Wednesday, July 22, 2009

PROG BLOG WEDNESDAYS, PART 6

This week: GENTLE GIANT - OCTOPUS (1972)


A long, long, long, long, long time ago, way, way, way, way back in January of this year, I posted the 1970 self-titled debut album from the U.K.'s multi-instrumentalist progrock weirdos Gentle Giant. A wonderful album, to be sure, but it is surpassed in every way by their fourth full-length studio release (bands weren't nearly as lazy back in the 70's), 1972's Octopus. Stranger composition, busier riffs, heavier layering of polyrhythmic patterns and Crimson-esque vocal harmonies, and a more prominent lyrical focus on medieval themes make this the best Giant I've heard so far. But I haven't heard ALL of them just yet.
Excellent shit -- Highly recommended for music nerds and such.

Download HERE
Purchase HERE

Below: Alternate cover art (U.S. release only)

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