Eloy Discovery Zone
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=86928
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Topic: Eloy Discovery Zone
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Subject: Eloy Discovery Zone
Date Posted: May 16 2012 at 18:31
 Discovery Zone
Welcome to the Eloy Discovery Zone. This is where we newbies to the band discover some of the best prog out there. I am ashamed to admit I only discovered how great this German Psychedelic, Space Prog band is this year due to the amount of entries appearing at the top of greatest prog albums lists. The legend behind albums such as Ocean and Floating and Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes of course are not unknown to those who hang around this site. However there is so much the band offers on all their albums. Having only recently acquired the debut and Live album I am totally convinced that the band are a hidden treasure in the same vein as Pink Floyd or King Crimson as far as quality is concerned. The singing takes a bit of getting used to but once it seeps into the system it is difficult to imagine the band with any other singer. Who are Eloy? they have a distinct logo 
Eloy actually took their name from the weird "Eloi" race, which were a race featured in the future vision of H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine" from 1895. In the 1960s film they looked like this.  From the 2002 film: 
The Eloi were from the future and were fighting against the Morlocks. The Morlocks hunted them as their only source of food. In the 60s film the Morlocks looked like this  
In the 2002 remake film they were slighty more ugly...  Bournemann describes the name of the band on their website - "The name Eloy is based on the book ' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Time_Machine" rel="nofollow - The Time Machine ' by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.G._Wells" rel="nofollow - H.G. Wells . Wells describes in his book the situation of mankind about 800,000 years later, and 'Eloy' is a human race in his story. The Eloy in Wells' story have made a new start with the help of the time traveler. In a way, it was a new beginning for the human race. German rock bands in the late 1960s played mainly covers from other bands instead of playing their own compositions. Record deals for German bands were absolutely rare and German bands generally were considered to be second class bands in their own country. At that time it was a strong effort for a German band to come out with only their own compositions. It was a start into an unknown future, and from this point of view, comparable to the human race in Wells' story. That is why I got the idea to name the band 'Eloy'."
Onto the actual band now - - - - - The band ELOY formed in 1969 in Germany and were a prolific popular band in their home land. The main influence was the space rock of the 60s and 70s such as Pink Floyd. The Band members: 1971–1972
 My goal is to listen to every album the band has released and it is not easy as there are so many. So feel free to voice your opinions on the band and what you think of the albums. I will post some reviews here of albums too. Have fun discovering this amazing prog band with me.  
The albums
ELOY Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)
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Replies:
Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: May 16 2012 at 18:58
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One of my all-time favorite bands. I love them, as well as most of their albums from Inside up untill TIme to Turn(Power and Passion and Floating excepted). Tides Return Forever, Ocean 2 and Visionary are also splendid. -------------   
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Posted By: colorofmoney91
Date Posted: May 16 2012 at 19:36
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I really like Ocean and Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes, and I've heard a little from Colours and Dawn, and I've enjoyed it all. I'm not too big on psych/space rock usually but they occasionally give off a chill vibe similar to countrymates Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze (it's a very, very subtle vibe). Gotta love that spacey German stuff. ------------- http://hanashukketsu.bandcamp.com" rel="nofollow - Hanashukketsu |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: May 16 2012 at 19:45
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I really love this band! My favorites are the overlooked debut, and the second album Inside. Both these albums really do it for me. After all, they feature the great bassist Wolfgang Stocker. Alas, there are many i have not heard yet. The only one i have heard, and was disappointed with, is Floating. Of the ones i have heard, Inside is my all time favorite. I discovered the band by reading the back of a German EMI lp copy of Triumvirat's album Illusions On A Double Dimple, where at the bottom of the liner notes, a few other German acts on EMI are mentioned, and it said "Inside von Eloy best." |
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: May 16 2012 at 20:08
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Thanks for the input proggers! I am listening to Live now and totally love it. Inside is one I cant get hold of at present But I found this treasure online! 
So will get that soon
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Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: May 16 2012 at 20:08
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It took me a while to appreciate Eloy, but I have a number of albums now, and I've at least heard bits of all their albums through Metromania. My favorites are probably Ocean and Planets. i don't get the urge to listen to them a lot, but when I do, I'm rarely disappointed. They're professionals, and know how to make good albums. Even in the early 80s, when a lot of their peers went overboard trying to keep up with technology, Eloy put out some really fine albums that incorporated the technology smoothly into their style. ------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: Zombywoof
Date Posted: May 16 2012 at 21:40
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I have two albums "Ocean" and "Floating", and neither have really grabbed me as of yet. I get to see them this summer, so perhaps the live experience will help me better appreciate them. ------------- Continue the prog discussion here: http://zombyprog.proboards.com/index.cgi ... |
Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: May 16 2012 at 21:55
Live is, by far, their best album, closely followed by Ocean and Dawn. Inside is also superb and has a nice krautrock feel. -------------
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AtomicCrimsonRush wrote:Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 01:42
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Ra is possibly one of the worst albums I have ever heard but beyond that they have one of the best back catologue's of any band. Very consistent quality although they do crib a lot from other bands. Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes references Floyd ,ELP and Tangerine Dream! That will be offputting for many.
I enjoy the spacey synth drenched prog of Planets and Time To Turn the most.Klaus Peter Matziol is a monster bass player especially. The 'singing' though....
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 05:07
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^^^ I will bear that in mind! I heard some of Silent Cries today and totally blown away. The voice is very unique and I think it makes them Eloy and not just another Kraut or psych band. They really capture an atmosphere on each song that cannot be matched. I discovered the 4 in 1 box set with 4 albums included on ebay so bought that for $28 including shipping to Aus from Switzerland which is an excellent deal! Castle in the air is brilliant and the first time I took notice of them was with that strong spacey guitar sound Another good buy here - 2 for price of one  -------------
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Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 05:38
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Glad to see you've fallen for Eloy, Atomic!
Their album `The Power and the Passion' was one of the very first proper prog albums I ever heard, and I'd never heard anything like it!! Their third album `Floating' is in my top 10 favourite prog albums of all time. Their most recent one `Visionary' was a huge letdown to me. I did get the nice vinyl version, but the music was very average. Still, one of the only times I've been disappointed by them. By the way, am I the only one who sometimes thinks lead vocalist Frank Bornermann sounds like Dr Nick Riviera from `The Simpsons'?! 
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 05:51
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I've tried to like them. Not for me. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 06:50
Yes I believe they are worthwhile as the band have a style that I can get used to. I am amazed at how many of their albums are available for purchase online. I bought 6 albums tonight easily on ebay. Would love to get hold of the DVD too. Maybe later. Cheers -------------
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Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 07:11
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Inside and Floating are their best albums. But i can't stand their vocals on most days. I can find similar stuff with less annoying vocals. ------------- Crushed like a rose in the riverflow. |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 07:16
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I have always had a thing for Eloy. I like most of their output, at least what I've heard so far, but yeah those vocals sometimes make me laugh in the wrong places. It's the inevitable German curse, and personally I'd much rather that they sing in their native tongue. It's very few German artists who have pulled this endeavour successfully off IMO. I do love Inside and Floating though, and their symphonic psych records coming after them all through the 70s are all of high quality. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Zombywoof
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 09:21
These three images were actually of the Morlocks, not the Eloi. From the 60's film:
From the 2002 film:
------------- Continue the prog discussion here: http://zombyprog.proboards.com/index.cgi ... |
Posted By: The Bearded Bard
Date Posted: May 17 2012 at 14:28
I've only heard a handful of songs from this band, but a couple of those, The Apocalypse from 'Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes' and End of an Odyssey from 'Time to Turn', I really liked, so I'm planning to explore Eloy's discography myself in the very near future. So, yeah, I'm definitely going to follow this thread -------------  
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 01:40
Two of their best tracks
I always think the CD 'Eloy Live' is a good place to start. Most of Ocean is there and the band are on electric form. A good chunky 70 minutes of Eloy to enjoy.
