This was the debut release by the band, and in true Prog fashion, is a grandiose concept album based around the scribbling of gothic horror author, Edgar Allen Poe. Before this, Parsons was more widely known as an engineer/producer working on the likes of Dark Side Of The Moon. Basically the band is Parsons himself, his songwriting partner Eric Woolfson, and a bunch of guests. The two most notable names as guest vocalists are John Miles and Arthur Brown.
The album is basically a rock opera and is laid out as such. The standout track being the 15.13 minute long The Fall Of The House Of Usher, which takes up most of Side 2. A very ambitious project for your first release and it works really well. The album is very well written, and as you would expect, the production is top drawer.
If you like your Prog delivered in a big operatic way then this could be for you. 7.5/10 from The Grooveman.
