EILIFF — Discography 1971-2003 | 4 Albums | APE (image+.cue), lossless & FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Founded in Cologne, Germany in 1970 - