Eloy Discovery Zone

I tried to post here the link so that anybody that is interest can read all the reviews on 'Dawn', but it doesn't happen.
Dunno why though. It writes error...
So I am posting my review on the album.
Well, is not exactly a review...
I'm writting more or less my feelings about this album...
Anyway, if you are not bored I guess you can take a look...
Here it is:

I just read all the previous reviews. Good reviews everybody! I read about the band's problems with their manager, about how Frank Bornemman started again the band from scratch, I also read many things about how the instruments are been played in this record, about the intro with the storm, etc etc... One thing I didn't read though. How you FEEL when you listen to this record! Because music (and especially Prog) is not just plain analysis of the songs and the instruments. Prog is feelings! Prog is pictures!

Forgive me, but I'm not a musician. I have been to musician's companies when they were analysing records and songs and I wanted to die of boredom! (Listening for example a specific 10 seconds part of a solo for 5 times and then talking about it for half hour!) For me music is something different. I love Progressive Rock because it makes me feel things. It makes me want to close my eyes, sit back and let my mind travel. And that is something this record does very well. It travels your mind!

Another very important parameter is the time you listen a record for the first time. For example many of the records that I adore, are the ones I really grew up with. And 'Dawn' is one of them. First it happened to listen 'Power & Passion', and it was a great album! After listened this record for 50 times within a month, I found 'Dawn'. And that was it! I stuck there! After it was 'Ocean'. Another very good album. But it was not 'Dawn'. I have spend over one decade worshiping this record! I first bought it on vinyl. Then it was seriously damaged from the many hours of playing, so I bought it again. After a while I found a German copy (I think the original one), with the gatefold and the lyrics, so I bought it for the 3rd time! But the next year it was the cd's explosion. You know... Clear sound and all the rubbish they were telling us back then. 'Dawn' it was my first cd. And I don't remember now why, but I bought it again a second time in cd. Total: 5 times I bought this record. Am I insane? Maybe!

Another very important thing I believe is Frank Bornemman's funny English accent. I'm not English or American or Canadian etc, so for me his accent is not so weird. Yes, I understand how funny it is, but I'm used to it and you believe it or not, I like it! If one day Eloy release an album that someone will sing with a great English accent, it will be terrible for me!

Anyway... Trying to become a little objective here, I really believe that Eloy is maybe the greatest German Prog-Rock band, and this record is one of their best works. If I had to propose one more record to someone, that would be 'Eloy Live'. Because is a live record that contains songs from their best 3 albums, Power & Passion, Dawn, & Ocean, in very good versions. As for the rating? I will put 5 stars on this one!

I hope I didn't make you yawn from boredom... Thank you for reading this... :)

CCVP wrote: The Jester wrote: Well, how you can post a record review here? Just open a new post and then copy/paste from the review? yeah, pretty much that's it.

there is a 'permalink' function in the reviews section that can be used followed by copying and pasting the address.

Well, how you can post a record review here?
Just open a new post and then copy/paste from the review?

Excellent presentation of the band first of all! Grats! 
Now, about Eloy eh? hmmmm...
My 'relationship' with Eloy goes about 27 years back. When I was a wild Heavy Metal teenager, and one fine day I listened to 'Power & the Passion'. I was speechless! After recovering from the shock, I bought 'Dawn', which until today it's my most bloved album. Then 'Ocean' folowed, and then 4-5 albums alltogether!
For me Eloy is the greatest German band in this music area we call Progressive-rock, Space Rock, you name it!
Their best and most productive period (again IMHB), is from the release of 'Inside' until 'Eloy live'. (1973-1978)
'Silent Cries' and 'Colors' are good albums, but they involve too many electronic sounds for my likings...
'Planets' and 'Time to Turn' are nothing special, but you can find a few nice songs inside. But then...
Then they started going downhill...  'Performance' 'Metromania' and 'Ra' are really not good albums...
And that was the time I stopped following them.
(If you want you can read a review I wrote a few days ago for 'Dawn' in the PA's main page, when you search for the bands and the records... You will see how passionate I was especially with 'Dawn' and why...)
After Eloy, I tried to find more German bands that will be good as them, but allthough I found some really interesting ones, (Jane, Triumvirat, Novalis etc) none could reach Eloy.
   If any of you wants info on albums, songs etc etc I would be happy to provide... (Hoping that I will remember them of course! )

We didn't actually disagree on as many things as you might think. For instance, I didn't defend Eloy.

I agree. No single good trait is enough to make for interesting music. It's always a combination of several.

Mirror Image wrote: HarbouringTheSoul wrote: You're basically saying that flashy playing doesn't impress you, but excites you. That's a bit of a contradiction, isn't it? You misunderstood me. I'm not impressed by flashy playing but what I said was it adds a new contour to the music. A new level of excitement. I didn't say it excited me, but rather gave the music a facelift.

If it gives the music a new level of excitement, then how is that not impressive? There's nothing wrong with finding flashy playing impressive.

richardh wrote: I think you will also enjoy Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes as long as you dont mind the obvious references to Floyd and some other prog bands (or perhaps you will like it because of those things).

I've only listened to the first track so far and found it to be the most blatant ripoff imaginable of Shine On You Crazy Diamond. Haven't listened to the rest of the album yet, but I plan on doing so. And thanks for the recommendation on Planets and Time to Turn, will definitely check them out. 

Mirror Image wrote: It's all a matter of opinion. I think they're an incredibly weak band creatively. That's just my opinion and I'm happy to formulated it after many listens to their music. They're not in the same league as other prog greats.

I didn't disagree with you on that.

Mirror Image wrote: In fact, they can't even begin to approach the level of musicianship that is required from this genre today.

I still don't understand the problem with their musicianship. As simplistic and repetitive much of their music is, it's always well-executed.

Mirror Image wrote: One thing that I didn't like about Eloy, besides their poor musicianship, was the lack of variety in their music. They seem stuck in one frame of mind.

Again, I recommend "Colours". You will be surprised.

Mirror Image wrote: By the way, flashy playing doesn't impress me, but it does add some spark of excitement to the music.

You're basically saying that flashy playing doesn't impress you, but excites you. That's a bit of a contradiction, isn't it?

^Check out "Colours". The vocals aren't better, but the music should be more up your alley. Less "noodling", more songwriting, more harmonic variety. I don't see your issue with the musicianship though. Their playing isn't very flashy, but it's certainly accomplished.