[3][4] The album was primarily composed of psychedelic pop typical of the period ("Flower King of Flies"," Tantalising Maggie", "The Cry of Eugene"), with Keith Emerson contributing layers of keyboards (piano, organ, harpsichord) and occasionally adding in quotes from well-known classical pieces.

There are also two lengthy acid-rock instrumental jams, "Rondo" and "War And Peace", which point in the group's future progressive rock direction; on these, Emerson incorporates glissandos, feedback, and pitch-bending into his Hammond organ solos as he did on stage, along with an innovative patchwork quilt of blues, jazz and classical motifs.

[citation needed] The title track was released as the album's lead single in November 1967 along with the non-LP B-side "Azrial (Angel of Death)"; while it received a positive review from the Daily Mail, it failed to chart.

Melody Maker opined that the album "successfully captures the musical ingredients that make them so rewarding live", noting interesting experiments in electronic and percussive effects.

[6] In the US, Cash Box noted that "Rondo" "starts cookin' early" and also named "The Flower King of Flies" and "The Cry of Eugene" as highlights, calling it a "candidate for plenty of sales action.

"[7] A retrospective review by AllMusic's Bruce Eder is mixed, as he calls it a "flawed but valiant effort" with strong instrumental work that is let down by the lack of a real lead singer.

[8] The adaptation of "Rondo" proved highly influential on many prog keyboardists to come, with Tony Banks noting that the Genesis song "The Knife" was based around a similar organ motif after seeing The Nice play it at The Marquee.