Classic Rock Presents Prog mag

Bit late buying my Classic Rock Presents Prog mag this month, but I'm really glad I did as there is a great review of The Enid's set at the Cambridge Rock Festival and one of ITROTTS and AFN.


"Like a glorious cross between Last Night of The Proms and a 1970s prog-rock album of your choice, provided it's selected from the very top drawer, The ENic are very special indeed. Their 85-minute set comprises just three selections, a chunk of the Aerie Faerie Nonsense album from 1977, the main central theme of current opus Journey's End and most of 1976's debut In The Region Of The Summer Stars, each a mini-masterpiece in its own right.

Sporting and evening suit and bow tie, Robert John Godfrey might look a little out of place, but onstage he's in his element. "How old am I?" responds the slightly perplexed-looking keyboard player to a voice in the audience. "I'm 63, but still a little bunny at heart."

Although some of their members double up on multiple instruments, bassist Nic Willies also beating seven bells out of huge timpani drums. the listener was left wondering how on earth a five-piece band could conjure up such an intoxicating wall of sound. In this tent in the middle of the nowhere (to quote the show's compere), The Enid are as majestic as a symphony orchestra in full flight. No wonder full-grown men had tears running down their faces.

No disrespect to headliners Mostly Autumn, but The Enid deserved to close the show." Dave Ling

This is indeed an excellent review, and hopefully will drum up more bookings.

I'll post the album review later when I've got more time.

What a great review I really must get the magazine I wonder classic rock seems to supprt the band with quite a few mentions a major interview would be nice
Bob

I was just going to post on that myself - just read it. It's great to see them getting some proper recognition. Reading the magazines in WHS while my wife was clothes shopping, I found another really positive review of Journey's End in, of all mags, Rock and Reel - didn't expect to find them there, and by the sound of it neither did the reviewer who admitted he had low expectations before listening to it. I was impressed he did listen to it - I think there are a few reviewers who don't bother actually listening, they just write based on their preconceptions.

Bob, they did have an interview a few months back - quite a spread. Can't remember which issue it was - must dig it out.

Jane was it this one http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news ... -the-enid/ if not I would love to know more
Bob

Sort of. I'll have a look and scan it in when I find it. You might be able to get a back copy.

The Classic Rock and Classic Rock Prog guys have given the band reasonable exposure ...and so they bloody should ...this is an absolutely seminal and unique band...and remains so to this day. The latter mag is my preferred one ...and is fresher and picks up on more interesting muscians and performers.

The different reviews of the ITROTSS and AFN re-releases (in each mag by different journos) were positive but rather inaccurate and a bit lazy. Reference to lyrics on AFN etc.

The review for JE was short with not enough comment on the scope of the music itself. A band of this calibre returning after 13 years deserved a bit more of a spread in the reviews section.

In the pantheon of the great UK bands that were spawned in that bygone era (and pigeon holed under "prog rock") The Enid , for me, comfortably ranked alongside (and often above) the big 4 (5) :- Yes, Genesis, ELP, King Crimson (Camel) - but in terms of international profile , number of albums and record-sales wise there is obviously a disparity.
There are probably a few others that I could cite in that mix and whose legacy and body of work has held up through the years but The Enid are at the top table on a musical level.

There are probably a few others that I could cite in that mix and whose legacy and body of work has held up through the years but The Enid are at the top table on a musical level.

Absolutely agree. The issue of CR presents Prog with the review of JE and the one page article was a bit unsatisfactory (vague review and superficial article - though at least there was one - including labelling a picture of someone else as Francis Lickerish). However, I thought the new one was very positive - positively enthusiastic in fact. The name's out there and maybe they're finally claiming their rightful place at the top.

Classic Rock Presents Prog did quite a large feature on the band recently - Dave Ling came and spent a good few hours with the band at the Lodge and did a great write up on the band.

This is a different article to Malcolm Dome's "Cult Bands" feature on the Classic Rock website which was mentioned earlier

The band have recently also had a really good extensive feature in Progression Magazine which is a great US based magazine which goes out to around 49 countries

Also there was a great feature in Euro Rock magazine in Japan

And Eclipsed magazine - Germany, Scandinavia gave great Journey's End reviews and will be doing more with the band in the new year

More on the way too, including a French magazine feature

That's great Billy. The more good exposure the better. I thought 2010 was The Year of The Enid - but I think 2011 is going to see them go on to much bigger and better things!