Octopus foi o meu primeiro contato com o Gentle Giant, e mesmo após inúmeras audições, o álbum ainda consegue me surpreender, revelando novos detalhes a cada vez. Essa obra-prima é uma verdadeira montanha-russa musical, concentrando-se em estruturas que combinam elementos medievais com experimentação vanguardista, resultando em um dos trabalhos mais ousados e inspirados da banda.
O disco abre com "The Advent of Panurge", uma faixa que imediatamente impressiona com seus vocais intricados e uma atmosfera que evoca a era medieval. A música então se desdobra em uma cadência complexa, com grooves e linhas de baixo funk que acrescentam uma dinâmica única à composição. Os pianos merecem destaque, assim como os vocais entrelaçados, que se complementam de forma magistral. "Raconteur, Troubadour" contribui significativamente para a atmosfera medieval do álbum, sendo uma balada executada de forma nada convencional. O uso intenso de violino e violoncelo é o que guia a música, com um solo de violino no interlúdio que é acompanhado por vibrafone e piano. A inclusão de metais enriquece ainda mais a faixa, resultando em uma peça maravilhosa.
"A Cry for Everyone" começa de maneira pesada e enérgica, com uma excelente melodia e vocais deslumbrantes. Embora à primeira vista pareça uma faixa mais simples em comparação com as outras, uma audição atenta revela a complexidade por trás de seus arranjos. O interlúdio é particularmente interessante, com um ótimo solo de órgão e um belo preenchimento da guitarra principal, mostrando que até nas faixas mais acessíveis, o Gentle Giant mantém um alto nível de sofisticação. "Knots" é provavelmente a faixa menos acessível do álbum, exigindo várias audições para ser plenamente apreciada. Ela começa com um belíssimo vocal à capela e se desenvolve em uma composição vanguardista, onde o uso de vibrafones e percussão se destaca. O fluxo da música é mais discreto, sem a complexidade evidente de outras faixas, mas o arranjo vocal intrincado é impressionante. As letras, por sua vez, são confusas, mas complementam a natureza enigmática da música.
"The Boys In The Band" é uma composição instrumental relativamente complexa, com um excelente trabalho de órgão. O violino acentua a melodia e há uma mudança para um tempo mais lento, com belas linhas de baixo e melodias suaves no teclado antes de retornar aos momentos mais complexos. A interação entre os músicos é magnífica, destacando a habilidade coletiva da banda. "Dog's Life" é uma música divertida, com uma orquestração clássica liderada por violino e violoncelo, alternando com uma curta linha de guitarra acústica e vocais belíssimos. É uma faixa encantadora e um tributo sarcástico aos roadies da banda, bem como ao melhor amigo do homem.
"Think Of Me With Kindness" oferece um momento mais acessível no álbum, uma faixa suave e agradável com uma boa melodia. Embora alguns possam considerar que essa faixa destoa do restante do disco, eu discordo disso. O tema da canção é bonito, com um teclado que adiciona uma atmosfera mais obscura em comparação ao resto do álbum. Menos complexa? Sim, mas ainda assim de enorme valor e beleza. O álbum termina com "River", a faixa mais longa e que pode ser vista como um resumo do que Octopus ofereceu até aqui. A música é melódica e fascinante, evoluindo gradualmente de passagens intensas para momentos mais abstratos e depois retornando à intensidade, incorporando sons experimentais ao longo do caminho. O solo principal de guitarra é simplesmente deslumbrante. Em um disco onde tudo está em seu devido lugar, a escolha de "River" como faixa de encerramento é uma decisão brilhante.
Em conclusão, Octopus é uma obra-prima que vai além do rock progressivo sem se distanciar tanto a ponto de cair no território do avant-garde. Com músicas fortes, composições excelentes, musicalidade impressionante e performances esplêndidas de todos os instrumentistas e vocalistas, este é um álbum essencial. A qualidade da produção também é digna de elogios, fazendo de Octopus um marco na discografia do Gentle Giant e um verdadeiro tesouro do rock progressivo.
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Octopus was my first encounter with Gentle Giant, and even after countless listens, the album still manages to surprise me, revealing new details with each playthrough. This masterpiece is a true musical rollercoaster, focusing on structures that combine medieval elements with avant-garde experimentation, resulting in one of the band's most daring and inspired works.The album opens with "The Advent of Panurge", a track that immediately impresses with its intricate vocals and an atmosphere that evokes the medieval era. The music then unfolds into a complex cadence, with grooves and funky bass lines that add a unique dynamic to the composition. The pianos deserve special mention, as do the intertwined vocals, which complement each other masterfully. "Raconteur, Troubadour" significantly contributes to the album's medieval atmosphere, serving as a ballad performed in a highly unconventional manner. The intense use of violin and cello guides the music, with a violin solo in the interlude accompanied by vibraphone and piano. The inclusion of brass further enriches the track, resulting in a truly wonderful piece.
"A Cry for Everyone" begins with a heavy and energetic sound, featuring an excellent melody and dazzling vocals. While it may initially seem like a simpler track compared to the others, a closer listen reveals the complexity behind its arrangements. The interlude is particularly interesting, with a great organ solo and beautiful fills from the lead guitar, demonstrating that even in their more accessible tracks, Gentle Giant maintains a high level of sophistication. "Knots" is probably the album's least accessible track, requiring multiple listens to fully appreciate. It starts with a beautiful a cappella vocal and develops into an avant-garde composition where the use of vibraphones and percussion stands out. The flow of the music is more subtle, lacking the evident complexity of other tracks, but the intricate vocal arrangement is impressive. The lyrics, though confusing, complement the enigmatic nature of the music.
