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Joined: November 03 2006
Location: Rockpommelland
Status: Offline
Points: 1578
Posted: January 04 2017 at 03:11
verslibre wrote:
retroactive wrote:
i've listened carefully to all their albums , in my humble opinion , they could beat the Floyds in the 70's , seen them twice in live concerts , in Hamburg & Warsaw , amazing band , lovely spirit and perfect teamwork ~
To me, Eloy is the superior band. Now I must emphasize band, because Frank's obviously not going to beat Dave as a pure guitarist or vocalist (though I really enjoy Frank's singing, accent and all). But in every other department — keyboards, drums, and especially bass! — Eloy takes it. And I just like their music better, with their prime (for me) beginning with Ocean, and continuing on for many albums, even up through Metromania, which, like Performance, is underrated. Eloy is a unique band, and they were huge in their heyday. The Floyd-mimic criticism is unwarranted and far overdone (a listen to an early album proves that). 'Sides, Eloy got more symphonic to me than Floyd (who I regard as a glorified psych band) ever did. Again, just my humble opinion.
And yeah, let's talk about their bassist! Klaus-Peter Matziol is fantastic. That guy has enough grooves to populate a coin-operating vending machine.
Hear, hear.
Although I like Pink Floyd and Eloy equally, they both have other unique qualities. Frank's guitarplaying is not as superb as David's, but when Hannes Arkona joined, the band had some rock-guitar that Pink Floyd would never have.
The drums and bass of Eloy are far superior. I think the synths are almost equally good and tasteful.
But I like the conceptalbums of Eloy better. The Wall is too pretentious for me and Animals too political. I like the naive mythological and space themes of Eloy.
There are a few songs where Frank pays hommage to Pink Floyd, especially with the guitar intro (wich he does a couple of times), the basspart in The Apocalypse and Poseidon's Creation (although Matze is far superior to Waters), and the acoustic intro of Say Is It Really True, wich sound too similar to Wish You Were Here.
But the space and futuristic rock of Planets -> Metromania is unrivalled. (maybe only Saga comes close).
Also criminally underrated is Dawn, wich is too date, the best symphonic spacerock album I have ever heard.
Joined: July 01 2004
Location: CA
Status: Offline
Points: 18778
Posted: January 03 2017 at 14:16
Lewian wrote:
The Performance album isn't many people's favourite and by the time I had become rather sceptical about the band, but to my surprise this was the much better gig, in a smaller venue, very direct, sharper, with very good contact to the audience and an excellent track list going through all their highlights including even Inside if I remember it correctly. I remember this one as one of the best gigs I saw and it was clear to me that they could be a brilliant live band if they trust their music and their personalities rather than technological overkill.
I'm just jealous you guys got to see Eloy live! I'd have loved to see any and all of the tours from '78 through '85. As I just said in my previous post, I dig Performance and Metromania. The dual keyboardists line-up's a win-win for me.
Joined: July 01 2004
Location: CA
Status: Offline
Points: 18778
Posted: January 03 2017 at 14:14
retroactive wrote:
i've listened carefully to all their albums , in my humble opinion , they could beat the Floyds in the 70's , seen them twice in live concerts , in Hamburg & Warsaw , amazing band , lovely spirit and perfect teamwork ~
To me, Eloy is the superior band. Now I must emphasize band, because Frank's obviously not going to beat Dave as a pure guitarist or vocalist (though I really enjoy Frank's singing, accent and all). But in every other department — keyboards, drums, and especially bass! — Eloy takes it. And I just like their music better, with their prime (for me) beginning with Ocean, and continuing on for many albums, even up through Metromania, which, like Performance, is underrated. Eloy is a unique band, and they were huge in their heyday. The Floyd-mimic criticism is unwarranted and far overdone (a listen to an early album proves that). 'Sides, Eloy got more symphonic to me than Floyd (who I regard as a glorified psych band) ever did. Again, just my humble opinion.
And yeah, let's talk about their bassist! Klaus-Peter Matziol is fantastic. That guy has enough grooves to populate a coin-operated vending machine.
Joined: November 03 2006
Location: Rockpommelland
Status: Offline
Points: 1578
Posted: December 27 2016 at 02:18
kenethlevine wrote:
While Eloy gets some flak for copying other bands, let's not dismiss the influence they had on many German bands, like Anyone's Daughter, Minotaurus, Madison Dyke, Tibet, Zomby Woof, Epidaurus, Shades of Dawn, Faun (the group that only release one live album, in 1998, not the medieval one), and others I can't think of a the moment. Not to mention that they definitely had some influence on bigger contemporaries like Jane, Grobschnitt, and Ramses
Sometimes RPWL sounds more like Eloy than Pink Floyd.
Joined: June 20 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Status: Offline
Points: 7951
Posted: December 26 2016 at 18:13
As it happens, I've really been getting into the Eloy album, Ocean. I hadn't listened to it since I was a teenager and couldn't remember a bit of it. Very happy with it. It seems like I might have had one or two other of their albums. I'd have to check. Ocean is definitely the only one that I've moved over onto CD, though.
A curse upon the heads of those who seek their fortunes in a lie. The truth is always waiting when there's nothing left to try. - Colin Henson, Jade Warrior (Now)
Joined: August 09 2015
Location: Italy
Status: Offline
Points: 15216
Posted: December 25 2016 at 18:01
Good that you mention Eloy as a live act. I saw them twice, after having recorded Planets and Performance. Interestingly, the Planets gig was much more ambitious with a big light show and films. It wasn't attended as well as they had hoped and was postponed once. There was the odd technical problem and despite the sound and the musicians being very good, there was some coldness to this, some lack of emotional connection.
