FIVE BRIDGES SUITE

The war to determine the best rock band ever (certainly of the progressive rock era) was settled many years ago. As the smoke cleared, looming ever so large over the fields of glorious battle were . . . "The Nice".

The "Five Bridges Suite" album may very well be the equivalent of the super weapon that ended W.W.II. In July/August 1945 very few people seem to have been cognisant of the big one being dropped. A large communications effort was launched to inform of what had occurred. With respect to "The Nice", several factors came together to keep music fans from the path of illumination set down by "The Nice".

Firstly, A poor fit with a production team more suitable to the Bee Gees than Classical Rock. Then followed in rapid succession by other causes such as: an uncommunicative label, the brief period of existence of the band, an incomprehensible critique against the lead singer, low output of albums, an immediate rise of ELP to super stardom after the breakup of The Nice.

To convert the barbarian hordes of singleminded drones that blindly adore the tired gods of progressive rock is my life's work. I feel the daunting task of what lies before. Even now I can sense the massing of gigantic armies to divert (nay prevent) me from my righteous quest to communicate to the world the good words: "The Nice are the one true rulers of the Progressive Rock universe".

One listen to the FIVE BRIDGES SUITE album could possibly be all that is needed with some. But it is a sneaky opus. My task, however, is made a little easier with this expanded edition (with bonus tracks). But I would still wholeheartedly have accepted the quest if I only had the original vinyl pressing. My favourite song of the last 12 months is contained herein, "Country Pie/ Brandenburg Concierto No. 5". I can't imagine my recent life without it. But contained within these words I have also invited an increasing array of enemies to form an axis against my undertaking. For the main dogma most anti-Nice zombies have is the very voice of bassist/vocalist Lee Jackson. So often maligned by those who have no inkling of being the first at the beginning of a movement, a genre. Certainly there is a more pleasant voice. But there are non more perfectly balanced with the subject and the content. The rough edges are an actual advantage, not a hinderance to the music. This music at it's time was new category. It was primitive, rustic and pastoral, and yet herein lie the roots and trunk of ELP. (You might be forgiven to think that you stumbled upon a long lost early ELP album).

If you have never heard a single note by THE NICE, you are in for a treat of a lifetime. I know that each new listener will join my small, ragtag fellowship and will happily accompany us to the fires of Mt. Doom, to throw in the old script: "that of the tired dinosaur bands ruling the progressive universe". I have gone as far as to leave my comfortable home at Bag End and set out on my ultimate objective of having THE NICE discovered by all. Great aural enjoyment is waiting.

Pastoral. Primitive. Rustic

Fresh New Clean