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Zac M 
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: July 03 2005
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Points: 3577
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 Topic: Let's discuss the Enid
Posted: July 04 2006 at 01:44 |
Amazingly enough, the Enid (RJG in particular) survived all trials and tribulations they had to face, and actually stayed a Prog band from the 70s onward, including the 80's, although there was some pop influence. Robert John Godfrey is perhaps one of my favorite keyboard players ever, the emotion, the intensity, the intracacy (sp?), amazing.
I would have never thought I would have liked the Enid, as I remember reading rather negative reviews of "Aerie Fairie Nonsense" a while ago, thinking they would not be to my liking. For some odd reason, I decided to listen to the streaming sample on PA and I was hooked to say the least. I must have listened to it I don't even know how many times, way too many for sure. I ended up buying the album which it came from, "Touch Me," and was blown away. "Albion Fair" is one of the most amazing pieces of music I have ever heard! Since then, I have a acquired more albums and have continuously been impressed, and on the search for more Enid releases.
So, how does everyone else feel about them?
Edited by Zac M - July 05 2006 at 00:06
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"Art is not imitation, nor is it something manufactured according to the wishes of instinct or good taste. It is a process of expression."
-Merleau-Ponty
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Man With Hat
Collaborator
Jazz-Rock/Fusion/Canterbury Team
Joined: March 12 2005
Location: Neurotica
Status: Offline
Points: 166178
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Posted: July 04 2006 at 01:55 |
I only have one album, In The Region Of The Summer Stars, and its very good. I also heard they remade/remixed it, and i hear the original is much better then the remake/remixed version (and i have the original so i would like to know if this is true).
Either way, a great band that i should get more stuff by.
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Dig me...But don't...Bury me
I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive
Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.
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soundsweird
Prog Reviewer
Joined: December 08 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 408
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Posted: July 04 2006 at 02:02 |
Yeah, the original LP of "Region..." on Buk Records is far superior to the re-recorded CD version, in my opinion.
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Zac M
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Joined: July 03 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 3577
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Posted: July 04 2006 at 02:02 |
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I have the rerecorded version of "Aerie Fairie Nonsense" released by Inner Sanctum, and it sounds good to me, albeit a bit 80's sometimes. Someday, I'll get the original vinyl version, too bad the record companies screwed them over.
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"Art is not imitation, nor is it something manufactured according to the wishes of instinct or good taste. It is a process of expression."
-Merleau-Ponty
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Tony Fisher
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 30 2005
Location: England
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Points: 967
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Posted: July 04 2006 at 08:25 |
Aerie Faerie Nonsense is brilliant. I must review it.
I have ITROTSS in both original and rerecorded (not simply remastered, the arrangements are different) form and definitely prefer the original. I agree with the sleeve notes that some synth parts on the original were a bit naff, but I feel the original has nicer arrangements and a better cover. But neither is less than superb.
The Enid are one of a kind! Pompous, overblown but quite brilliant.
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M. B. Zapelini
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 21 2005
Location: Brazil
Status: Offline
Points: 773
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Posted: July 04 2006 at 10:11 |
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I have only one album by The Enid, which is "Touch Me". It's simply brilliant. I'm looking for other albums by this wonderful band.
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"He's a man of the past and one of the present"
PETER HAMMILL
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Teaflax
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 26 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 1225
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Posted: July 04 2006 at 10:19 |
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Let's discuss...
Writing a better thread title.
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Easy Livin
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
Joined: February 21 2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 15585
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Posted: July 04 2006 at 10:58 |
A bit blunt TF, but I was about to make the same point.
If someone searches for threads discussing The Enid, they won't find this one from the current title.
A well considered thread title can boost the popularity, and life of a thread.
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rupert
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 18 2006
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 610
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Posted: July 04 2006 at 12:24 |
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 !
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...I'm a musician/singer/songwriter, visit me on www.reverbnation.com/rupertlenz and there you can choose from 125 recordings you can listen to ( for free ) if you're not limited to prog-rock !
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Moogtron III
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 26 2005
Location: Belgium
Status: Offline
Points: 10616
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Posted: July 04 2006 at 14:59 |
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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!
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The Hemulen
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Joined: July 31 2004
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Posted: July 04 2006 at 15:07 |
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I have a soft spot for them. Cheesy as hell, but there's something so persuasive about their sound when they were on track.
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Mongo
Forum Senior Member
Joined: January 12 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 370
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Posted: July 04 2006 at 15:26 |
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Love 'em, warts and all.
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"The options are ever fewer on the ground these days" Fish
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Zac M
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Joined: July 03 2005
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Posted: July 04 2006 at 20:26 |
 Teaflax wrote:
Let's discuss...
Writing a better thread title.
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I'm sorry I wanted the thread to get more views. Everytime I start a thread it gets few hits, so I figured this time, if I made the thread title somewhat perplexing, making the potential viewer curious about what he may see, then I would perhaps get more views and therefore, possibly more responses. I don't want to get in an argument with you because almost every other person here who posts often has. People like you make me want to stop coming to this site, as much as I would like to help here. Maybe you'd like to share some of your thoughts instead of making rude comments.
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"Art is not imitation, nor is it something manufactured according to the wishes of instinct or good taste. It is a process of expression."
-Merleau-Ponty
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Zac M
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: July 03 2005
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Points: 3577
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Posted: July 04 2006 at 20:28 |
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...
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"Art is not imitation, nor is it something manufactured according to the wishes of instinct or good taste. It is a process of expression."
-Merleau-Ponty
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005
Location: Netherlands
Status: Offline
Points: 7659
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Posted: July 05 2006 at 03:24 |
Watch out to react on the infamous Teaflax comments, within short time your thread turns into his thread  ...
OK, let's discuss Zac M, good to notice that this site has room for this amazing band! In the early Eighties I discovered The Enid and immediately I bought the albums from the early era like Region Of The Summer Stars, Touch Me, Aerie Faerie Nonsense, I love that orchestral sounding keyboards, very classically inspired, blended with flowing guitarwork, from sensitive to howling and fiery. The shifting moods are great, from almost fragile to very bombastic, very exciting. For me The Enid is an overlooked band with a very distinctive sound, just visit their site !
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Blacksword
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 22 2004
Location: England
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Points: 16130
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Posted: July 05 2006 at 03:33 |
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'... 
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Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!
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Rocktopus
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Joined: March 02 2006
Location: Norway
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Points: 4202
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Posted: July 05 2006 at 04:16 |
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I have the LP Aerie Faerie Nonsense. Beautiful cover, great title, but the music bores me to death, Im afraid.
I remember many years ago downloading some tracks from thier supposed
best album In the Region... I couldn't believe this was the same band
I've read about on several progsites. I threw all the mp3's all in the
recycle bin long ago. It must have been the re-recording.
Before I decide to get it framed and hang my albumcover on the wall
instead. To me it sounds just like these compositions written for
openings and endings of sports arrangements like the Olympics. Is that
what some of you like about it, or is saying this an insult? Am I
ignorant and not listening properly?
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Over land and under ashes
In the sunlight, see - it flashes
Find a fly and eat his eye
But don't believe in me
Don't believe in me
Don't believe in me
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Blacksword
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 22 2004
Location: England
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Points: 16130
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Posted: July 05 2006 at 04:27 |
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^ 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.
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Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!
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Joolz
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Posted: July 05 2006 at 08:39 |
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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?
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Blacksword
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 22 2004
Location: England
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Points: 16130
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Posted: July 05 2006 at 09:44 |
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?
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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.
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Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!
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Let's discuss the Enid