The Performance album isn't many people's favourite and by the time I had become rather sceptical about the band, but to my surprise this was the much better gig, in a smaller venue, very direct, sharper, with very good contact to the audience and an excellent track list going through all their highlights including even Inside if I remember it correctly. I remember this one as one of the best gigs I saw and it was clear to me that they could be a brilliant live band if they trust their music and their personalities rather than technological overkill.
By the way, both of these were in Hamburg (Audimax and Fabrik), so we may have been in the same place.
Joined: December 12 2016
Location: California
Status: Offline
Points: 6
Posted: December 25 2016 at 13:54
i've listened carefully to all their albums , in my humble opinion , they could beat the Floyds in the 70's , seen them twice in live concerts , in Hamburg & Warsaw , amazing band , lovely spirit and perfect teamwork ~
Joined: June 22 2016
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 281
Posted: December 25 2016 at 11:51
Eloy was one of those bands for me where I heard one or two of their albums, but didn't really have the time to get into the rest of the discography until just recently. Silent cries, Dawn, and Ocean are my favorites. Inside is great, too.
Joined: December 06 2006
Location: New England
Status: Offline
Points: 9111
Posted: December 24 2016 at 15:48
While Eloy gets some flak for copying other bands, let's not dismiss the influence they had on many German bands, like Anyone's Daughter, Minotaurus, Madison Dyke, Tibet, Zomby Woof, Epidaurus, Shades of Dawn, Faun (the group that only release one live album, in 1998, not the medieval one), and others I can't think of a the moment. Not to mention that they definitely had some influence on bigger contemporaries like Jane, Grobschnitt, and Ramses
Edited by kenethlevine - December 24 2016 at 15:51
Joined: November 03 2006
Location: Rockpommelland
Status: Offline
Points: 1578
Posted: December 24 2016 at 06:38
richardh wrote:
Metromania is not so bad - its that 3 star in the middle kind of thing. I can't abide Ra at all. Programmed drums are a real 'no no'.
Time To Turn will always be my favourite not least for the bass lines from KPM. Glorious
Almost all drums are programmed in the studio. Especially in rockmusic. Mainly during the eighties and nineties. Nowadays with protools, the drums can be adjusted, so it always seems tight.
Joined: January 14 2007
Location: France
Status: Offline
Points: 1127
Posted: December 23 2016 at 10:20
Metromonia is a cool synthesized-hard-space-rock album, very homogeneous and with some powerful passages. Unfortunately, the last truly good record from Eloy for me...
Joined: December 06 2006
Location: New England
Status: Offline
Points: 9111
Posted: December 19 2016 at 18:19
Lewian wrote:
Hmm, I'm rather an ex-Eloy fan than an Eloy fan; this band is strongly connected with me as a teenager and I kind of fell out with them later; finding many of their compositions too thin as I discovered more complex music. I respect them now though and treasure some of their work, particularly the run between Colours and Time to Turn, possibly even including Performance. The Ego on the Rocks album is up with their best stuff as far as I'm concerned.
That said I'm one of these persons who find Ra really terrible. Their rhythm section has always been their biggest asset and I still think that Matze with Randow or Rosenthal are second to none in prog and elsewhere. Ra has none of this, it's all so synthetic and flat sounding and I really can't bear it.
I didn't discover them until about 1991. Their stuff might not be very complex by prog standards but it's a lot more intricate than most of what's out there. They also could really play their instruments as you imply. They had quite a knack for melody. For instance, even in the rather heavy "Child Migration", the tune sung by Frank is subtle but beautiful when the riff dies out.
I too think Colours thru Time to Turn are their peak, and it might be that this more streamlined sound has aged better than the drone of, say, Atlantis Agony. I think Performance is kinda weak, but maybe I should give Metromania another chance. It just seemed pure metallic to me
Edited by kenethlevine - December 19 2016 at 18:20
Joined: August 09 2015
Location: Italy
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Points: 15216
Posted: December 19 2016 at 16:58
Hmm, I'm rather an ex-Eloy fan than an Eloy fan; this band is strongly connected with me as a teenager and I kind of fell out with them later; finding many of their compositions too thin as I discovered more complex music. I respect them now though and treasure some of their work, particularly the run between Colours and Time to Turn, possibly even including Performance. The Ego on the Rocks album is up with their best stuff as far as I'm concerned.
That said I'm one of these persons who find Ra really terrible. Their rhythm section has always been their biggest asset and I still think that Matze with Randow or Rosenthal are second to none in prog and elsewhere. Ra has none of this, it's all so synthetic and flat sounding and I really can't bear it.
Joined: September 25 2010
Location: Melbourne
Status: Offline
Points: 2528
Posted: December 16 2016 at 20:44
I really like them from 74-83. A strong decade. Oceans was the weakest album in that period though
All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock.
Joined: December 06 2006
Location: New England
Status: Offline
Points: 9111
Posted: December 16 2016 at 13:37
great discussion Eloy fans!
I have not heard Codename Wildgeese and am not looking for it.
I actually like Ra, at least more than the two discs that bracket it, Metromania and Destination. It's got some great melodies and grandeur. IMO Destination is the worst, just not memorable at all in spite of the flutes. Metromania is 2nd worst, to me a hopeless attempt at metal, other than the title cut and "All Life is One" which are both awesome. Others I don't much like are Floating (nothing here that they hadn't already done better on Inside) and Power and the Passion. Visionary and Performance are both relatively weak efforts but saved by a few great tracks (Edge of Insanity, Broken Frame, Shadow and Light)
Hmm I'm tempted to sell my copy of Destination if it's that valuable
Edited by kenethlevine - December 16 2016 at 13:38
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The Eloy appreciation thread
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verslibre wrote:
