DAWN

Dawn continues the symphonic styled space-prog that started on Power and the Passion. The compositions are more dynamic and should sure please anyone with a symphonic or neo-prog affection, but everything goes down with the weak vocals that are way too generic for this sort of music. I'm afraid this is too much prog by the numbers for me.

With the addition of violins the album is more bombastic then other Eloy output. Luckily the sound is still rocking and natural and especially the drums and bass are pleasant to listen to. As usual with Eloy, keyboards and guitars are used for texture rather then melody, creating a lush sonic tapestry. But there very little musical body on the inside. There's nothing that grabs you with its intensity, that marvels with its beauty or that inspires by its musical ideas. Especially Bornemann is a failure at the all too prominent vocals. There are very few vocalist that dare to come up with such dull vocal lines.

Not a bad album but too mellow and unprofessional, better then the albums around it, but not much. It really makes me wonder how this band managed to acquire the popularity they got. Maybe because there wasn't much else around? Anyway, I only need 5 minutes with a Genesis or Marillion classic to be convinced this is hardly 2 stars.