INSIDE

Although Eloy's mid-period albums such as 'Dawn' and 'Ocean' seem to get all the praise, this second album from 1973 is the one the finds the German group balancing their hard rock inclinations and symphonic flourishes with expertly-crafted instrumental precision. A dark, brooding affair that blends the ambitious scope of Floyd with the raw and muted aggression of early Deep Purple and a dash of post-psychedelic spirit, 'Inside' proves a much more rugged album than the slick, synthesized prog of later efforts, taking the (admittedly rather few) best bits from their underwhelming self-titled debut and adding both a strong dose of British-style art-rock and a dash of krautrock-style cosmic mystery. Opening track 'Land Of No Body' is probably the best example of the album's foreboding soundscapery, stretching the metallic riffs, neon-lit keyboards and edgy vocals into a darkly-wrought seventeen-minute epic full of stylish sonic detours, whilst the shorter pieces add pacey rock into the mixture. Finally, the closing gambit 'Up & Down' treads a more ethereal path, edging stylistically closer to the spicier sounds found on the group's excellent 'Floating' album. Whiles there's no denying the expansive symphonic flavour of Eloy's mid-seventies output, 'Inside' seems much more focused and much less ponderous, relying more on actual melodies than atmosphere. Strangely overlooked, 'Inside' surely deserves to re-evaluated in both the eyes of Eloy aficianado's and progressuve rock fans in general, showcasing the group's powerful and primal early sound. Just as relevant as 'Floating', 'Dawn' and 'Ocean', this is an excellent example of European progressive rock.

STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2012