PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION

I can see why this album is so controversial. Respect to things like Karelian Suite and 5 Bridges from the Nice, this is not just a reinterpretation of the Mussorsky's masterpiece. Like the Bridges suite there are original things added to rearranged parts of the suite. The acoustic guitar of "The Sage" that's one of the best guitar performances of Lake, can't be found in the original as well as the lyrics on the second "Promenade". Even though Mussorsky was in advance on his times I don't think he would have ever thought to anything like the noises in the second part of "The Great Gates Of Kiev" when Emerson plays a piece of iron connected to a moog by sliding it on his ass (seen in the DVD).

The band is at its best and it's unusual speaking of great creativity on the adaptation of a classic, but this is not just classical music rearranged or reinterpreted. As well as the Renaissance's Song Of Sheherazade, it's the concept that has been totally revisited and reinvented and the "Promenade" is nothing more than a link to the original but also the point where the two things take the distance.

Few words about the revisitation of Tschaikovskij's Nutcracker. This is not an original idea. This rock and roll contamination was recorded initially by "Jack B. Nimble and the Quicks", which featured some "Earl Palmer" as drummer (funny trivia). Then it was re-recorded by "B. Bumble and the Stingers" produced by that Kim Fowley who could be taken into account for a suggestion in proto or psych. At the end this is the third version of the "Nutrocker".

I won't add more as this album has already about 100 reviews, just let me say that it misses something to be considered a masterpiece but it's surely a must-have for all the prog fans so the correct rating, I think, is 4 stars.