Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab releases a dazzling vinyl upgrade of the ELP debut album.
Emerson Lake & Palmer – Island/Cotillion Records(1970)/Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Numbered Edition (2025) 180-gram stereo vinyl, 41:13 *****:
(Keith Emerson – Hammond organ, piano, clarinet, Pipe organ, Moog modular synthesizer; Greg Lake – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, vocals; Carl Palmer – drums, percussion)
Emerson Lake & Palmer electrified the rock world in 1970. With furious keyboardist Keith Emerson (The Nice), haunting vocalist/guitarist/bassist Greg Lake (King Crimson) and drummer extraordinaire Carl Palmer (Atomic Rooster), the trio was at the forefront of the Progressive Rock genre. Their music was renowned for its merging of symphonic rock with classical, jazz and folk elements. Albums like the self-titled debut, Tarkus, Pictures At An Exhibition, Trilogy and Brain Salad Surgery achieved commercial and critical success. Their frenetic live performances, raised their stature in the rock community. The impact of this genre-bending trio remains intact.
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab has released a 180-gram numbered edition vinyl of Emerson Lake & Palmer. This audiophile vinyl (produced from 1/4”/15 IPS analog copy to DSD 256 to analog console to lathe), captures the sonic impact and unique musical tapestry of this band. Side One opens with “The Barbarian” a reinvented Bela Bartok piano composition. Emerson’s menacing, powerful organ lead is prominent and is complemented by Lake’s fuzzy bass and Palmer’s precise drumming. At the 1:07 mark, Emerson switches to piano with equal ferocity and spirited notation. The trio reprises the opening organ trio dynamics with punctuation and great drum fills. In a definite change of pace, Greg Lake’s “Take A Pebble” eschews the heavier soundscape for a spacious folk/jazz arrangement. There are many intriguing moments. Emerson opens the piece with piano string strumming. He accompanies Lake’s warm vocals with a lighter ethereal touch. Palmer’s cymbal work is excellent and they augment the tempo for a short burst. Lake is nimble on a folk-infused acoustic guitar that has magnetic strumming and dexterous finger-picking. Emerson’s piano interlude is sprightly and combines many classical motifs and jazzy expressions. Eventually, a piano trio jam with vocals finishes the track. Returning to denser resonance, “Knife’s Edge” channels Leoš Janáček’s “Sinfonietta”. The darker musical imagery, is translated with gritty reverberating organ runs, and Lake’s cautionary lyrics. Again, the signature ELP organ/bass/drum cohesion is flawless.
Side Two kicks off with a suite (“The Three Fates”) by Emerson which is nothing short of an instrumental tour-de-force. The first section (“Clotho”) is played on a pipe organ with bold, processional depth. The next movement (“Lachesis”) is a brilliant piano solo with muscular articulation and wild improvisation, showcasing crescendos and trilling. The “finale” of the piece is a fierce Latin-infused piano trio that ends forcefully. “Tank” creates another music journey. Almost fusion-like, Emerson’s synthesizer runs are inventive and mesmerizing. After an extended drum solo, a funky groove is surrounded by various Moog accents. In a surprising conclusion to this audacious debut, “Lucky Man” (a single performed as an acoustic ballad) has significant popular appeal. Tracked vocals and guitars create a fulsome atmosphere that is hypnotic. It ends with the most recognizable, chaotic Moog solo to this day.
Emerson Lake & Palmer is one of the crowning achievements in Progressive Rock. This audiophile vinyl from Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab will be a valuable addition to any collection. The sound mix is vibrant and the packaging is top-notch.
Highest recommendation!
—Robbie Gerson
Emerson Lake & Palmer
TrackList:
Side One:
The Barbarian;
Take A Pebble;
Knife-Edge
Side Two:
The Three Fates: Clotho (Royal Festival Hall Organ)/ Lachesis (piano solo)/Atropos (piano trio);
Tank;
Lucky Man.