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Posted By: Zombywoof
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 08:01
Are they still good live? ------------- Continue the prog discussion here: http://zombyprog.proboards.com/index.cgi ... |
Posted By: The Bearded Bard
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 08:56
I will definitely check that one out, eventually. -------------
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 09:09
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^^^ Yes! Eloy Live is a sensational album and I have that one and love it. The whole album is actually online! LISTEN NOW! -------------
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 09:20
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While we are onto Youtube there are a number of great tracks of Eloy online Not as good as having the Cd of course - but worth a listen if you have the time Here's some of my favourites. If you do not like these, give up... -------------
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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 09:23
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Interesting thread. I've not really discovered Eloy yet. I have a couple of compilations from them on CD, and I have downloaded Visionary and The Tides Return Forever from eMusic. I have also listened to the songs that are streaming on PA. I will probably explore them further one of these days too. ------------- 
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Posted By: Green Shield Stamp
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 11:09
The image from the 1960s film above is actually of Morlocks, not Eloi. Here is a picture of the Eloi from the film: 
They are all young, blonde and beautiful but are nothing more than a listless and passive food source for the Morlocks. The shock revelation in the novel and the movie is that both Eloi and Morlocks are descended from humans. ------------- Haiku Writing a poem With seventeen syllables Is very diffic.... |
Posted By: Zombywoof
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 11:13
Yep. I pointed this out earlier, but I was ignored. ------------- Continue the prog discussion here: http://zombyprog.proboards.com/index.cgi ... |
Posted By: Green Shield Stamp
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 11:23
Sorry, didn't read through the whole thread. You are absolutely correct. My Bad!!!  ------------- Haiku Writing a poem With seventeen syllables Is very diffic.... |
Posted By: Zombywoof
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 11:27
Not a problem, of course. I also asked if Eloy were still any good live, but that seems to be lost in the mists of past pages!! ------------- Continue the prog discussion here: http://zombyprog.proboards.com/index.cgi ... |
Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 18:53
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If you are interested in their best albums, such are (by date): Inside; Dawn; Ocean; Silen Cries; Colours; Planets; Time to Turn; Tides Return Forever; Ocean 2. The ones in bolt are my favorites., even though I like most of their discography. As mentioned earlier, Frank Bonnermann and the guys are probably the most consistent progressive rock band out there. -------------
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Posted By: dreadpirateroberts
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 22:15
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Just got Colours myself - have had a range of their earlier albums for a while, and I was pleased to see a sharper focus on the songwriting on Colours - which is not to say I dislike their more expansive works at all. But Colours was better than I was expecting. Great thread too, Scott! ------------- We are men of action. Lies do not become us. http://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/" rel="nofollow - JazzMusicArchives. |
Posted By: dr prog
Date Posted: May 18 2012 at 23:01
| Fine band. I like their early 80s from 1980-83 the most. That's when they were probably most unique and original. They were pretty good in the 70s too although occasionally showing tull and floyd influences. I'd say Power and passion and Mighty echoes are their best of the 70s with Dawn and Floating not far behind. I find Oceans a bit boring in parts. Too much talking/singing with only bass drum and synth in the background. Mutiny and Midnight fight are the bands greatest tracks |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 19 2012 at 02:40
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Posted By: Zombywoof
Date Posted: May 19 2012 at 07:27
Well, luckily I do have tickets to see them, that's why I was asking. Not a huge fan, yet, but maybe if I see the show, I will be. Seems like one of those 'once in a lifetime' type things, since this is their first trip to the US, EVER!! ------------- Continue the prog discussion here: http://zombyprog.proboards.com/index.cgi ... |
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: May 19 2012 at 10:01
Very jealous you will see them soon - and hope you post a review of the gig. Thanks for pointing out the goof I made about the Eloi in Time Machine. Its been a while since I saw that gem. Didnt like the remake but it was Okay as far as effects go. Cheers - fixing OP now to remove the goof. -------------
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: May 19 2012 at 10:06
Thanks I loved Colours too! My Review: 
http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=20315" rel="nofollow">   "Colours" is a very good Eloy album following a plethora of classic releases during the 70s. The album has a retro sound as all 80s albums tend to have especially with the synth sound, but this is still a progressive release from Eloy with some of their best material. 'Horizons' features the high pitched vocals of guests Edna and Sabine over a quirky time sig driven by keyboards and the hypnotic guitar melodies of Hannes Arkona and Bornemann. 'Illuminations' has familiar Eloy vocals from Frank Bornemann and the strong synth sound of Hannes Folberth. The pace is moderate tempo, and some heavier guitars are heard sounding like Nektar. The riffs are catchy, with terrific guitar work throughout, incredible keyboard solos, and I would say this is a highlight on the album. 'Giant' has a Pink Floyd vibe and some innovative guitars. The keyboard phrases are spacey and it tends to hook into a hypno groove with beatific passages and nice vocals from Bornemann. The keyboard solo is wonderful, very soothing and so well played. 'Impressions' has a whimsical feel with beautiful flute sound, keyboards and guitar picking with the vocals taking on a laid back style. This is easy listening prog but very well accomplished musicianship especially that gorgeous flute solo using keyboards. 'Child Migration' is a keyboard domination, and the vocals are well executed. I like the way the crunching heavy guitar riff comes in later with an odd time sig. The release of tension into light passages is an outstanding touch, and it drives along with layers of keyboards. I love the Floydian keys at the end with spacey atmospheres. This is definitely one of my favourite Eloy songs. 'Gallery' has faster keyboard phrases with an 80s sound but Eloy somehow keep it progressive enough to hold interest. It is more straight forward in terms of structure but a nice diversion into rock. 'Silhouette' is the single and has a Pink Floyd style riff with a rock beat. The vocals are phased and effective. This has a solid melody line and scorching lead guitars. 'Sunset' finishes the album with acoustic vibrations and symphonic synths. The mesmirising beauty the instrumental is as captivating as the album cover artwork. I would dare to suggest this is one of Eloy's triumphant releases and it certainly caps off the 80s that was devoid of innovation like this for the most part. Eloy managed to capture a modern sound without giving into commercialism and creating an album of progressive virtuosic musicianship. -------------
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Posted By: The Bearded Bard
Date Posted: May 19 2012 at 17:39
Listening to it now. Promising!
Same goes for the other tracks you posted, Scott, except for The Midnight Fight/The Victory of Mental Force which I liked immediately.
As for the vocals, I don't find them off-putting at all, as some might. They do, as you say, make them Eloy and not JUST another band. The English words sung/spoken with a strong German accent makes the vocals more spacey, I feel, and that fits the music perfectly IMO. -------------
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: May 20 2012 at 01:20
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^^^ Yes, I agree. I really like their live sound too and this is one of the better live releases of that year. -------------
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 20 2012 at 02:51
 I'm sure you will enjoy your Eloy experience
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Posted By: dlz1965
Date Posted: May 20 2012 at 12:54
| Actually, Eloy DID tour the USA in 1975 and it was a total disaster which led to the break up of that line-up. They played three dates in London in 1984 before breaking up again. For anyone interested, there are dozens of live bootlegs out there which give some idea as to their live sound. |
Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: May 20 2012 at 16:40
I guess it was a good thing then, because after 75 they released their masterpieces: Dawn and Ocean. Power and Passion isn't a very good album in any way. -------------
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 01:01
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Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: May 21 2012 at 16:48
It really isn't. I have most of their discography and that album is among their weakest efforts. It has some cool songs, but overall it is not as good as any album by Eloy up until Metromania. -------------
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 22 2012 at 01:39
thats a much better comment
. I was thinking Bells Of Notre Dame is one of their best songsI do think it is a 'transition album' perhaps. Its also sounds a bit too much like Uriah Heep at times (not a good thing
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Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: May 22 2012 at 10:10
Indeed, a transition album. -------------
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Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: May 22 2012 at 14:04
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I love Eloy More than almost any band I can think of, their albums represent a journey that one must take from beginning to end. Like any journey, there will be parts you love and parts you hate, but you need all of them for the full experience. My favorites are Inside, Dawn, Colours, Planets and Time to Turn. My least favourite are the debut, Floating, Power and the Passion and Destination. And if you like Eloy, I recommend fellow Germans http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=4247" rel="nofollow - Dice . Check out my reviews. http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=22" rel="nofollow - Anyone's Daughter would also be worth a try.
