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ATTENTION: Unfortunately, the initial production run of this hybrid SACD was defective and cannot be delivered. We are awaiting confirmation of the new production date, which is scheduled for 2026!
“Supergroups” existed even before Emerson, Lake & Palmer was formed in 1970. And many came after them. But few, if any, could match the chemistry of the British trio and their unique combination of virtuosity, vision and energy. “Tarkus” is probably the only album that brings together jazz luminary Dave Brubeck, Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, gifted sound engineer Eddy Offord, Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera, American musical chameleon Frank Zappa and compositional genius Johann Sebastian Bach. Emerson, Lake & Palmer's second album was diverse, ambitious, complex and yet accessible – which made it a huge success. “Tarkus” reached No. 1 on the UK album charts and climbed into the Top 10 in the US.
The theatrical title track – an almost 21-minute epic that traces the life of an armadillo from its birth to the aftermath of its defeat in battle with a manticore – briefly caused a rift in the trio's then-flourishing chemistry. The reason lay in the architecture and direction that keyboardist Keith Emerson pursued with “Tarkus”: the virtuoso suite, based on 10/8 and 5/4 time signatures, frustrated guitarist and singer Greg Lake, who soon brought himself to both play along and write this seven-part anti-war narrative. “Tarkus” is now considered one of the best prog compositions ever written and performed. The second half of the album clearly shows the range of Emerson, Lake & Palmer: “Jeremy Bender” was arranged to give listeners a breather after the demanding opener. The song unfolds with honky-tonk pianos and percussive handclaps. As a tribute to Brubeck's “Count Down,” “Bitches Crystal” also serves as a showcase for Emerson's flawless piano skills. The keyboardist is also at the center of “The Only Way (Hymn),” which combines bold religious reflections with a transition to the jazzy instrumental piece “Infinite Space.” Without drum solos, acoustic ballads, and intellectual interludes, “Tarkus” differs from its equally esteemed predecessor, but shows that Emerson, Lake & Palmer are firing on all cylinders and, as a band, can seemingly play any style at any tempo.
Lovingly mastered from the original tapes at MoFi's California studio and packaged in a mini LP-style gatefold sleeve, this Hybrid SACD presents this prog rock classic in audiophile reference quality for the first time: Clear, dynamic and balanced, this collectible reissue honors the perfectionist approach that characterized both the musical interplay and the recording of the album. It brings out the epic dimension, sonic depth, and astonishing musicality of the trio. All aspects – textures, nuances, effects, tempo changes – that go hand in hand with the trio's compositions are reproduced in a room-filling sound image with precise details. The original realism of the recording comes through on this MoFi reissue as it deserves! The strictly numbered Hybrid SACD of course comes with the iconic cover artwork by William Neal.
1. Eruption2. Stones Of Years3. Iconoclast4. Mass5. Manticore6. Battlefield7. Aquatarkus8. Jeremy Bender9. Bitches Crystal10. The Only Way (Hymn)11. Infinite Space (Conclusion)12. A Time And A Place13. Are You Ready Eddy?