry Minnear are charming in a gentle English way, whereas the vocals of lead vocalist Derek Shulman are more powerful and soul-infused. The album is quite low-paced, moody and peaceful, though the band rocks out occasionally. The band reaches great depth on many of its experiments (that cross-fade of what must be twenty instruments!) and still is able to fit them into often catchy songs if you have an ear for it. I find 'The Moon is Down' hauntingly catchy for instance. 'Pantagruel's Nativity' is a fan's favorite and perhaps as much as the regular sympho-prog listener can bare. Tony Visconti gave the band a warm and mellow sound that fits the artistic atmosphere. 'Acquiring the Taste' is actually not the right album to acquire a taste for Gentle Giant if you don't consider yourself open for the avant-prog experience. In stead, turn to the slightly more regular 'Octopus'.