Let's discuss the Enid

Just to put in a good word for THE ENID's last studio album "White Goddess", released in 1998. If you like the 1970s THE ENID albums, you will probably be pleased with "White Goddess". It's more measured and not as OTT as "Aerie Faerie Nonsense" (which I like very much anyway). For anyone who has not heard THE ENID I would say it is as good a starting point as any, and for those who already know THE ENID's earlier albums, it should not disappoint.

Edited by Fitzcarraldo - July 07 2006 at 12:57

     I had a piece of theirs in memory from the early eighties, on a cassette but later lost, but no idea who had done it. My brother vaguely remembered the name Enid, and we spent 6 months looking for it, until I found it on the Internet...it was "The Punch and Judy Man", from "Six Pieces", a brilliant neo-classical burner. We were even more shocked to see it was from 81, that good progressive was even happening then. Since then I've acquired "Summer Stars" and "Aerie-Fairy", and although it goes against my normal aesthetic, being too steeped in Romantic Classical, it's fascinating in that it's so well played and orchestrated, few bands can pull that off so elegantly, that a small rock ensemble sounds like an orchestra. "Six Pieces" is hard to find, but check it out, it's amazing.

My favorite album is The Six Pieces  ! While watching the wonderful The Enid site, I noticed that some remastered CD albums contain re-arranged/re-recorded songs, reading the reviews on this site, not everybody is pleased with this. In my opinion the LP version of In The Region Of The Summer Stars is superior to the remastered version, what do you think about this?

Blacksword wrote: Joolz wrote: I owned Something Wicked This Way Comes on vinyl, but apart from Raindown and the title track I can't remember much about it except I didn't really connect much with it. Was this album typical?  No, this album was nothing like their 70's output at all. 'Something wicked..' is the one Enid album I still dont get on with. It was their first to include vocals, not their strongest conponant, although 'The Spell' which did have vocals was a much better album. I would go with 'In the Region of the summer stars' 'Airee Fairee Nonesense' and 'Six Pieces' It helps if you like instrumental, symphonic prog. A liking for classical music would help too. They are a very strange band, and not everyones cup of tea.

Unless the old brainbox is playing tricks on me again, I seem to recall they used to be based in a commune somewhere in Suffolk, and my copy of Something Wicked was made privately by them, and I ordered it directly from the band. Only several years later did it finally get released by a traditional record company.

Thanks for the advice. I do like classical music and Symphonic Prog though I often find modern instrumental music to be unsatisfying and lacking in focus. Might give them another try though ....

Joolz wrote: I owned Something Wicked This Way Comes on vinyl, but apart from Raindown and the title track I can't remember much about it except I didn't really connect much with it. Was this album typical?

No, this album was nothing like their 70's output at all. 'Something wicked..' is the one Enid album I still dont get on with. It was their first to include vocals, not their strongest conponant, although 'The Spell' which did have vocals was a much better album.

I would go with 'In the Region of the summer stars' 'Airee Fairee Nonesense' and 'Six Pieces' It helps if you like instrumental, symphonic prog. A liking for classical music would help too. They are a very strange band, and not everyones cup of tea.
    

^ No, it's just not for you.

The only time I heard the Enid being in anyway cheesy was when I saw them live at a festival back in '87, and they played 'Land of Hope and Glory' It didn't do much for me..

However, 'Summer Stars' is a fantastic album IMO, full of emotion and beutiful ambience. I'm hearing it differently to you, I guess. To me ELP sound 'cheesy' a lot of the time, but to some they sound very grandiose and impressive. Thats how I hear The Enid.

It's about time we discussed this great band! Brilliant symphonic prog.

'In the region of the summer stars' as far as I know was partially re-made. The drums, certainly were re-recorded in 1984, along with some synth parts as Tony Fisher points out. I've not heard the original, but would love to. It's a prog masterpiece and in my top 5 prog albums of all time.

'Airee Fairee Nonesense' is also superb, as is 'Six Pieces' (I have a signed vinyl copy! ) and 'The Spell' 'Summer' is one of my favourote Enid tracks, combining Reggae beats, with Beach Boy harmonies, Floyd-esque lead guitar work, and spacy ambience. Wow! The live version of 'Song of Fand' on the 'Spell' is also masterful. They are truly classically inspired and I think RJG trained to be a concert pianist before becoming a 'rock star'...

rupert wrote: I feel good about the Enid but I don't feel good about what R. Godfrey did with the likes of Barclay James Harvest... it was rather unfair ! Great musician and arranger, nonetheless !

Well, if what I have read is correct then it is infact RJG who got screwed, not BJH. After all, BJH became a hugely popular band in Europe, can't say the same for the Enid...

 Love 'em, warts and all.

I admire The Enid, because they really added something to prog, something new and original, and their musicianship and ideas are astonishing. I'm not a big fan of their music though. Something is missing for me in their music, and I can't really put the finger on it. But they're enormously talented, for sure!