Customer Reviews

Ars Langa Vita Brevis

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Why oh why does this not include "America" ? The Immediate reissue from a few years back had it,I have the cassette and was hoping to get the complete thing on CD.The 1973 vinyl reissue even had it.So what happened ?An important piece of music missing from the album it was intended to be heard on makes this yet another example of the criminal attitude running amo in the music industry.If that one song had been included this would be a five star disc and an essential part of any collection that even cares about rock music,prog rock in particular.A worthy investment would be the 5 cd set from Rhino called Supernatural Fairytales-The Progressive Years.

Yes in the UK there was no America on this album. The Castle release gives no real benefit at all. The masters are from the UK issue which was poorly mixed and produced. A shame that the USA tapes for this and the third Nice Cd werent used they are much clearer. The Castle reissue shows up some more tape faults on Karelia and is a little bass light. Stick with the Repertoire issues if you can find them. The Castle reissue of "Nice" even has an awful edit between Rondo and She Belongs to Me

There is no rating high enough to give this album. Its value as an influence and inspiration on an entire decade of music is inestimable, so one should overlook the poor production and some other weaknesses. This is the album that started the whole progressive rock genre, during the height of the psychedelia in 1968. The vocal stylings and guitar work are very much in the 60's, yet there is an entirely new dimention in there, and that is of course created by Keith Emerson's driving, swirling organ, well supported by drums and bass and foreshadowing things to come later with Emeson Lake and Palmer. Rock music weds classical on this album, and their child is progressive rock, precocious, curious and capricious. The new genre is already fully formed here as shown by epics like Korelia and the title track, which take up most of the album. The arrangements are brilliant, the playing masterful and the attitude punkish, with a good measure of twisted humor. No progressive rock fan should be without this early masterpiece.

I'm still a bit confused why the Nice isn't more well-known. Hasn't the success and popularity of Emerson, Lake and Palmer made people curious what the band members were doing BEFORE that band came into existence? Keith Emerson was doing something incredible on these early Nice albums. Very "nice" albums indeed!

The first three songs on the album are INCREDIBLE! I love the verse melody on the opener, but the highlight of the album is "Littla Arabella" with its moody bluesy vibe and REALLY good vocals. I love them a lot. What a classic. An unknown gem that unfortunately most people aren't aware of. "Happy Freuds" is another really good song as far as vocal melody is concerned. The lyrics are funny too, though kind of honest. You'll know what I mean once you hear the song.

"Intermezzo from the Karelia Suite" is a showcase of keyboard swirls that sound like Christmas music (hey, it's Christmas time right now, so for me to hear this album for the first time ever in the middle of December is PERFECT timing!) I love every moment of this incredible song. The keyboards are played in a quiet way that reminds me of children sleeping for some reason (probably because it's almost like music box music- very pretty, quiet and beautiful).

Anyway, make sure you buy this wonderful album and experience underrated greatness. And I mean it- this is GOOD stuff.