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Posted By: The Bearded Bard
Date Posted: May 22 2012 at 16:40
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Posted By: infandous
Date Posted: May 23 2012 at 14:07
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Eloy was probably my first Internet discovery when I first got on-line back in 1997. I remember finding Pendragon, which was disappointing since I was hoping to use that as the name of my band. For some reason I still haven't listened to any of their music, except The World, which I didn't like at all really. Anyway, probably from links on their site I came across Eloy, who sounded interesting. So I bought Ocean and Silent Cries and loved both. Silent Cries, while good, is such a Pink Floyd rip off it's not even funny (the first track particularly, but also the second to a lesser degree). That doesn't keep it from being a good album though, as I always loved Floyd. There were not a lot of their albums available back then, so I got a couple compilations that were a good selection. I have since picked up a number of their albums, and my personal favorite is Dawn. I still need to get Inside and Floating, though I have songs from both on a compilation. The Live album is probably going to be my next purchase of Eloy, along with Inside and Floating. I had not heard good things about the debut album, even Bourneman doesn't seem to like it. But based on reviews and comments here I think I might have to check it out anyway. The 80's and later stuff doesn't do a lot for me. I do like the first half of Ocean 2, and The Tides Return Forever does have a few good tracks, and I like the Planets/Time To Turn two album concept a lot as well, but not Colours or Metromania (never heard Performance). Though I have not heard Visionary......probably pick that up when I see them live this summer at Nearfest. I am looking forward to seeing them live, as I never have and I'm guessing they put on a good show. The vocals are always the sticking point for this band, and they can get on my nerves at times, but for the most part I think they are fine. The music makes up for any shortcomings in that area. Also, as mentioned before, they make Eloy "Eloy" and not some other band. |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: May 23 2012 at 18:54
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Another big Eloy fan here. I'm weird...I actually like Frank's vocals! And yes, Klaus-Peter Matziol is a fantastic bass player. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 24 2012 at 01:28
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Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: May 24 2012 at 10:44
I like Frank's vocals too.
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Posted By: eloymaster
Date Posted: May 24 2012 at 17:17
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Just a correction to an older post here. ELOY never played live in the US. The planned Neafest appearance this year unfortunately had to be cancelled due to lead singer Frank Bornemann's accident with the bike back in March this year. You should check the song 'Age of insanity' on Visionary. One of their best pieces, and the lyrics are really great. Also I think Eloy are very unique and in my opinion there is no band you can compare them with. Of course they have their influences e.g. from Pink Floyd - but there is really no other band around which comes close to them. The band 'Dice' is nice, but they really have nothing to do with Eloy. |
Posted By: Zombywoof
Date Posted: May 24 2012 at 18:02
Man, this sucks!! I was really looking forward to seeing them. My best to Frank and his family. ------------- Continue the prog discussion here: http://zombyprog.proboards.com/index.cgi ... |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: May 25 2012 at 08:48
agreed about Age of Insanity. By far my favourite track from Visionary
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Posted By: infandous
Date Posted: May 25 2012 at 10:42
Yeah, this was just announced yesterday, and the organizers were only told a week ago. Everyone was hoping he would be fully recovered in time for Nearfest, but his doctor told him if he traveled or played a gig, his injuries could become permanent. No gig is worth that. They already have a band lined up as replacement, to be announced very soon. In any case, I was really looking forward to seeing them, most likely this was the only chance I was ever going to get. |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: May 25 2012 at 10:53
| yeah it's disappointing. I feel badly for Frank, and empathetic as a fellow cyclist. I was not able to get a NEARfest ticket but was looking forward to hearing about the show. |
Posted By: The_Jester
Date Posted: May 27 2012 at 09:49
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I don't know a thing on Eloy so, wich album would you recommend me? The only thing I heard of them was a crappy song from the 80's that sounded a bit like Owner of a Lonely Heart. ------------- La victoire est éphémère mais la gloire est éternelle! - Napoléon Bonaparte |
Posted By: dreadpirateroberts
Date Posted: May 27 2012 at 22:46
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^ Maybe 'Ocean' or 'Silent Cries...' ? Though I like their earlier albums and a few later ones too, they are fairly solid efforts ------------- We are men of action. Lies do not become us. http://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/" rel="nofollow - JazzMusicArchives. |
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: May 30 2012 at 03:22
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I was able to get 6 Eloy albums from ebay but cant get hold of Metromania, Ra or Planets for a decent price. I wonder if they are worth getting or if anyone could tell me any decent songs from those albums. I can hear them on spotify too to check out albums. No disappointments yet I must admit. -------------
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Posted By: infandous
Date Posted: May 30 2012 at 09:17
Well, Planets is part 1 of the concept album that was supposed to be a double but the record company would not allow. Time to Turn is the second part, so if you get Time To Turn, you really have to have Planets as well. Actually, the concept is not entirely clear from the music anyway, but musically, they are similar spacey synth heavy rock. I love them both, but find Time to Turn a bit better. Ra is terrible 80's music to my ears, and I've not heard all of Metromania, but the songs I have heard are a heavier space rock than Planets/Time to Turn. Try Greg Walker (synphonic.com), he might have them cheaper. Possibly laser's edge as well. |
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: June 03 2012 at 20:24
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^^^ cheers! Time for some reviews Here's 2 reviews from more recent Eloy - both deserve at least 3 stars IMHO. VISIONARY - 2009 
 A decade later Eloy return with "Visionary" to celebrate their 40th Anniversary, and of course there was much anticipation with this return of one of the most beloved prog acts hailing from the 70s and continuing indefinitely it seems. The real question is whether this album will live up to the reputation of Eloy or will it flop dreadfully. I am delighted to report that this album is a real grower and features some incredible compositions, not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination but this is one of the better releases of the recent Eloy albums. It is the consistent quality and effort put into every track that is most rewarding and at least 3 of these tracks deserve a listen by any progheads out there.It begins with some subdued material in the form of a straight forward uptempo rocker 'The Refuge', with an AOR feel similar to the material on "The Tides Return Forever". The riffs are nothing special though there is some exceptional lead breaks from Bornemann. Hearing his distinct vocals is like returning to an old friend; Eloy are impoverished without this uniqueness. The renaissance flute here by Volker Kuinke works well to accompany the layers of synths. 'The Secret' is immediately back to the spacey quality of Eloy. It is a slow meandering song with far too many vocals and not enough symphonic key boards. I like the way the vocals though at first are processed to sound like vintage psychedelic prog. The feel is more poppier in the chorus and the uplifting melody is repeated ad infinitum and, as a result, becomes quite tiresome after an initial listen. 'Age of Insanity' is where the brilliance begins for me; a stunning song that I could hear over and over. This one has everything from the heavy guitar riffs to Michael Gerlach's beautiful synth lines. There is a powerful roaming bassline from Klaus-Peter Matziol that mesmirises. Bornemann even returns to his infamous narrations on this one, similar to "Ocean". The instrumental section is dynamic with Gerlach sizzling on keyboards creating stellar spacey soundscapes. 'The Challenge (Time to Turn part 2)' is the next highlight; space rock with an extraordinary rhythmic bassline driving it headlong. The loud synths are dramatic and pleasurable to the ear. There is a strong melody and it feels quite majestic, especially the way it builds in the chorus. It sounds purposely like the material on "Time to Turn" and this is a good thing. I love the way Anke Renner and Tina Lux's vocals balance out Bornemann's delivery. At 4:30 there is a welcome lead break, simple but organic with the bassline and sustained synths. The drumming on this by Bodo Schopf is also a step up from recent Eloy albums. Overall this is a spirited comeback thus far. 