Continuing on with the ELP reissue series from BMG, here we have the 1971 concept album about a creature that was part armadillo and part tank, in a nice little 2CD package that includes the 2012 remaster and Steven Wilson's new stereo mix, plus a few bonus tracks. Housed in a lovely double digipack complete with original artwork, an essay on the album, and loaded with vintage live photos, this is certainly the CD version to own of this classic album release.
The original 1971 album sounds crisp and clear thanks to this 2012 remaster, with the epic "Takus" suite just bursting with power & grandiose prog-rock majesty. This lengthy piece is arguably the late Keith Emerson's finest studio recording, his blazing Hammond organ & synth playing is just mind boggling throughout, with Carl Palmer's acrobatic drumming and the solid bass & guitar work of Greg Lake, as well as his stellar vocals, adding to their overall incredible sonic attack. The whimsical "Jeremy Bender" is a great pop vehicle for Lake's vocals and some honky tonk piano courtesy of Emerson, while the quirky "Bitches Crystal" is another of the bands more adventurous numbers, a collision of prog, jazz, and classical styles. Emerson's commanding church organ comes out on "The Only Way (Hymn)", a jazz/blues tone is taken on the classy "Infinite Space (Conclusion), straight complex prog on the menacing "A Time and a Place" (again with some incredible Hammond organ from Emerson and Lake's powerful vocals), and the band offer up 50s styled rock 'n' roll with the rousing "Are you Ready Eddy", a poke at their engineer Eddy Offord.
Steven Wilson's 2012 stereo mix will be a welcome addition to your home theater system, as well as a great excuse to test this album using headphones. The bonus tracks are also great little nuggets, with Lake's pensive ballad "Oh, My Father" featuring lovely vocals and a tasty guitar solo, "Unknown Ballad" a vehicle for piano and passionate vocals, and an alternate take of "Mass" with a slightly different arrangement. If you haven't owned Tarkus, now's the time, but if you already have the LP and/or CD in your collection, this is a fantastic upgrade.
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
CD 1: The Original Album (2012 Remaster)
Tarkus
Jeremy Bender
Bitches Crystal
The Only Way (Hymn)
Infinite Space (Conclusion)
A Time and a Place
Are You Ready, Eddy?
CD 2: 2012 Stereo Mix
Tarkus
Jeremy Bender
Bitches Crystal
The Only Way (Hymn)
Infinite Space (Conclusion)
A Time and a Place
Are You Ready, Eddy?
Oh, My Father
Unknown Ballad
Mass (Alternate Take)
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
