FLOATING

Floating is a great heavy space-rock album, showing an Eloy that's firing on all cylinders. It's their last album that still betrays some of their kraut roots, from the next one onwards they would head off in a more symphonic and commercially viable direction.

The sound hasn't changed much since Inside but the difference in quality is obvious right from the start. Floating is a pumping opener with and a good variety of themes and nice choral wordless vocals. The Light is the mandatory epic track, it's a bit shorter then their previous attempt on Inside and the result is much better. It's not the new Thick As A Brick of course, but this could sure have potential amidst JT fans that are in for a more psychedelic take on the classic JT sound. Around minute 8, they felt the need to literally knick some bars from Deep Purple's Child of Time, a bit unfortunate as it only shows how much they remain below the level of their examples. Luckily, the ending section of the track is brilliant.

Generally the inspiration flows a lot more fluently then ever before and the band has a bite and eagerness that lacked on preceding albums. The songs are well thought-out, with lots of variations, nice psychedelic organs and even adequate vocals. With the focus on the instrumental psych-jams and heavy rock, this is by far my favorite Eloy album. Not outstanding enough to be called a masterpiece; it's sure an excellent album.