What Are You Listening To?

[Ruby]

Been trying to get to grips with The Enid, to whom I have not listened previously at any great length. It’s a very confusing business and may be a bit of a love/hate scenario! Robert John Godfrey is the mastermind behind it all (he originally orchestrated for BJH) and their music is basically what one would call classic rock – some say symphonic prog – I dunno – but in any event, it’s quite impressive that it’s mostly created on what are referred to as vintage synths. There are the regular real instruments of course – drums, guitars (very nice, courtesy of Francis Lickerish), piano/keyboards, and occasional additions like a tuba, bass, trumpet and oboe - it’s Godfrey’s ability to generate a whole symphony from the basics that is jaw-dropping.

There are some heart-achingly lovely pieces interspersed throughout the first two albums I’ve listened to, however, there’s also a lot of bombast, which for me, means that while I probably will listen again in the future, I’ll be unlikely to revisit them anytime soon - it’s quite a lot to digest! A piece of music trivia that I found fairly bizarre is that these guys constituted the band on Kim Wilde's debut album. The mind never ceases to boggle! Lol!

Those two albums are In The Region Of The Summer Stars (1976) and Aerie Faerie Nonsense (1977) - all instrumental – the more recent Enid incorporates vocalists, but not these early albums. Incidentally, Aerie Faerie Nonsense was partially re-recorded in 1983 as EMI had deleted the original from their catalogue – not sure why. Also, Mr Godfrey retired from touring in 2016 due to a diagnosis of Alzheimers but has recently returned as the diagnosis is suspected to have been flawed!! Some years ago he announced that all The Enid’s back catalogue would be freely available to download as high quality MP3’s, saying (quote from Wiki) "The purpose of this is to make sure that The Enid's music reaches as many people as possible and does not entirely disappear when I am dead. The Enid represents my life's work and I want it and what it contains to live on in those who warm to it. Having taken this decision it may well influence the way I think about The Enid and may drive me to do some more."

From In The Region Of The Summer Stars - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTDHIou5bpY

And from Aerie Faerie Nonsense – (love this title   )