Album Review
Freehand used to play Happy the Man, U.K., and King Crimson covers and these influences clearly show in their songs. If you like fusion guitar, quirky keys, cosmic synths, complex time signatures, melodic and creative basslines then you'll enjoy Freehand. "RH Factor" is the song most likely to please HTM fans with saxophone included. "Camels Dance" is also a HTM-inspired song. I picked up S.F.F.'s "Symphonic Pictures" coming thru in that one as well. That Kit Watkins otherworldly carousel ride is spinning away on these pieces. Even a taste of Jean Luc Ponty composition graces "Mirkwood"-only lacking Ponty's violin. Adrian Belew era Crimson is all over the place. "Mastodon" vocals and stampeded-loud guitars shout blatant Belew/Crimson and it's all crazy fun. Musicianship is flawless, creative, passionate, ballsy, and precise. Robert Howerton and David Bollinger are excellent guitars and decent vocals. Bollinger also does keys. Brian Preston is big bass. Jeff Lindsey did the challenging drumlines and Todd Barbee's tenor sax added the "instant HTM" ingredient.