'Summernight Symphony' is the most symphonic feeling more like vintage Eloy of the 70s. The music is very measured like a cool summer breeze. There is a strong orchestration on keyboards and Bornemann's vocals are pleasant, with sweet-natured lyrics; "We share a dream enchanted by an overwhelming atmosphere, just you and I beneath the sky, side by side we're soaring high." The pretty melody works as a break from the rockier tracks previous. 'Mystery: The Secret part 2' is a continuum of part one but far better with more keyboard soloing to indulge in. The longest track on the album, Eloy attempt to throw in all of their patented ideas from previous albums but it doesn't come off as a highlight as sometimes less is more. However, it is still a decent composition, that could have been trimmed particularly the opening section that takes an eternity to get to its destination. The guitar riffs are nicely accomplished but Bornemann could have launched into a soaring lead break but restrains himself and yet this is a drawcard of his 70s musicianship, such as 'Castle in the Air' and 'Madhouse' that feature his guitar work at its finest. 'Thoughts' is a short acoustically driven conclusion but after a few slower songs it would have been beneficial to include an uptempo track to wake us up. Overall, "Visionary" has a lot of merit to recommend it, and although it does not measure up to the adventurous classic 70s material it is still a great album. The band tend to steer clear of lengthy inventive soloing and opt instead for arena anthemic choruses and a plethora of vocals, and this is not necessarily a good thing. However, driven by melody and spacey atmospheres, it should appeal to Eloy fans and those who enjoy the mellow side of prog. THE TIDES RETURN FOREVER - 1994
The album begins well enough with 'The Day of Crimson Skies', with tons of synths and a nice guitar sound. The vocals are crystal clear and have that unique accent of Bornemann that I have been accustomed to on all of Eloy's releases. It is a decent song but nothing incredible, and is driven with strong melody and bright, perky musicianship, sounding like Yes in all respects. 'Fatal Illusions' returns to the 70's spacey soundscapes with swathes of synth lines and interstellar atmospherics. The Pink Floydian intro works well along with the solid drumming that soon kicks in. The musicianship is astounding on this and the vocals are again very easy on the ears. The chorus reminds me of the sound of Mostly Autumn and the lyrics are similar to compositions by Ayreon; "Here we are on the edge of time, fatal illusions of flight". The bridge in the song is a nice variation and the more I hear this song the more it grows on me. An 'Echoes' ping begins 'Childhood Memories' and the synth sound by Gerlach is again like Pink Floyd. This is a very slow dreamy song and I like the reverberated guitar phrases. The lyrics and overall sound are uplifting to the emotions. The lovely instrumental section is stirring and this all comes across as a pleasant diversion from the upbeat songs of the album. 'Generation Of Innocence' brings the album back to dynamic energy. It features a vibrant keyboard from Gerlach and some heavier guitar from Bornemann. The guitar riff is simple but effective, and there are Yes-like harmonies throughout. The spirited vocals and sound are typical of the 90s and this brings to mind 1983's 'Owner of a Lonely Heart' in many ways. The keyboards are the main drawcard though and again it is one of the highlights on this album. 'The Tides Return Forever' is another highlight, perhaps the best on the album. Eloy are more ambitious here even incorporating soulful female vocals from Jocelyn B. Smith, who belts out some beautiful high soprano intonations. There is a majestic feel on this with some awesome atmospherics on keyboard and guitar. It builds from a gentle opening with Bornemann's voice sounding more like vintage Eloy. There is a very pretty melody to latch onto. Once Smith begins crooning I am lost in the beauty of this outstanding track. 'The Last in Line' returns to the style of their early 90s albums that were not very successful. The sound on this is very outdated, like the worst of the manufactured poppy 90s, with perky synths and dreadful processed sterile soundbytes. Even the anthemic chorus is cheesy and to be honest I am glad the rest of the album was not like this. 'Company of Angels' closes this album with the most bombastic track of all; a veritable epic. I like the musicianship but could have done without those bombastic male chorus vocals that sound like Vikings singing valiantly on their way to battle; "we roar like thunder, skies torn asunder, we fight to end the torture, the iron hand of God". Sometimes these types of vocals work on albums but here it just sounded weirdly out of place to me. The rest of the song though is decent and especially the melodic verses and synth soaked instrumental. Miriam Stockley's vocals are exquisite and the song gets better as it goes. The ending is powerful and majestic. The choral work at the end is better than the bombast previously, and it tends to grow on me. The twin lead guitar solo is stunning and it is joined by Bornemann's thin vocals nicely complimenting Gerlach's piano work. A great adventurous way to end the album. Overall this album is a leap forward from the disappointment of Eloy's previous releases. Eloy know how to construct a song and there are some outstanding compositions on this album. The good far outweighs the bad in this case and it is consistent quality that makes the difference. BEST TRACKS from both VISIONARY Age of Insanity (7:56) The Challenge (Time to Turn, Part 2) (6:44) THE TIDES RETURN FOREVER Fatal Illusions (9:22) Generation Of Innocence (6:10) That's about an albums worth (40 minutes) of brilliant Eloy so no complaints from me. More Eloy reviews coming soon (when the 6 albums finally arrive -------------
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: June 03 2012 at 21:22
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And another - an excellent 80s album! TIME TO TURN - 1982 
Eloy's "Time To Turn", the sequel to "Planets", is a literal turning point for the band as they continue to blaze away in the 80s. The space rock is augmented by Hannes Arkona's guitars, and keyboards, along with Hannes Folberth's keyboards, Klaus-Peter Matziol's bass, Fritz Randow's drums and some female guest vocalists. As usual all proceedings are overseen by guitarist visionary Frank Bornemann who I also thought led the band admirably on vocals.The album begins with a powerhouse rocker 'Through A Somber Galaxy' that is a definitive highlight for the group. It has some dynamic synth work and awesome heavy guitar riffs with a blistering lead solo. After listening to more recent Eloy albums such as 2009's "Visionary" and 1994's "The Tides Return Forever", to me this album really stands out as being a masterful accomplishment. Of course the band were younger and more inventive back then, but it is such a delight to hear Eloy launching into one treasure after another. The tunes are always uplifting and the spaceyness of the synths are mesmirising throughout. The bassline punctuates the rhythm and drives the track beautifully. A brilliant start to this album. 'Behind The Walls Of Imagination' is another great track with a strong rhythmic feel, on keyboard and guitar. Clavinet accents are effective but the synth keyboards dominate and saturate the soundscape with pleasurable stellar nuances. Two solid gems to begin the album make this proghead very pleased indeed, and I am already in love with this album. 'Time To Turn' is intriguing for me after hearing part 2 from "Visionary" first. The same melody was obviously implemented as I recognised instantly the melodic phrases, especially in the chorus. The addition of guest vocalists Amy, Anna and Sabine is a master touch as they sound incredible. This is a poppy song, rather than prog, but is endearing with the vocal work and synth soaked musicianship. 'Magic Mirrors' opens with more clavinet and a pulsating bassline. The keyboards are mixed to the front and overpowering. I like it though as a diversion from complex structures, but it has to be said the keyboard work is very straight forward rather than complex virtuoso. 'End Of An Odyssey' clocks 9 and a half minutes so I hoped for a masterpiece composition. It begins with a welcome synth solo with spacey drones and high pitched resonances, as though Wakeman turned up in the studio and began to play on his way to a curry vindaloo. So far I am delighted and looked forward to some inventive structures. The music builds with drums and high hat cymbal work and this continues for about 5 minutes. Then on cue Bornemann's vocals chime in and he sounds great on lines such as "if you perceive the truth within yourself". The Pink Floyd style symphonic element is present throughout but there is also a funky Alan Parson's Project feel. The captivating song ends with a battle of clavinet and keyboard sounds and overall this is another definitive highlight of the album. 'The Flash' begins with ambience in the form of synth pulsations and a heartbeat of bass. Bornemann again injects some great vocals. The music develops to a quicker cadence with wavering synth. I love the music at 2:20 that is a bit like the synth heard in 80s rock such as Ultravox, Yazoo or Human League, and I am a fan of that sound. It is actually like the New Romantic music which was a delight for me. Eloy are more complex on this track in terms of structure and what a treasure it is to hear after the simplistic styles preceding. I love this song so much and it really cemented and confirmed a high rating as far as I am concerned. 'Say, Is It Really True' is a song with a difference, very diverse as it features the acoustic guitar, similar to tracks on other Eloy albums but mysteriously missing on this album until now. It is quiet and peaceful after the deluge of synth previous. The lyrics are nice; "Say is it really true that the flame of hope has grown, that the spirit has changed, that the few no longer stand alone." I like the seagull screech effects too. It is a melancholy song that ends the album with a fade out. I highly recommend this album unreservedly to Eloy fans and symphonic or space rock addicts. I was pleasantly surprised at the consistent quality and the amount of highlights. There are no filler tracks and it is an uplifting experience to hear Eloy so inspired and playing at their musical best. As an 80s album, this must rate as one of the best when prog was experiencing a lull in inventiveness. Eloy at least delivered a worthwhile sound and this never disappoints from track to track. -------------
