TRILOGY

Trilogy was my first approach with ELP and I will never forget the feeling that appeared with first sounds of The Endless Enigma. First time I had this kind of feeling it was in late 80's when I heard Helloween's Live in UK and I was 12 back then. Because I discovered ELP's music full decade later I couldn't believe what it did to me. The music was weird but fascinating. It wasn't typical 70's bluesy or jazzy prog thing. It struck me by total surprise. Keith Emerson played with fantastic technique and made ELP music to sound so unique. The first three tracks are like one. Such conceptual thing that still amazes me after all those years. There are two things I'd like to mention here. ELP on Trilogy don't play any kind of bluesy or jazzy prog (as I mentioned before) and two is, the band really rocks. So don't ask me if it's enough to call it rock music cos it really rocks. I think it's due to the fact Carl Palmer plays lots of sounds and crazy ostinatos played by Greg Lake make us image of rhythm section. Keith Emerson plays classical music, avant-grade classical music, honky tonk... anything but blues. Ok I said it's not jazzy but maybe a little bit of jazz we can capture in his style. But it's not making it boring. Keith is god. So the first three pieces will tear you to pieces;). Then we have very popular ballad From The Beginning. It's a little Greg Lake masterpiece. The Sheriff seems to be pop tune but it's still not simple music. Hoedown is instrumental part taken from works of Aaron Copland. Of course here we have different arrangements cos band wanted it to sound rock. Trilogy is one of the most amazing songs ever done in progressive rock. And this direction will be taken on next album. If you listen very closely you'll hear similar parts to those from Karn Evil 9 2nd Imperession. It's very dark, filled with anxiety song. True rock music but not simple rock music. Armageddon masterpiece. Living Sin is heavy massive piece of rock. You can even call it hard rock. I like this one. And for the finish a piece of classical music. Abaddon's Bolero is good instrumental track that of course keeps all the standards. Perfection. Trilogy is still one of my favorite albums of all times. The first time when I heard it I was mesmerized and in fact still I am. Masterpiece.