PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION

This is an enjoyable romp in to the bombastic world of power trio ELP. It begins with off kilter time signatures that stop and start and clearly the band are having the time of their lives as they confound and dazzle the audience. Symphony music never sounded so good. But I wouldn't use this album as a starting point to get in to ELP's wonderful music. It is so different than anything they have done before or since.

After a while all the majestic Hammond and Moog sweeps become quite tiring and I longed for some vocals. They come in The Great Gates Of Kiev which has become the great track to quote from as far as compilations of the band are concerned.

I think the album is best heard as an entire piece but it is definitely not your standard ELP album. It is unique in that it is really a retelling of Mussorgsky's master work Pictures at an Exhibition, but we have a distinct rock feel with this interpretation.

The album has become one of the most discussed and revered of prog history. Having said all that, I prefer the more accessible Trilogy, Tarkus, Brain Salad Surgery or debut album over this. I can see why there is so much adoration and interest in Pictures at an Exhibition, but the best was yet to come, make no mistake.