BLACK MOON

There was much interest in ELP's reunion in 1992. Unfortunately it only led to ELP's eventual demise (which justifiably should have happened after Love Beach). But Emerson, Lake, and Palmer wanted to give it one more try before their egos would tear them apart. This was the first single released from the ill-fated Black Moon album, the title track.

Black Moon only barely touches the surface of what I would consider progressive rock. It has an unusual, yet quite monotonous drum and bass rhythm, simply bass-bass-snare, ad infinitum. Definitely different for ELP, but everything else that is part of this song screams AOR. Only in very brief moments does one hear a slight resemblance to the old ELP with the occasional keyboard embellishment (for instance the short Emersonian piano line prior to the drums in the beginning of the song).

For fans, completionists, and collectors of prog bands not making prog music. Two stars.