Eloy Discovery Zone

It has a great driving rhythm on 'Voyager of the Future' and a nice proggy intro with birds whistling, dialogue about a new chapter of mankind's history, and angelic vocals.The synth sequencer screams the 80s but it is a cool vibe, and the guitars are layered with twang, but the drums are mixed by an 80s engineer of course, never a good thing. The melody on the opening track is certainly an Eloy signature, it is the music that has changed over the years.

The songs are overall forgettable but while it is playing the album has a pleasant vibe, everything is crystalline production and upbeat musical atmospherics such as spacey keys on 'Sensations', the fretless bass of 'Dreams' and the reverberating electro drums and snyth lines of 'Hero', along with its extended lead guitar break. Bornemann is still with the band and lends his unique vocals to the sound. Michael Gerlach is still here on keys, but the rest are guest musicians and singers, so it was not really a band in their prime; but they survived!

There are no bad songs really but nothing jumps out and bites this reviewer as being anything more than a good song with some interesting musical structures. I guess the first track is the stand out along with 'Invasion of a Megaforce' with its Yes like vocals and style. I like the lead guitar work on the album by Bornemann especially on 'Hero', and the lovely vocals of Annette Strangenberg on 3 songs. This is an atmospheric album, by no means their worst, and as such is worth a listen for all Eloy fans.

1992 - Destination

 Eloy's "Destination" is another of the 90s album that saw the band completely change from their prog symphonic roots to embrace the new heavier 90s sound. It is not too bad considering the change over in sound, and in fact it has some excellent songs such as the first three on the album, 'Call Of The Wild', 'Racing Shadows' and 'Destination'. The sound is definitely 90s of course with clean production, reverberating and distorted guitars and overlayed keyboards.

'Silent Revolution' has a nice drone giving it a dark edge, and the keyboards are haunting, sounding like pan pipes; 'Picnic at Hangnig Rock' springs to mind. Then it blazes along with fiery guitar riffs, a heavier sound from Bornemann. His vocals are terrific on such songs where he powers out the vocals with passion. This is definitely one of their heavier songs, and produced when metal was hyper popular. The lead break is incredible followed by chimming keys; a towering performance. Then it ends with a children's choir "we are the future race"; such an epic structure on this song based on saving the planet and shaming humankind for destroying the world with pollution and steel structures.

Other songs include the sparkling guitars on 'Fire And Ice', with a grand melody and musicianship, 'Eclipse Of Mankind', that features a steady pace, metal drum style and endearing vocals, and finally operatic bombastic music on 'Jeanne d'Arc'. It is an enjoyable album and worthwhile, though not purely progressive, during this transformation period of the band.

'Eloy' is the only time the band refer to their name's sake and this is basically Uriah Heep in sound, and the vocals are similar to Deep Purple. I love the cool riff that ploughs along nicely over a simple beat. The instrumental break is broken by fast conga percussion, a nice lead break and then it locks back to the hypno riff. They speak of a "land of freedom" here and on their next album "Inside" they would speak of a "Land of No body." The band literally transform from this more simple style 2 years later and never look back.

'Song of a paranoid soldier' continues the heavy guitar riff and solid melodic singing. It shifts time sig in this song that is about not wanting to kill anymore, and a desire to return to the green countryside; poignant feelings at the time of recording in 1971. The lead break is terrific and I like the way it captures the 70s paranoia.

'Voice of revolution' has another grooving riff that grabs me but I really like the more peaceful and relaxing vibe on 'Isle of sun' reminding me of where the band would eventually go, producing some of the most beautiful music on the planet. 'Dillus roady' closes things with a Uriah Heep riff sounding very much like 'Gypsy', which I adore so no problems.

Overall, Eloy's debut shows what the band are capable of and features some psychedelic Classic Rock sounds and very cool guitar. The ideas are solid and it is a good start to where they were headed. Of course they took on lengthy compositions with ambient keyboards and very intricate structures later. Nevertheless, a lot of bands would like to have a debut this good and it deserves it's place in birthing one of the greatest space rock bands of the 70s and beyond.