Gentle Giant - Octopus (Steven Wilson Mix) (2017) [Hi-Res]

Originally released in 1972, “Octopus” is Gentle Giant’s fourth album. The album features band members: Gary Green (guitars, percussion), Kerry Minnear (keyboards, vibraphone, percussion, cello, vocals), Derek Shulman (vocals, alto saxophone), Phil Shulman (saxophones, trumpet, mellophone, vocals), Ray Shulman (bass violin, guitar, percussion, vocals), John Weathers (drums, percussion, xylophone). The album was produced by the band and engineered and mixed by Martin Rushent.

The album has been tastefully remixed by Steven Wilson who also remixed Gentle Giant‘s “The Power And The Glory” in 2014. Also included is a bonus of Steven’s mix of live 15-minute concert performances of “Excerpts from Octopus“ from the band’s 1976 tour.

New sketches by Roger Dean (who produced the original UK album cover) will be included in the new packaging as well as artwork from the USA album (an octopus in a jar created by Charles White).

„Returning to Gentle Giant's fourth album after any kind of lengthy absence, it's astonishing just how little Octopus has dated. Often written off at the time as a pale reflection of the truly gargantuan steps being taken by the likes of Jethro Tull and Barclay James Harvest, the band's closest relatives in the tangled skein of period prog, Gentle Giant often seemed more notable for its album art than its music. Octopus, however, marries the two seamlessly, with the cover speaking for itself, of course. And the mood continues within, the deliciously convoluted opening "The Advent of Panurge" itself riding waves of sonic tentacles as Gary Green's guitar shrieks short but so effective bursts around the thundering bass and, occasionally, churchy organ. Against the pulsating volume of the album's heavier tracks -- "Panurge" is joined by "A Cry for Everyone" -- the band's excursions into less excitable territory are never less than captivating. Twiddly though they are, the sometimes a cappella "Knots," the lilting "Dog's Life," and the Yes-with-fiddles-ish "Raconteur Troubadour" all have moments of sublime sweetness, while the instrumental "The Boys in the Band" is a succession of quirky showcases for, indeed, all the boys. Occasionally arrangements do get overly cluttered -- with each of the six bandmembers doubling up on at least three different instruments, there's a distinct sense of overdubs for overdubbing's sake. Follow the key instruments alone, however, and the soundscapes not only make perfect sense, but so do the flourishes and intrusions that rattle around. And the end result is an album that has withstood the test of time a lot better than anyone might have expected.“ (Dave Thompson, AMG)

Gary Green, electric guitar, percussion
Kerry Minnear, piano, Hammond organ, Minimoog, piano, Mellotron, Clavinet, harpsichord, vibraphone, cello, lead vocals, backing vocals
Derek Shulman, lead vocals, alto saxophone
Phil Shulman, trumpet, tenor saxophone, mellophone, lead vocals, backing vocals
Ray Shulman, bass, violin, viola, electric violin, acoustic guitar, percussion, backing vocals
John Weathers, drums, bongos, xylophone

Recorded July 24 – August 5, 1972 at Advision Studios, London
Produced by Gentle Giant

Digitally remastered