This is one of my favorite synth-driven albums from the Emerson, Lake & Palmer discography. I first heard “The Endless Enigma,” and “Trilogy” at our friend McCrea’s house when I was nine, while our family was moving from San Bernardino to Oxnard. I played some classical pieces by Bach and Debussy, and when E.L.P. started playing through the speakers, I turned on my tape recorder to remember it. When the synths were recreating horn sounds on the last part of “The Endless Enigma”, I was imagining a live orchestra in my head. Then when the synthesizer played its first solo on the title track, I had no idea what that instrument was. I remember thinking, “What sound is that?” I had never heard a synthesizer play lead like that! Then I kept the tape going before the song came to an end! My favorite part in the song is where the two Moog solos are playing off each other, leading into a cool contrary motion (one instrument goes up the scale, while the other goes down the scale), and the reverb increases in volume. This is from 7:17 to 7:22. I was fascinated to hear how many ideas you can play without a chordal instrument like a piano or guitar.
Then when I first heard the closer “Abaddon’s Bolero,” I had been familiar with Ravel’s famous impressionistic piece, how it gradually builds from individual instruments to ensembles, and increase in volume per section. So when I heard that E.L.P. created a piece with that mindset, I was curious to see what they would do. I was also surprised to hear the multiple harmonic changes as well, plus the really cool synth solos during the last few times of the song!
Then later, when I heard that Keith orchestrated this piece later on in his career, I was very excited. We both imagined these songs being orchestrated, and I was so happy that Keith had the opportunity to do it!
This is just one of my favorite E.L.P. albums they made during their creative and technical peak. Whenever I think of Keith and Greg’s music and legacy, this is the era I like to go to, especially when I play on my Nord organ, and I hope in the future to create an album interpreting or composing songs in that mindset.
12 comments
You have great taste in music, Rachel! 🙂
Birmingham, England was unforgettable. It was so nice to have met you too.
Rachel I have loved reading your ‘Albums that have influenced me’ – I’m getting my old ELP vinyl out now! Thanks – you are an inspiration! Mark from Oxford England. BTW when are you coming over here to play? Mark
It is a tremendous album. But in my opinion it is the worst of their album covers. Do you ever discuss this issue with others? I would be very very interested in your take on this. Go well, Rachel. You are such a great talent.
Fantastic overview of one of the best recordings in rock history.
Hi Rachel, thank you for your wonderful musical insights. I am enjoying listening again to some of my all-time favorite music from the perspective of your reviews–fantastic. I had the distinct pleasure of seeing you perform at the El Rey for Keith’s tribute, as well as sitting next to you and your mother at the premier of the film at Old World in Huntington Beach. I wish you the very best and thank you for sharing your musical gifts with all of us.
As a teenager at the time and listening to more “popular” rock albums at the time, I had the manager of my employer give me a cassette to listen to….”Trust me, you’ll dig it” “Emerson , Lake and WHO?” Ok….I’ll give it a go. And it was odd, as the cassette was bright pink…very unusual. I put it on not at ALL knowing what to expect…except what happened. It just floored me and changed EVERYTHING. I never had a recording that I could binge listen to and it never got old. To this day, it’s as fresh as the first listen, not sounding dated like so much of pop music does. Not many recordings age so well, unlike “Rock Around the Clock” or “Doo Wop” tunes did. Inna Gadda Da Vida…..lots of cool songs, but they are SO stuck in a particular year and era. This record transcends time. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
What a true blessing from God you have my dear..your ELP covers are magnificent!!..you bring tears to my eyes and make the hair on my neck stand up watching and hearing you play..Keith is verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry proud to have such a gifted musician like you carry on his amazing work..thank you for all of us oldies you make happy with your gift..God bless you..
I am listening again and will not get much sleep again.
You make me smile, and cry. My heart goes with you.
Doug
Also you are a lovely person, besides having unbelievable talent, not ‘egotistical’
Doug
Thank you Rachel for validating one of my favorite synth-driven albums. I had the opportunity to listen to this masterpiece when it was originally released. Along with Stevie Wonder, Wendy Carlos and Jean-Michel Jarre, Keith Emerson started me on the beautiful complex path of synthesizer and effects processing. Needless to say, I have learned that sound is a powerful communication device. Rachel, you speak volumes through your fingers. Thanks! -Larz
Dear Rachel, every time I watch the video “Rachel Flowers Plays The Endless Enigma — Tribute to Keith Emerson” on YouTube, I start crying (as much as you do) because this piece is of unbearable beauty, because you and the orchestra, you interpret it divinely and because Keith Emerson is gone forever. But his soul and his music are still among us. Thanks to you