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: June 04 2012 at 00:58
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OKay time for a review of a masterpiece! FLOATING - 1974 
 My obsession with Eloy began here and I believe it is the best album from the band. An instant masterpiece to my ears, I must have heard certain tracks from this over 20 times in the last month. This is psychedelia drenched space rock at its best. The first track I heard from this album is 'Castle in the Air' and it was enough to draw to me to the entire discography of the band. Admittedly, not everything that Eloy puts their hand to is gold, but on this album they had the Midas Touch and could do no wrong as far as I am concerned. It is difficult to review an album that I adore so much as this but this may be the most gushing praise ridden review I have written. I get chills everytime I hear it. It is little wonder that prog aficionado Greg Walker reveres this album as his absolute favourite. It begins with the stellar funkadelic psych of 'Floating'. A massive crunching Hammond blazes away along a wandering bassline and punctuated percussive beat. Bornemann's guitar chimes in and we are on our way. The vocals are loud and bombastic in the opening section and then it switches time sig to a very fast tempo before breaking into a pounding drum beat. There is a psychedelic tranquillity that takes over, with cymbal splashes and shimmering organ, until it returns to the main theme. A great opening number to kick things off. The epic of the album is the 14 and a half minute 'The Light From Deep Darkness' that opens with a serene guitar phrase and Frank Bornemann's inimitable vocals. Suddenly a loud staccato blast of organ and guitar with dollops of drums and bass begins to resound. A time sig locks in dominated by power organ and then a wonderful keyboard solo by Manfred Wieczorke. The bass of Luitjen Jansen is effective pulsating out a rhythm and those drum accents of Fritz Randow are compelling. It sounds like vintage Uriah Heep and Deep Purple in places, only very distinct as only Eloy can be. At about 6 minutes Bornemann flys off into a guitar riff and then it calms considerably with tranquil measured playing and very soft vocals. It builds at about the 10 minute mark until it unleashes into some incredibly psychedelic wah-wah reverb on guitar. If this is not enough, a massive organ sound follows that simply blazes away until this epic is concluded suddenly. This is certainly Eloy at their best and puts many of their material in the 90s to shame. A must for psych prog addicts and prog aficionados. 'Castle In The Air' is my favourite Eloy track and this is due to Bornemann;s incredible guitar riffs and the way it locks into some hypnotic rhythms and allows a myriad of keyboard and guitar solos to unleash a barrage of psychedelic space rock paradise. I remember I first heard this on a prog compilation from Prog magazine and I had to grab the cover to check out who were these fantastic musicians. I was delighted to discover it was Eloy as I had heard so much about them but had not been as impressed with "Ocean". I am delighted to discover their heavier psych side and this track encompasses everything that is great about them. Bornemann is brilliant on guitar and vocals here but I love how the track switches time sigs and feel effortlessly. Bornemann uses scat style mimicking the melodic guitar line and it works. The track includes spoken narration, a trademark of many Eloy albums, and some dynamic trade offs between organ and guitar. The bassline is astonishing on this and in fact all musicianship is virtuoso so I can never tire of this. The riff at 3:20 is wonderful and the percussion is a real drawcard, played masterfully throughout, especially the drum soloing at about 5 minutes in. There is so much passion injected into this composition it makes one rather perplexed as to the type of material that the band churned out in the 90s that was so inferior to this it is like it is from another planet. It is great how this song returns to the main theme at about 6:20, reminding us that we are still on the same song that has diverted considerably over its generous running time. An absolute masterpiece song on every level. 'Plastic Girl' is a long song at 9 minutes in length so I hoped it would deliver and I was not disappointed. The shimmering Hammond sound is present as is a building guitar phrase. Bornemann's vocals are thin and frail but I can take that as the music is so mesmirising. The organ is loud and proud drowning out everything. There is a lead break that takes over eventually and it soars beautifully creating an inferno of psychedelia. At 5 minutes the sig changes into a flowing rhythm and more dramatic organ washes. At 7 minutes we are back to the motif that began this masterful track, and it is a pleasant reminder of the satisfying melodies. I am in awe at how amazing the musicianship is on this album. It is simply a tirade of jaw dropping prog. 'Madhouse' is more of the heavier side of the band especially with the aggressive guitar phrases and high energy cadence. The guitar distortion is agreeable and Bornemann is at his best on vocals; "madhouse of desolation, the day seems bewitching, madhouse, night time nearing, madhouse, lights appearing, the day turning night into day, drifting slowly away with the music". The lead break is searing over a scratchy rhythmic passage. The heaviness is well above average for the band who are more into a symphonic ambience on most of their albums. Eloy know how to rock and they do it masterfully on this brilliant track. After some more guitar work there is a drop out of the main theme and the drums dominate with a fast paced percussion solo that is off the scale. The twin guitar solo that follows is wonderful and once again this is a treasure to my ears. So for me this album is prog perfection in the peak of the golden years of prog. There are three excellent live tracks to supplement the original album on the remastered version. The songs include the 5 minute 'Future City', 8:11 'Castle in the Air' and 3:31 'Flying High'. All are terrific live examples of Eloy. There is a considerable amount of jamming and heavy guitar on 'Future City', the version of 'Castle in the Air' is dynamic and fuelled by fast guitar riffs similar to the studio version and definitely played brilliantly, and finally 'Flying High' includes grinding Hammond, psych guitars and sporadic free form drumming. I like the way it rocks with a fast tempo and although the live songs are raw it is great to hear more of Eloy at the peak of their powers. Overall, this is one of the greatest albums of 1974 in a strong year for prog. Every track is compelling wonderful virtuoso musicianship and there is never a dull moment. A definitive masterpiece, "Floating" is one of the best albums I have discovered over recent years and my collection would be impoverished without it. -------------
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Posted By: DaveyByTheSea
Date Posted: June 04 2012 at 05:43
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Thanks Atomic for that run through...have recently got hold of Floating and Dawn and looking forward to listening to them for the first time! ------------- Skyline Teacher taught me everything! |
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: June 04 2012 at 06:24
My pleasure! I am getting Dawn too very soon hopefully this month along with Inside, Power and Passion, Silent Echoes, and 2 others. -------------
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: June 04 2012 at 11:09
Planets and Time To Turn are very similar although I think (without checking) they had different drummers. Planets is more powerfull to my ears but Time To Turn is a bit more complex perhaps. Both worth having as you say.
Ra is plain awfull - avoid!
Metromania is a fair to middling effort. Quite enjoyable but there are several other Eloy albums I would rather reach for to get my Eloy fix.
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: June 08 2012 at 06:37
Wow 6 Eloy albums turned up in the mailbox today from ebay! Awesome
Listening to "Inside" and I love it!
