Octopus  by Gentle Giant

Octopus, released in December 1972, is the fourth album by Gentle Giant and is considered by many to be the pinnacle of their creativity, combining the complexity of progressive rock with a more "hard" and direct approach.

The album is characterized by an impressive mix of medieval/renaissance aesthetics, jazz improvisation, and hard rock dynamics. The entry of John Weathers on drums gave the band a sturdier rhythm, allowing for experiments such as the emblematic vocal workout Knots, which is inspired by the polyphony of madrigals. The recording took place at Advision Studios in London with sound engineer Martin Rushent. The production was done by the band itself. The lyrics of the songs have a strong literary and philosophical background. Octopus was released with two different covers: For the UK and Europe, the cover featured an impressive illustration of an octopus by the famous progressive rock artist Roger Dean, while in the USA and Canada an alternative design was proposed by Charles White, depicting an octopus in a jar.

Despite its artistic recognition, Octopus did not achieve massive commercial success at the time, reaching only No. 170 on the American charts. However, its influence was tremendous and it remains one of the most beloved albums among progressive rock fans.