PLANETS

An interesting shift in Eloy's sound sees the band toning down the role of vocals in their music - an aspect which had never been particularly stellar - as well as modifying their musical approach, tempering their space rock stylings with some nods to the more accessible end of the symphonic prog spectrum (in particular, some of the keyboard work on this album reminds me of Tony Banks' style). This mixture which would prove to have an inspirational effect on the growing neo-prog movement, as well as refreshing the band's sound at a point when yet another rehash of Ocean or Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes would have felt disappointing. Along with its companion piece Time to Turn, a pretty good Eloy album, though it doesn't quite hit the high standards of its more lush predecessors, and subsequent neo-prog acts would ultimately outdo them at this particular style.