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: June 10 2012 at 09:48
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Okay time for another review: INSIDE 
This is followed by a more subdued but very good track 'Inside' that features some of the bright Hammond again with Bornemann's vocals lighting up the soundscape. 'Future City' is one of my favourite tracks with Ian Anderson style vocals and a hypnotic bass and guitar rhythmic groove. The freak out instrumental is a fast tempo outbreak of upbeat jazzy psych prog. It returns to the main theme to end making this a well structured track. 'Up and Down' has a slow paced cadence and measured vocal delivery. It feels relaxed and psychedelic with reverb on multi tracked vocals and wah wah guitar embellishments . The wandering bassline is well executed and I like the simple high hat work. It switches to a new time sig with glorious organ phrases. The lead break is superb, and as it shifts to a new time sig, staccato organ and bass are joined with sporadic drumming patterns. It pauses for a while until the slower signature returns and some spoken preaching sounding weird against the backdrop of Hammond, bass and drums. The scratchy organ that jumps in is delightful, forced and wonderfully trimmed with that raw 70s edge. The music swells up and down in volume and intensity with a genuine feeling of tension and release. 'Daybreak' is a shorter track that is dominated with a hard rock guitar and organ riff. It locks into the heavy tempo and there are orchestrated violin strings. A heavy fuzz distorted guitar crunches in and the groove constantly drives headlong as a lead guitar solo augments the atmosphere. There are vocal intonations and some wild percussion breaks. 'On The Road' is a fast rocking blaster with tons of hammering Hammond and a full on lead guitar freakout. The vocals are reverbed and strangely distant. The organ phrases are terrific and I absolutely love the psychedelia of explosive organ and guitar, making this one of the heaviest Eloy songs ever. Overall, "Inside" is a fascinating nostalgic trip back to the psychedelic sound of early prog. Eloy are inventive and progressive throughout this earlier album. It may not be as good as the followup "Floating", but this is an improvement on the debut, and is full of some of the trippiest and heaviest music to ever emerge from the Eloy catalogue. POWER AND THE PASSION
It begins with 'Introduction' that is a cathedral organ instrumental and this flows seamlessly into 'Journey into 1358'. This begins softly and then the tempo speeds up with fast paced organ phrases and Bornemann singing over a driving drum and bass rhythm. The next movement of this suite of songs is 'Love over Six Centuries' with acoustics and gentle vocals. The track is 10 minutes and flows in a variety of directions; a bassline locks into a groove as a synth solos over. The staccato Hammond blasts at 2:40 are sensational with fuzz guitar riffs. It all pulls back then into tranquil ambience with sustained key pads and spoken dialogue; "my name is Jamie and mine is a strange story, one of which even I don't fully understand, my father is a scientist and he's been experimenting with time eroding drugs". Then he goes to the future, meets Jeanne who begins to tell her story, about a man who rules with an iron hand and an arranged marriage by her father. "Well, I see we've both got our problems," observes Jamie. Then they take some drugs together and Jeanne sees a sunset with psychedelic colours, and she ceases to worry. It really emulates the LSD experience and is quite blatant in that regard but quite compelling nevertheless. The next part in the journey is 'Mutiny', another lengthy track of 9 minutes, with layers of synth. It builds with marching percussion and wonderful organ phrases along some haunting melodies. The music is powerful, sweeping and emotional, augmented by the lead guitar break. The pace shifts into a fast shuffling rhythm and some impressive keyboards and a jangling guitar. The vocals return to continue the estranged storyline. Jamie vows to protect Jeanne his beloved, "against the hated iron hands, they're uniting, They're backed by everyone in town, And I must ride to beat them down, how they're fighting, But I understand their cause, To fight against the laws, they're right, I promised to defend your father to the end and fight." Next is 'Imprisonment', a sad ballad where Jamie cries out from his prison cell after being incarcerated for his mutinous ways. The lyrics are simply carrying the story through to the more elaborate tracks; "I know the feeling of rejection, To be imprisoned for no crime, So God please take me out of here, You are my one hope at this time." The guards come to release him and it moves to 'Daylight'. The lyrics state; "Living can be easy if you take life in your stride, I see new horizons push my loneliness aside." Now the protagonist is freed from his captives the tempo becomes faster again and the musicianship brighter, especially some exceptional guitar work that interplays with organ embellishments. 'Thoughts of Home' begins with Clavinet and a gentle vocal expresses that he will delve into magic to find his way home. This leads into the blistering guitar and Hammond crunches of 'The Zany Magician'. A role play of a nasty magic man ensues with an echoed manic delivery; "You'll forget where you've been, Forget what you've seen, You won't feel a thing, you just, Drink it all down, your heart will pound, See you around." So the protagonist is under the spell and we move onto "Back into the Present". The swirling syths and spacey effects represent the journey home, then a bright rock song strikes up. The vocals are multi tracked and some very trippy melodies dominate. This feels like a vintage psychedelic sound with mindblowing lead breaks and happy Hammond bursts. Jamie says people won't believe what he's seen so he goes to a disco with flashing lights to clear his thoughts and unwind. A tolling bell intros the final piece of the puzzle, 'The Bells of Notre Dame' and this is followed by tranquil synth pads. The soft vocals infuse the sound and some enigmatic lyrics; "The world seems to start outside of my body, I don't know what I feel, In these four hallowed walls, The peal of the bells remind me, Of my journey through time." The remix of this song is similar but has some clearer varied musical interludes. At the end of this journey one is left with some fascinating ideas that are encased in incredible musicianship. The concept may come across as convoluted in places, but Eloy make it work somehow such is the conviction of their sprawling vision. It all seems to makes sense and the major source of joy of this album is the way it seamlessly flows from one idea to the next. This is Eloy at their most innovative and it would not be the last time they would venture into high concept as "Dawn" follows, with an even more complex storyline. It is an ambitious project but I admire how Eloy come up with one staggering album after another, brimming over with innovation. Many of the ideas on the album, the meeting of characters, the journey, the spoken dialogue and the musical dialogue between tracks signifying key scenes, has been done before of course, but this is still a highly inventive and refreshing approach to the medium. I am in awe of how brilliant this band is; a true revelation of symphonic prog, and yet again creating a masterpiece album in 1975. -------------
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: June 10 2012 at 10:01
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another masterpiece! DAWN 
A crash of thunder, rain and storm clouds of orchestra strings opens up the magnificent "Dawn" by Eloy. Bornemann's familiar vocals soon come in and a beautiful acoustic flourish on 'Awakening'. The concept album was a huge drawcard to album listeners in the 70s and Eloy always delivered some of the best conceptual masterworks. The music with lengthy jamming instrumental was always designed for the conceptual link between songs and Eloy delighted listeners with lengthy complex compositions with reflective lyrics. The combination of virtuoso musicianship and high concept lyrical themes is an irresistible force and 1976 was at the peak of prog. Bands could get away with virtually anything and were free to express their own ideas through music no matter how outlandish."Dawn" is a complex album with some huge ideas put to very impressive musical themes. The tracks run together almost seamlessly as one and there are multi movement suites that encompass several songs such as 'Between The Times' in 3 sections with a variety of styles and time signatures, with inventive musical breaks. These moments are definitely highlights and at times the music is uplifting and very emotionally charged such as the beautiful melancholia of 'The Sun Song.' The stirring majestic orchestral score at the end of this track is stunning; as good as the symphonic material on The Moody Blues "Days of Future Passed". The majesty continues on 'The Dance in Doubt and Fear', with organic keyboards that glide over a strong percussive hook and pulsing bassline. Bornemann narrates the ideas and the music is allowed to flow along on beautiful key pads. The music soars to the stratosphere and is perhaps some of the loveliest musicianship from Eloy. 'LOST!?' in 2 parts is next beginning with 'Introduction', made up of deep chanting and synthlines. The bass and drums hook into a moderate tempo and a keyboard solo follows. After a passage of vocals ad uplifting music, the sound of waves crashing is heard followed by gorgeous emotional violins. The second section is 'The Decision' beginning with cathedral organ in the vein of Sky's 'Toccata'. The currents of guitar lines flow on a river of synthesizer. It slowly ebbs meandering until Hammond and bass crash in. This is mesmirising music and it builds so gradually until Bornemann's vocals return like an old friend. The wall of synth is so effervescent and ethereal, and at the end a howling wind emanates. 'The Midnight-fight/ the Victory of Mental Force', an 8 minute prog feast, begins with a fast vocal delivery and an off beat bass heartbeat. The fast tempo drums are outstanding and later there are powerful string eruptions to augment the atmosphere of a battle in the heavenlies. The interlude is full of heavy Hammond shimmers and some dynamic percussion and bass. The lyrics are excellent too with effective rhyming phrases following the intricate musicianship. An echoed guitar stabs as violin strings ooze over gliding down over the melodies. The signature shifts again into a frenetic pace and some incredible keyboard, guitar strikes and jazzy percussion dominates. 'Gliding into Light and Knowledge' opens with weird bird calls and an acoustic layer. The ambience is joined with an accordion sound along a rhythmical figure. Bornemann sings phrases such as "where is the sun", "I'm gliding into light and knowledge and crossing everlasting pastures", "we live in here we suffered here", "into the everlasting future". 'Le Reveil du Soleil/ the Dawn' closes the album with a bass intro and some spacey synths and chimes. A spoken word is heard before an elongated passage of music with some angelic choral voices. The mood is like the dawning of a new day. A gong resounds and some vibrant percussion metrical figures before a loud synth takes over. The album ends on a majestic uplifting note as if dawn is closing in and the world is again at peace. The album has been a breathtaking momentous work of innovation. "Dawn" is a stunning achievement; conceptually masterful with some of the most incredible musicianship of the mid 70s when prog was flourishing. The album stands out as another landmark for Eloy, along with "Ocean" and "Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes". A symphonic work of beauty, it is a diamond studded jewel in the treasure chest of progressive milestones. -------------
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: June 10 2012 at 10:39
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The early albums are slightly off my radar but I listened to Floating the other day and was surprised how powerfull it was. This was what Deep Purple might have ended up doing if Lord hadn't got stage fright |
Posted By: FromAbove
Date Posted: June 10 2012 at 11:24
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Currently my favorite German group next to Kraftwerk. I've only listened to Dawn, Ocean, and Silent Cries & Mighty Echoes. I plan on listening to Floating next. I haven't delved too deep into the band, but I enjoy Frank's singing the most and excited to see how the band transformed throughout time.
