TARKUS

For the background, maybe it's hard to realize but in 1971 rock music didn't exist in the shape of melodic almost classical form. To precise what I mean I'll try to describe the background. In 60's almost every band was influenced by blues. Even groups who were labelled hard rock (vide Led Zeppelin) didn't scratch the matter of what REAL rock became. There was no hard and heavy drive in that. OK maybe Black Sabbath did a little progress at the time recording Master Of Reality album but still you can't find that positive feeling in that. It's based bluesy. And I'm not saying Emerson Lake & Palmer discovered classical rock with Tarkus cos they didn't. But they put first step which was beginning of totally new era for rock. They still play it the bluesy way on Tarkus (as any rock band at the time) but you can also hear bits that were later extended and became main part of any rock arrangement. It was right time to say goodbye to old blues. It's time for joy. First half of Tarkus is excellent. This 20 minute long epic piece is fine proof that ELP didn't want to get stuck in dead end street. Keith Emerson's work is of course brilliant and he mixes jazz and blues with classical music. Greg Lake and Carl Palmer just play the rhythm parts with power and precision. It's good to hear something like that from progressive rock band in 1971. Why I am saying that. I'm saying that because you won't find it in Yes or King Crimson. ELP are definitely more precise and play with virtuosity. Plus I'm not finding here boring improvisations. From the gloomy jazz from hell of the first part of that suite (Eruption) to very melodic and rock and roll flavured Mass. You must taste it. And of course I'd like the whole album to be like that. Unfortunatelly side B of Tarkus isn't so amusing and I guess guys didn't have enough ideas for the whole LP. Ok The Only Way and Infinite Space seem to be composed the way first half of the album is but the rest is absolute waste of time. Jeremy Bender is a silly song and same goes for Ready Eddy. Simple doesn't mean it has to be silly. I still like The Sheriff and Benny The Bouncer from their next released. But this time they just filled album with songs to make it LP. Despite of that Tarkus is excellent album and if not the must it's highly recommended.