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AERIE FAERIE NONSENSE (1983)The EnidSymphonic Prog3.62 | 123 ratings |
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Trotsky
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Let's get one thing straight ... I do not rejoice in the fact that I find The Enid's music to be
really lame. The Robert John Godfrey-led band always looked good on paper, and I never
expected that I would develop such strong negative feelings for it. But I can think of no
other acclaimed 70s prog-rock band that has let me down as much. I certainly need no
convincing about the third word that makes up the title of this particular album!The problem lies in the overly lush aimless classical elements that make up the bulk of this recording. Childe Roland (A Heroes Life) isn't really a bad beginning, combining a rollicking rock theme with some classical fanfares, although the neo-prog sound of the guitars and drums set off warning bells in my mind, and Ondine is a delicate ballad that wastes a good introduction (come to think of it, that just about sums up the whole album). The real disasters however are the sickly sweet Mayday Galliard (Bridal Dance) and the epic half-hour long Fand. Rich, romantic and mind-numbingly dull, Fand reminds me of the worst excesses of Mahler (one of those composers who always manages to lull me to sleep). Or perhaps Mantovani is a more accurate comparison. Except that are loads of layered, tinny synths to create a cheap sound to match the uninspired composition (the first moment of excitement crops up at the 11:40 minute mark). This stuff is simply too fey for my liking, and it will be a long, long time before I give The Enid another chance (I actually listened to this horrid album 7 times in the month after buying it!).I have this vague urge to punch someone every time I think about the CDs I passed on to buy this tedious work. If you don't like classical music (and by the way, I do like a wide range of composers from Handel to Berlioz) I am sure you won't enjoy this album at all. I'm not sure, incidentally, if the fact that I bought the re-recorded version in the mid 80s has had an effect on my enjoyment of this album, but since my main grouse is over composition, I don't really believe that to be the case. Loads of people will tell you that The Enid is a wonderful band, but let this review serve as a warning that not everyone feels that way. ... 19% on the MPV scale
Trotsky |
1/5 |
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