Unmistakably brilliant
Sheffielder | 02/26/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first saw The Enid perform in Aylesbury (UK) early in 1979, and immediately bought all of the albums they then had available (I still have, and still play, these, and subsequent, LPs). The band played much of Aerie Faerie Nonsense as part of its act, and the result was electrifying - the audience insisted on no fewer than EIGHT encores, and the band happily obliged. This album remains, for me, one of the key defining LPs of the prog rock era; it has never been surpassed within its sub-genre."
Their 2nd prog act after "In the region of Summer stars" ...
Lethe | Milan, Italy | 02/12/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"3RD ISSUE BROUGHT ABOUT A FEW FURTHER CLARIFICATIONS:
Another excellent concept album, a classic for all seasons!!TO ME THIS WORK IS FUNDAMENTAL, DESPITE OF BELONGING TO THE UNDERRATED PROG ACTS OF THE LATE 70's in UK: OF COURSE IT'S SIMPLE IN COMPARISON FOR INSTANCE TO SUCH NEOCLASSICAL/EXP.SYMPHONIC STUFF WHICH IS MORE AMBITIOUS, NEVERTHELESS "AERIE FARIE NONSENSE" IS MUCH INFLUENTIAL AND ABOVE ALL FOR THIS REASON,LIKE THEIR FIRST PROG ACT "IN THE REGION OF SUMMER STARS", IS WORTH 5 STARS!!BESIDES AS I TOLD YOU IN MY PREVIOUS REVIEW ALWAYS REGARDING OF THIS LATTER- THAT I PUT IN EVIDENCE AS ONE OF THE BEST DEBUT ALBUMS OF THE WHOLE PROG SCENE - ALSO THE PRESENT SECOND ATTEMPT FITS INTO SUCH CATEGORY ONCE AGAIN,UNLIKE THEIR 1ST ALBUM "THE ENID",WHICH INSTEAD DOESN'T FIT ANYWAY INTO IT...THEN MAKE YOUR INDIVIDUAL CHOICE AS I DON'T LIKE TO AFFECT YOUR OWN OPINION!!Talking about this new concept,the music narration is based upon the story of Roland The Knight: the "incipit" of such narration is represented by a short prelude, leading soon to a sweet romantic composition with a mellow fiction tone, in the vein of such 50's Hollywood movies: the title is "Mayday Galliard" and fits quite well into this particular music genre:"orchestral romantic rock for movie soundtracks"...instead "Ondine" is the unique combination of baroque and medieval influences as well, not in the complex manner of Gentle Giant (anyway talking about these latter sometimes such complexity can result boring)and never annoying the listener !! The 17 minutes suite "LOVE-DEATH THE IMMOLATION OF FAND" is my favourite track and one of the best compositions ever by The Enid(great arrangements, beautiful themes and also some sinister moments, which are memorable and impressive too)..however also in their most typical classic rock stuff (listen for instance to "Childe Roland) you find always powerful guitar lines, then supported by the symphonic keyboards of Godfrey,characterized by a certain measure and balance as well!!Another classic that I recommend... even though many critics did not put the first prog act and also the following present album by The Enid among the prog giant's best albums!!"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1