Chrysalis

INTERVIEW was the eighth studio recorded album of Gentle Giant and was released April 23rd 1976. The line up on the album is Derek Shulman, Ray Shulman, Gary Green, Kerry Minnear and John “Pugwash” Weathers. The album has also the participation of ‘Sounds’ writer Phil Sutcliffe as the ‘interviewer’. The band had completed a year of nonstop touring throughout Europe and North America promoting the highly successful FREE HAND album. Despite having no real down time, the band felt inclined to write and record the follow up to FREE HAND without having any time to reflect on its success. This may have influenced both the direction and attitude of the album, hence its somewhat cynical concept.

The band recorded the album in its favored Advision Studios where in addition to the usual stereo version, the album was also mixed in 4-channel quadraphonic sound. It poked a little satirical fun at the state of the music industry and dissected the way a group’s relationship with the rock press could either help or hinder their career. Stylistically INTERVIEW continued in the progressive vein of their preceding seventh studio album, 1975’s FREE HAND. The result was a varied and dynamic set of songs that became a firm favourite with their devoted fan base. All in all an INTERVIEW well worth attending.

Award winning producer and musician Steven Wilson has now remixed INTERVIEW in Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround sound. The Porcupine Tree guitarist and highly regarded solo artist has long been a fan of the band, noting them as a primary influence on his own work. Wilson’s painstaking attention to detail, deep respect for the source material and keen tonal range makes the album sound as fresh today as it did on first release. The 2023 remix is available on 180g black vinyl, with a limited edition sky blue color vinyl variant.