Discogs doubles as a marketplace for buy records/CDs/cassettes/DVDs that individual users are selling. Pretty sure you could find Planets or Metromania in there. Similar to ebay but without that bidding, but most users like the PayPal method... |
Posted By: infocat
Date Posted: June 10 2012 at 13:29
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ACR: It appears you've only had these albums for two days or so. Is that really enough time to give an honest review? How many times did you listen to each? Not trying to second guess you, but I could never give a good opinion of an album after only a few days and a few listens. ------------- -- Frank Swarbrick Belief is not Truth. |
Posted By: tigka_progka
Date Posted: June 12 2012 at 01:07
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EuLOgY ! Grande band! Chapeau to Dawn, Floating, Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes and Ocean. I'm still missing Visionary, though. I thought that i could find it in one of my record hunting trips to Germany (and thus saving the postage fees from ordering online).
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: June 12 2012 at 07:44
I see your point - before I bought the albums I listened to all of them quite a few times on Spotify. All the albums are up so thanks To Eloy for allowing their albums to be available for listening to - no downloads of course on Spotify. -------------
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Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: June 12 2012 at 07:54
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I need to listen to more Eloy.
------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: infocat
Date Posted: June 12 2012 at 20:49
Ah, got it. I myself don't use Spotify much. But you've inspired me to check out more Eloy. All I have at the moment is Inside (good) and Visionary (not so much). ------------- -- Frank Swarbrick Belief is not Truth. |
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: June 27 2012 at 06:23
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Okay just heard another masterpiece - this one has been brewing for some time as I had a few songs previous to the whole album but this is an incredible album My Review: "Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes"
It is difficult to see where the pinnacle of Eloy's career is located but surely it must have been during the mid 70s with 4 masterpieces in a row being churned out, many of which were visionary concept albums; "Floating" (1974), "Power and the Passion" (1975), "Dawn" (1976) and then they stunned us with "Ocean" (1977). One would be forgiven for thinking that these were hard acts to follow and their glory days may be coming to an end. However Eloy had other ideas and created what many consider to be their all time master work, the amazing "Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes" (1979). Once again it was a massive concept album with some very complex and ingenious passages of music. It is even more stunning as it came in 1979 when prog was beginning to grind to a halt with the upsurgence of new temporary fads of music such as interminable punk and even worse the disco infestation. Nobody, except the very discerning music connoisseur, cared about concept albums and lengthy compositions with time sig changes and virtuoso musicianship. All that was required to get people hyped was a 3 minute song with 3 chords and no singing ability; I present The Sex Pistols. If that was too heavy for you, there was always the booming beat, with orchestra strings, funkadelic bass and manufactured singing; I give you the discoteque scene. As shameful as these musical diversions that lasted a few years were, prog rock had no chance and the synthesizer was about to become the best friend of the 80s, with the rise of new Romanticism and processed artists churned out of a mixing machine in a studio. The artists didn't even need to perform live anymore as lip synching for TV appearances was sufficient and if you couldn't sing, fine as long as you looked pretty and could make girls scream. Again bands like Eloy were doomed. You either jumped on the bandwagon and emulated the next big thing or your career was sunk. One prog band after another sunk without trace to the bottom of the ocean, swallowed up by the craze of the inferior musical landscape of disco and commercialism, and the ones that survived had to transform image and sound or end up also drowned in their own progressive juices. Genesis, Rush, ELP and Yes were victims of the new changes and gained new fans but lost old ones. Pink Floyd were about to change their sound after enormous success with the mother of all concept albums "The Wall" right on the cusp of 1979. Where did Eloy fit into all this? They decided to bite the bullet and produced another concept album with huge progressive delicacies, and the result is one of the best progressive albums of 1979, and indeed one of their triumphs among a plethora of 70s masterpieces. It was to be one of their last crowning achievements, though "Colours" (1980), "Planets" (1981) and "Time to Turn" (1982) proved they still had some excellent musical ideas left in the tank. "Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes" opens with the ominous drone of a synth, with majestic cathedral organ. The opening of 'Astral Entrance' as the soft guitar chimes in, is reminiscent of Pink Floyd's 'Shine On' intro with the same measured tranquil beauty and atmospherics. It builds with 'Master of Sensation', with a faster cadence and strong vocals by Bornemann. His delivery is quite forced with Hawkwind spacey echoes; "It is real, so unreal, it's the magic sign, Make us rise, makes us kneel on the edge of time, Here dwells the lord of creation, Here comes the master of sensation." Even the lyrics by Jürgen Rosenthal have Hawkwind references but no complaints from me as I love that. The instrumental section is dynamic with trade-offs of synth and lead guitar. As usual the heavy use of Hammond is electrifying. The band are incredible when they are in full flight on these instrumental sections. The lead break is awesome and this is a powerful way to open this album on every level. The cathedral organ at the end is absolutely wonderful. A triumphant song by Eloy and they are at their best here. After an energetic opening the album moves into a tranquil passage of music with a 15 minute suite of songs under the banner of 'The Apocalypse' in 3 sections. The first part is 'Silent Cries Divide the Nights' and I am almost in tears at the beauty of the music at 1:58. The lead guitar augments the beauty with spacey echoes over a layer of synth pads and a pulsating bassline. The music organically ebbs and flows with an ineffaceable virtuosity. Bornemann's vocals are transfixing on part 2 "The Vision ? Burning", as he sings of esoteric and high conceptual thoughts of the astral plain of existence; "The air will be afraid of our mortal frame, Ethereal we are, the air we breathe, The storm that's stirring up all fire, I see, our life and limb will still, Not come to harm at the moment, That's the reason why we still think, Of everything to be alright, But our hidden souls already dwell, In seas of flames, red hot solution." The next section is an ethereal instrumental, "Force Majeure", with some angelic female intonations, something like 'Great Gig in the Sky'. The lengthy instrumental section contains some breathtaking musicianship, with buzzsaw synths, mellotron nuances and emotional guitar soloing. At the end it even reminds me of 'Thus Spake Zarathustra'. Then the rhythm changes into a pulsating electronic sound like Jean Michel Jarre and some swirling synths take it into the stratosphere. There is not a moment that does not take my breath away with the powerful jaw dropping musical intensity. It really is a work of mesmirising beauty concluding another stunning masterpiece track for the band. Next up is "Pilot to Paradise" driven by an undulating bassline by Klaus-Peter Matziol and powerhouse keyboard playing. This is a wonderful track and especially exciting due to some glorious vocals and an exuberant tempo. The musicianship is exceptional particularly the keyboard finesse of Detlev Schmidtchen trading off with the soaring guitars of Bornemann. 'De Labore Solis' is a mellow ballad with softer vocals and ambient keyboard with acoustic layers'; mesmirising and beautiful. 'Mighty Echoes' closes the album with a very melodic infectious atmosphere. There is a nice steady rhythmic pace, and Bornemann's vocals are simply stunning here; so original and emotional. There is a tirade of symphonic keyboards and guitars that drive the melody. The two bonus tracks on the remaster are very worthwhile, featuring 'Child Migration' with amazing percussion from Jürgen Rosenthal and a rollicking tempo, and 'Let The Sun Rise In My Brain' with Moog synths and cosmic space rock nuances with some wonderful flute solos. Overall, "Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes" is a sensational album, with some of Eloy's best songs of their lengthy career. It is totally killer and no filler, and came out at a time when prog was beginning to decline. The no-holds barred original approach to the music is awe inspiring, and sets them apart, though they clearly are enamoured with Pink Floyd (but who wasn't?). The musicianship is virtuoso and overflows with innovation and power from beginning to end. Once again Eloy has produced a masterpiece and I am in awe of how they can consistently produce one brilliant album after another; "Floating", "Power and the Passion", "Dawn", "Ocean" and now this album are 5 star treasures of prog. The band would produce other excellent albums after this, not masterpieces but still incredible music by any standard. Eloy are one of the greatest prog bands and deserve the highest recommendation. -------------
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Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: June 28 2012 at 00:56
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Nice review Scott, even though I don't hold the album as high as you do, I love it as well. -------------
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: June 28 2012 at 09:35
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^^^ Thanks heaps! -------------
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Posted By: Moths
Date Posted: July 27 2012 at 07:43
Nope there is a bunch of albums missing from Spotify (unless one get more music with the more expensive subscription). I have Spotify unlimited and from what I can see the albums in bold is missing Eloy 1971 Inside 1973 Floating 1974 Power and the Passion 1975 Dawn 1976 Ocean 1977 Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes 1979 Colours 1980 Planets 1981 Time to Turn 1982 Performance 1983 Metromania 1984 Codename Wildgeese 1985 (This is basically the soundtrack to the old war movie) Ra 1988 Destination 1992 The Tides Return Forever 1994 Ocean 2: The Answer 1998 Visionary 2009 Been listing to Eloy since Silent Cries came out and have all the albums . The band has imho had some serious up's and downs over the years. Personally I don't care much for the earlier stuff before Ocean. Silent cries and mighty echoes starts a period in Eloy's history where they really kick ass. This goes on through Colours, Planets and Time to turn. Performance is a bit weaker. The band tries to break some new ground with more straight forward shorter rocksongs. There is some damned good tracks here but I guess a lot of the old fans started to have doubts about where the band was going. Metromania carry on in the same vain but imo both songwriting and production on Metromania is better. In fact I think it's so good I regard it up there with Colours even if the style is very different. Codename Wildgeese is not my cup of tea at all. It's a movie sound track and not an Eloy album. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING Then comes RA..... What can I say.... production is HORRIBLE. Eloy by now only consistes of Frank and multi instrumentalist Michael Gerlach. I think with a full band and better production this could have been decent at least. Second album by the duo is Destination that I listened two twice and then repressed that I own it. In 1994 Matziol returned and suddenly the band sounds good (not great) on The tides return forever. It's not until Ocean2 the band finally hit the nail and return to form. Unfortunately they do not manage to truely follow up Ocean2 with Visionary but I still thinks it's a decent album. Have anyone here been able to compare the remasters to the old releases? My experience is that on many remasters they rise the volume and use way to much compression, totally destroying the dynamics on the albums. The first remasters of Gentle Giant's albums comes into mind. Cheers! Steve |
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: July 27 2012 at 07:58
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^^^ Nice post! I have yet to experience some of those more recent releases but I did like Visionary a lot. Almost as good as older albums/ -------------
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 27 2012 at 14:33
On the subject of remasters there is nothing as bad in Eloy's back catologue as the 25th anniversary release of In A Glass House!
