THE TIDES RETURN FOREVER

When I saw The Tides Return Forever on the stores I wasn´t exactly thrilled about it. After all, Eloy´s last two releases Ra and Destination were a bit too different from the sound i was used to from this german band. Too many modern synthesisers, too litle guitar, eletronic drums and Frank Bornemann. new found falsetto were not exactly what one would expect from Eloy, specially when you heard such excellent releases like Inside, Down and Ocean, among others. That´s maybe why it took so long for me to listen to it. But when I finally did I was impresssed.

Ok, the previous CDs style remains, with Michael Gerlach´s synths on the forefront, but the use of a ´real´ rhythm section (former Eloy bassist Klaus-Peter Matziol returning on a permanent basis and studio drummer Nico Barretta stepping in) made the sound much more dynamic and organic than before. The songwriting is also very good, with the band providing some of their most inspired stuff since Metromania (1984). The melodies are stronger, the arrangements are more ´human´ and much of the old times ´feeling´ is back. A good mix of their modern and old sound. I liked the CD as a whole but the excellent 9 minute epic company Of Angels (which seems to be a development of their Jeanne D´Arc, from Destination), Fatal Illusions and the title track are truly the album´s highlights. Childhood Memories is also one of their best ballads.

A very nice return to form from one of the pioneering and most important prog bands to emerge from Germany since the early 70´s. If you like their earlier stuff, give it a chance, you won´t regret it! Rating: four strong stars.