LA LEYLA

Hannover-based Kraut Rock band, originally named Ramses II and found in 1972 by Hans-Jürgen Lammers (drums), Peter Klages (guitar), Bernd Probst (keyboards), Hans-Dieter Klinkhammer (bass) and Herbert Natho (vocals).The early years were characterized by several line-up changes, relulting to style's inconsistency, until brothers Norbert Langhorst (guitars) and Winfried Langhorst (keyboards, vocals) entered the picture in 1973.They were followed the next year by drummer Reinhard Schröter, who replaced former member Claus Arve.Along with Arve gone was also founding guitarist Peter Klages.Ramses were discovered by Günter Körber of the legendary Brain label, who signed the group to his independent label Sky.The debut of the band ''La Leyla'' was recorded at Conny Plank's Tonstudio in September/October 1975, produced by Jane's Klaus Hess and finally released in 1976.

Ramses re-invented the ELOY sound of the 1973-75 period, creating a grandiose, heavy-sounding and attacking Heavy/Kraut Rock mixed with some delicate symphonic textures with loads of keyboard workouts.Their style, while very far from being original, was remendously atmospheric and emphatic, characterized by strong and powerful grooves of a hypnotic approach full of organs and deep bass lines, along with ELOY's spacey textures with soaring synthesizers, laid-back guitars and mellow singing lines, while a pair of pieces are highlighted by the use of Mellotron flutes.The decent length of the tracks allowed the band to mix these styles with intelligence, but their music contained also lots of Symphonic Rock vibes, a bit like CAMEL's melodic material, although much more energetic.All tracks contain plenty of breaks and shifting moods, ranging from heavy organ/guitar passages to smooth and dreamy interludes of an instrumental variety.A couple of tracks even contain British-styled proggy influences, especially on the more harmonic moments, akin to CRESSIDA or FANTASY.

Very good debut indeed and definitely a must-have for all die-hard of the classic ELOY sound.Powerful, groovy but also demanding Progressive/Kraut Rock of great quality.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.