"The Boys In The Band" is a relatively complex instrumental composition, featuring excellent organ work. The violin accentuates the melody, and there is a shift to a slower tempo with beautiful bass lines and soft keyboard melodies before returning to more complex moments. The interaction between the musicians is magnificent, highlighting the band's collective skill. "Dog's Life" is a fun track, with classical orchestration led by violin and cello, alternating with a short acoustic guitar line and beautiful vocals. It's a charming piece and a sarcastic tribute to the band's roadies, as well as to man's best friend.
"Think Of Me With Kindness" offers a more accessible moment on the album, a smooth and pleasant track with a good melody. While some may consider this track to be out of place with the rest of the album, I disagree. The theme of the song is beautiful, with a keyboard that adds a darker atmosphere compared to the rest of the album. Less complex? Yes, but still of immense value and beauty. The album closes with "River" the longest track and one that can be seen as a summary of what Octopus has offered so far. The music is melodic and fascinating, gradually evolving from intense passages to more abstract moments before returning to intensity, incorporating experimental sounds along the way. The main guitar solo is simply stunning. In an album where everything is in its rightful place, the choice of "River" as the closing track is a brilliant decision.
In conclusion, Octopus is a masterpiece that transcends progressive rock without straying too far into avant-garde territory. With strong songs, excellent compositions, impressive musicianship, and splendid performances from all the instrumentalists and vocalists, this is an essential album. The production quality is also worthy of praise, making Octopus a landmark in Gentle Giant's discography and a true treasure of progressive rock.
NOTA: 10/10
Tracks
Listing:
1.
The Advent of Panurge (4:45)
2. Raconteur Troubadour (4:03)
3. A Cry for Everyone (4:06)
4. Knots (4:11)
5. The Boys in the Band (4:34)
6. Dog's Life (3:13)
7. Think of Me with Kindness (3:31)
8. River (5:52)
Ouça, "Raconteur Troubadour"
The album opens with "The Advent of Panurge", a track that immediately impresses with its intricate vocals and an atmosphere that evokes the medieval era. The music then unfolds into a complex cadence, with grooves and funky bass lines that add a unique dynamic to the composition. The pianos deserve special mention, as do the intertwined vocals, which complement each other masterfully. "Raconteur, Troubadour" significantly contributes to the album's medieval atmosphere, serving as a ballad performed in a highly unconventional manner. The intense use of violin and cello guides the music, with a violin solo in the interlude accompanied by vibraphone and piano. The inclusion of brass further enriches the track, resulting in a truly wonderful piece.
"A Cry for Everyone" begins with a heavy and energetic sound, featuring an excellent melody and dazzling vocals. While it may initially seem like a simpler track compared to the others, a closer listen reveals the complexity behind its arrangements. The interlude is particularly interesting, with a great organ solo and beautiful fills from the lead guitar, demonstrating that even in their more accessible tracks, Gentle Giant maintains a high level of sophistication. "Knots" is probably the album's least accessible track, requiring multiple listens to fully appreciate. It starts with a beautiful a cappella vocal and develops into an avant-garde composition where the use of vibraphones and percussion stands out. The flow of the music is more subtle, lacking the evident complexity of other tracks, but the intricate vocal arrangement is impressive. The lyrics, though confusing, complement the enigmatic nature of the music.
"The Boys In The Band" is a relatively complex instrumental composition, featuring excellent organ work. The violin accentuates the melody, and there is a shift to a slower tempo with beautiful bass lines and soft keyboard melodies before returning to more complex moments. The interaction between the musicians is magnificent, highlighting the band's collective skill. "Dog's Life" is a fun track, with classical orchestration led by violin and cello, alternating with a short acoustic guitar line and beautiful vocals. It's a charming piece and a sarcastic tribute to the band's roadies, as well as to man's best friend.
"Think Of Me With Kindness" offers a more accessible moment on the album, a smooth and pleasant track with a good melody. While some may consider this track to be out of place with the rest of the album, I disagree. The theme of the song is beautiful, with a keyboard that adds a darker atmosphere compared to the rest of the album. Less complex? Yes, but still of immense value and beauty. The album closes with "River" the longest track and one that can be seen as a summary of what Octopus has offered so far. The music is melodic and fascinating, gradually evolving from intense passages to more abstract moments before returning to intensity, incorporating experimental sounds along the way. The main guitar solo is simply stunning. In an album where everything is in its rightful place, the choice of "River" as the closing track is a brilliant decision.
In conclusion, Octopus is a masterpiece that transcends progressive rock without straying too far into avant-garde territory. With strong songs, excellent compositions, impressive musicianship, and splendid performances from all the instrumentalists and vocalists, this is an essential album. The production quality is also worthy of praise, making Octopus a landmark in Gentle Giant's discography and a true treasure of progressive rock.
NOTA: 10/10
Tracks
Listing:
1.
The Advent of Panurge (4:45)
2. Raconteur Troubadour (4:03)
3. A Cry for Everyone (4:06)
4. Knots (4:11)
5. The Boys in the Band (4:34)
6. Dog's Life (3:13)
7. Think of Me with Kindness (3:31)
8. River (5:52)
Ouça, "Raconteur Troubadour"
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