TRILOGY

'Trilogy' may not be as good as 'Brain Salad Surgery' or 'Tarkus' but it is still one of the best of ELP.

It begins with the strangely quiet 'The Endless Engima' featuring great vocals from Lake and Emerson pulls no punches on keyboards.

'From the Beginning' is the Lake ballad found on other ELP works. The ladie's favourite, Lake croons as good as ever.

'The Sheriff' is a western style track with old time piano and humourous lyrics.

'Hoedown' is hailed as a classic by many but I prefer the live versions. Emerson really lets loose on this showing his bravura musicianship.

'Trilogy' is the best track on the album with great piano motifs and guitar interludes. It moves through a series of impressions in the same way as a classical piece is structured. Like the astounding 'Tarkus', it is a long, highly complex example of virtuoso playing and showcases in particular Emerson's incredible talents. It's frenetic pace transfixes from beginning to end. It slows in pieces so that we have room to breathe within the wall of sound that is at times suffocating, but then picks up the pace again towards the end.

'Living Sin' is forgettable - in fact, how does this one go again?

'Abaddon's Bolero' is the worst track because it is so interminably dull. It is just one long repetitive motif played over and over till it gets louder and well... I hate it.

There are no bonus tracks but it is a good solid album with highs and lows.