This 3-CD/2-DVD and Vinyl set is a goldmine for any fan of ELP in this
amazing Super Deluxe Edition that is almost a trip down memory lane. And for
me, as a geek, I could remember getting some Hanukkah money on the fourth night
and buying this album that featured the late great H.R. Giger's artwork and just being blown away in the winter of 1998 before Christmas started and buying
this album and being hooked into the world of their music.
At the time, it was a crowning achievement in 1973 when
their fourth studio album, Brain Salad
Surgery was released. And despite some of the rock critics despising them
and the famous joke, “How do you spell pretentious? E-L-P.” There was no stop
sign for them and were the people’s band during that time. It was also their
last real album before moving into the waters with an orchestra, which I won’t
cover on.
On here, there is a large booklet featuring photos of the
band and the original tapes also. With liner notes done by Chris Welch which
included interviews with the band and Jakko Jakszyk who did the 5.1 mix, its
almost like a stepping into a time machine and revisiting the memories of the
band that would never back down despite the criticism.
The 5.1 and New Stereo Mixes that Jakko has done on here, is
magnificent and I can hear material on the original album that were buried and
hidden on here, come to life and in front as if my eyebrows went up and can’t
believe what I was hearing. The great thing about the Super Deluxe Edition set
is that included are both the original album, alternate versions and b-sides
along with the NME Flexidisc experts, and the new stereo mix, shows that they
don’t want to rewrite history, but staying true to the original and never
letting go of the past.
The opening fanfare of their take of William Blake’s hymn
and Hubert Harry’s music of Jerusalem which
it was banned by the BBC for being blasphemous, makes it a perfect introduction
featuring Keith’s organ and synths, Carl’s militant turn dynamic drum work
along with tubular bells followed by Greg’s amazing vocals, sets the tone on
what’s to come. You could tell the band can push the envelope on handling one
of Blake’s hymns and would have given the master himself a big stamp of
approval of their take of his hymn.
Toccata is an
eruptive yet blistering adventure on another take of Argentinian composer,
Alberto Ginastera’s 1st Piano Concerto in the Fourth movement, is
where the band are in ramming speed. Both Keith and Carl are on fire on this
using the Moog’s and Electronic drum kit with synthesized effects to use in
different bars in the percussion section in where Palmer himself that have a
haywire effect that would make listener’s jump on the electronic sounds.
Then the band take a break and go into a soothing and
relaxing yet romantic ballad from Greg Lake as his shares his vocal touches on
the acoustic wonders with Still You Turn
Me On and the wah-wah sounds to give it a psychedelic vibration while they
get into the Ragtime movement. The band also has this excellent sense of humor
with Benny the Bouncer.
Greg’s cockney accent, Keith’s homage to Scott Joplin, and
Carl using the brushing sounds on the drums followed by a bar room brawl with
glass breaking and you can imagine the scenery of drag-out knock down fight
inside the bar as the band keeps on going. But also, it has a 1920s feel that
makes you feel right at home that the band wished they had recorded in that
time period and have your feet tapping for more.
Then, we come to the epic of all epics of the 30-minute
suite of Karn Evil 9. This is where
ELP deliver the real goods to us in their masterpiece of a setting in a parallel
dystopian universe where the Machines have taken over the human race and it
takes place inside a carnival as we are witnessing a battle between good and
evil. And I won’t go into further detail on spoilers, but this is such a
brilliant epic to get your seatbelt ready for that almost a movie inside your
head on what is happening in the story.
Alongside the 3-CDs, the 2-DVDs and the sixth being the
original Vinyl LP, is a treat. The fourth DVD features both the original and
5.1/new stereo mix and the fifth DVD is a documentary along with a gallery which features memorabilia slide show. And the Manticore Special that originally appeared
on the Old Grey Whistle Test in which the band was doing a European tour in
1973 at the time they were promoting the album.
Brain Salad Surgery is
the album along with Pink Floyd’s Dark
Side of the Moon, refusing to die. The stereo remix is spectacular and it
deserved to be cleaned up and Jakko has done an amazing accomplishment on what
he did. So if you are ready to head back into the Carnival for the show that
will never end, this Super Deluxe Edition is a must have and recommended for
any Prog and ELP fan to delve into.
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