I only had the orginal CD's of Time To Turn and Planets and then gobbled up all the Eloy remasters as they became available. Time To Turn and Planets are fine to my ears. The subject of compression v dynamics is certainly a much discussed subject on PA.
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Posted By: Moths
Date Posted: July 27 2012 at 17:42
Thanks
You mean in a compressed house? 
Think I'm going to take the chance and get the remaster of Metromania and see if they managed to clean some of the mess. 1983-4 was a year with loads of horrible productions. Studios experimenting with new digital equipment and new mastering techs. My LP is a Direct Metal Master from Harvest. Even the first CD press was better. Another album that is up at number one of albums that need a proper remix/remaster is Mike Rutherford's Smallcreep's Day. Wonderful album totally ruined by the production. I can not listen to it at home on my proper system without my ears starting to bleed. /Steve |
Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: July 27 2012 at 18:45
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Is there no love for Eloy's `Ra' album at all?! I know many complain about the drum machine, but I actually liked it, thought it gave the music a very cold, robotic and isolating sound - perfect for the sci-fi/space themes of their music!
Besides, it's got all the usual Eloy trademarks, with some very catchy and quite accessible elements in amongst all the atmospheric keyboards and epic guitar solos. `Rainbow' was nice for a more commercial track too. Besides, look at that beautiful cover (especially on vinyl)!
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Posted By: Moths
Date Posted: July 28 2012 at 06:35
| RA is totally ruined by the production. I pick it up from time to time and is unfortunately forced to get it off the turn table after one listening since it gives me a headache. Same sh*t as Rutherford's Smalcreep's Day. Good music totally ruined by production |
Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: July 28 2012 at 21:06
I would have to disagree with you here, Ra is definitely a bad album in almost everything, production included. One of the few things Herr Bonnermann did wrong thought his career as Eloy. -------------
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Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: July 28 2012 at 22:21
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I find material wise `Ra' is about on the same level as `Metromania' or `Performance', but I suppose it is let down by the sterile and flat production. But I find ANY of their albums better than `Destination', what an awful album! Very bland and characterless commercial AOR/rock, with very little to associate it with Eloy.
I have to admit I found the latest `Visionary' quite a letdown. I would have preferred they went out with the amazing `Ocean 2' as a swansong if the stuff on the `Visionary' album was the best they could come up. I think that's the most I've been disappointed by a new album from a classic prog band. However, it's a classic compared to the latest Van Der Graaf Generator album `ALT' – trust me, there's a special place in hell reserved for that one! 
Hopefully it's them just them finding their feet again after time away, so another new album (which I DO hope we get from them) is an improvement! |
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: August 14 2012 at 08:08
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^^^ Haha I am hearing you here especially about VDGG's ALT - what a disaster area! I will check out Metromania soon, as it sounds interesting. -------------
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Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: August 14 2012 at 10:07
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Atomic!
I quite like `Metromania', even though it would never be confused as being a classic from them. Slightly more commercial than `Planets/Time To Turn', and often the production is a little cold and flat, but I do find myself digging it out of the CD shelf more often than not! Still very sci-fi and spacey sounding. The first three tracks, especially the longer `All Life Is One' are pretty great, but there's an awful throaway commercial piece called `Nightriders' near the end that's a little too basic and straightforward. Not very memorable. Nice cover too, as usual! |
Posted By: HarbouringTheSoul
Date Posted: August 14 2012 at 11:32
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I just recently discovered Eloy. Strangely enough, I found myself adoring "Colours" (seriously, 5 stars) and only mildly enjoying "Dawn" and "Ocean". Guess I just prefer songs over atmospheres. Have they made anything more in the vein of "Colours" that's good? |
Posted By: Mirror Image
Date Posted: August 14 2012 at 11:46
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I really don't see what the big deal is with Eloy. I find them to be all pretty mediocre musicians. The vocals are horrible and distract more than anything. It might be different if the music was actually interesting but it's not. I've heard Ocean, Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes, Floating, and Dawn. I still shake my head in disbelief when I hear them. I just think they're overrated amongst prog fans. I need more variety in music and if something is going to be static, then at least make it more harmonically interesting. I get nothing from Eloy. ------------- “Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninov |
Posted By: HarbouringTheSoul
Date Posted: August 14 2012 at 11:56
| ^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. |
Posted By: Mirror Image
Date Posted: August 14 2012 at 12:05
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. In fact, they can't even begin to approach the level of musicianship that is required from this genre today. 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. Give me Pink Floyd any day. By the way, flashy playing doesn't impress me, but it does add some spark of excitement to the music. I mean look at Rick Wakeman or Keith Emerson. These guys had chops for days, but they were incredible musicians and were always forward-thinking. Eloy plod along with no end in sight. ------------- “Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninov |
Posted By: HarbouringTheSoul
Date Posted: August 14 2012 at 13:20
I didn't disagree with you on that.
I still don't understand the problem with their musicianship. As simplistic and repetitive much of their music is, it's always well-executed.
Again, I recommend "Colours". You will be surprised.
You're basically saying that flashy playing doesn't impress you, but excites you. That's a bit of a contradiction, isn't it?  |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: August 14 2012 at 14:02
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Posted By: HarbouringTheSoul
Date Posted: August 14 2012 at 14:49
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.  |
Posted By: Mirror Image
Date Posted: August 14 2012 at 15:11
------------- “Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninov |
Posted By: HarbouringTheSoul
Date Posted: August 14 2012 at 15:21
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. |
Posted By: Mirror Image
Date Posted: August 14 2012 at 15:31
Well I suppose not, I guess I should have noted that I don't like flashy or technical playing for it's own sake. Dream Theater is a perfect example of this. I think too often DT just run scales because it sounds cool instead of it actually meaning something or pertaining to the music. But, then again, they're prog metal and I never understood the attraction to this style. Gobs and gobs of distortion never sat well with me. ------------- “Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninov |
Posted By: HarbouringTheSoul
Date Posted: August 14 2012 at 15:33
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I agree. No single good trait is enough to make for interesting music. It's always a combination of several. |
Posted By: Mirror Image
Date Posted: August 14 2012 at 15:39
We agree on something? Damn...  ------------- “Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninov |
Posted By: HarbouringTheSoul
Date Posted: August 14 2012 at 17:01
| We didn't actually disagree on as many things as you might think. For instance, I didn't defend Eloy. |