On Reflection

"On Reflection" is a song by the progressive rock band Gentle Giant. It was released on their 1975 album Free Hand.

"On Reflection"
Song by Gentle Giant
from the album Free Hand
ReleasedJuly 1975
RecordedApril 1975
GenreProgressive rock
Length5:43
LabelChrysalis (UK)
Songwriter(s)Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman, Ray Shulman
Producer(s)Gentle Giant
"On Reflection"
Sample of song
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Composition

"On Reflection" is in the key of B-flat major.[1]

Bruce Eder of AllMusic wrote that the song had "medieval-style a cappella vocals",[2] while The Great Rock Bible described the song as a "folk rocker".[3]

Reception

Robert Taylor of AllMusic wrote that "On Reflection" was revolutionary for its time, due to the band's vocal approach. Taylor also wrote that the song was one of prog-rock's defining moments.[4]

Music webzine Sea of Tranquility called the song a classic, and wrote that "On Reflection" probably never appealed to non-progressive rock fans, but that most fans of the genre considered the song "a remarkable achievement."[5]

uDiscoverMusic also commented on the song positively, writing that the song's opening four-part fugue remains one of Gentle Giant's and the progressive rock genre's defining moments.[6]

Paul Stump in the 2005 book Acquiring the Taste wrote that the song was an example of the band's "mastery of writing and performing intensly complex contrapuntal music", and that it was an instant hit when they performed live.[7]

Other appearances

A live performance of the song (recorded in 1976) is also included on the 1977 album Playing the Fool.

References
  1. "Key & BPM for On Reflection by Gentle Giant - Tunebat". tunebat.com. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  2. "Playing the Fool: The Official Live - Gentle Giant - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  3. "GENTLE GIANT biography". Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  4. "Free Hand - Gentle Giant - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  5. "Review: "Gentle Giant: Free Hand-35th Anniversary Edition (remaster)" - Sea of Tranquility - The Web Destination for Progressive Music!". www.seaoftranquility.org. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  6. Bowler, Paul (9 July 2018). "reDiscover Gentle Giant's Gripping Seventh Album, 'Free Hand'". Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  7. Stump, Paul (23 April 2005). "Gentle Giant: Acquiring the Taste". SAF Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 22 January 2019 – via Google Books.
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