PLANETS

I was rather disappointed with their previous album "Colours"."Eloy" did not really well entered into the eighties. But who did ? So, it was with pleasure that I discovered this album which opens brilliantly on a very atmospheric and spacey instrumental : "Introduction" is peaceful but extremely catchy.

"On The Verge" is more on the rocking side, but not only. The closing part for example, is another very good space-rock moment. I only would have liked it to be a little longer (the finale I mean). No breaks between the songs since it is a concept album. The listener is plunged into "Point Of No Return" and its full floydian atmosphere.

Good tracks succeed top good tracks during this album. "Mysterious Monolith" should please all the synthezisers lovers. You' ll get plenty here. A flamboyant song. Not like "Queen Of The Night" which is the poorest one featured.

Would you believe that "Eloy" released a song called "At The Gates Of Dawn" ! And would you believe that it sounds as a "Floyd" one ? It is an instrumental track, spacey for most of it. Just a pity that there are some strings at the end which were not necessary at all.

I like very much the mood of "Sphinx". It vaguely reminds me of "Genesis". Heavy keys, heavy rhythm but pleasant melody. Vocals are not as catastrophic as on previous albums, which is a good news. This aspect was definitely a handicap. I'm not saying that Bornemann became a great singer out of the blue. But at least he is bearable on most of this album. The closing "Carried By Cosmic Winds" is another spacey / psychedelic song. Maybe a bit old fashioned. But, to me, "Eloy" has always been a bit out of mood.

I am very happy to change my mind with this album. In my review of their previous work, I said "if the giants were not able to produce good music, how could "Eloy" be different" ? Well with this good album, "Eloy" did better than most of the giants. Bravo ! Three stars.