Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Trilogy - 1972
Yes, I am going to do this one too...
The Endless Enigma Part 1 features some surprisingly rhythmic bongos and some Eastern-sounding strings as well as powerhouse drumming from Carl Palmer. It is another of those multi-passage suites, although only a six minute one this time. As with the group’s previous material, I like some of the parts, but find the vocal bits overblown and mildly irritating. It contains some of their heaviest sounds, though.
Fugue is a brief piano interlude before we get The Endless Enigma Part 2, which is also brief, but carries a rock power along with more annoying typically prog vocals. From The Beginning is a gentle, acoustic, folky Greg Lake piece that has its appeal. To be honest, I much prefer these more regular songs to their instrumental innovations. There is always one on each album. Those acoustic strummed parts remind me quite a lot of Paul Weller’s early solo material. The song has a nice, bassier, more percussive alternative version too.
Now it all gets a bit silly. The Sheriff opens with a brief drum solo before the song proceeds into a strangely Band-like Western tale. It ends with some ridiculous bar-room piano. The Western sound continues on the movie-theme inspired organ fun of Hoedown. Actually, it was based on a work by Aaron Copland, I wouldn’t know, but I recognise the melody. Look, all this stuff sounds great, audio-wise, but do I want to listen to it more than once in my life? Sorry, ELP fans, the answer is an emphatic no.
Trilogy has some strong drum and synthesiser parts, but its classically-influenced piano leaves me cold for most of the track’s eight minutes. Some will no doubt hail this as an inspired work of instrumental genius. Me, I can’t wait to out something else on. It’s just not my thing, really. I have given it a chance, though. Living Sin is a short, vaguely Black Sabbath-ish serving of rock, not before time, either. One thing that is never in doubt on these albums is the quality of Palmer’s drumming. The brooding, slow build of Abbadon’s Bolero is more classically-inspired fare that once more just doesn’t twiddle my knob, although it demonstrates the quality of my hi-fi.
Choosing to listen to this in 1972-73 instead of David Bowie, Roxy Music, Led Zeppelin, Free or even Deep Purple and Black Sabbath is something I have difficulty understanding. I know many people love this but I just can’t get there. I refuse to dismiss it for any other reason than it simply isn’t to my taste, however. All those awards the group are pictured with below would seem to show that many would disagree with me. Anyway, shall I do the next one as well, before I leave prog behind? Oh go on then. See you for some Brain Salad Surgery.
