Album Review: Gentle Giant – Free Hand

Album Review: Gentle Giant – Free Hand
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings

It’s likely that many readers will be completely unaware of Gentle Giant. It’s also likely that many readers would baulk at this album. It’s certainly ahead its time. ‘Free Hand’ is the seventh album by Gentle Giant, who were active between 1970 and 1980, and who have doggedly refused to reunite ever since. Comprised of multi-instrumentalists, the band was initially formed by the Shulman brothers, Derek, Ray and Phil although Phil had departed way before Free Hand was released in 1975.

The latest progressive rock outfit to have been given the Steven Wilson remix once over, ‘Free Hand’ was the most commercially successful of the band’s albums, which is astonishing when you listen to it today. Comprising high alto and baritone vocal harmonies, recorder, whistles, fiddles as well as the more standard keyboards, bass, drums and piano, there’s such a myriad of styles in their progressive and complex music that one wonders how it gained any kind of commercial success.

The track ‘On Reflection’ is the obvious example, blending baroque, medieval and chamber music styles with classical and folk, there’s hardly a sniff of guitar for much of the song. By all accounts, that was one of the main attractions of the band, their sheer complexity in song writing. Take a listen to the soulful funk groove of the title track, a song of sheer indulgence and multiple time signatures. It’s simply incredible in its changes, feel and overall delivery. Something that today would be so far out of the mainstream most couldn’t even contemplate it.

There are more medieval flavours on ‘Talybont’, with prominent use of the harpsichord and recorders giving the track a 16th century feel whilst ‘Time to Kill’ reverberates to a jazz rock feel, Derek Shulman’s high vocals assisted by backing vocals from the rest of the band. ‘His Last Voyage’ sees the use of Glockenspiel, harpsichord and electric guitar – it’s an almighty complex and somewhat bemusing amalgamation which is likely to be dismissed by many as twee and over progressive. It certainly is an acquired taste.

Wilson’s typically excellent remix has given the album a new breath of life and whilst there have been several remasters over the years, the involvement of one of rock’s highest profile musicians is likely to spark interest in a band who walked at a time when progressive behemoths ruled the earth.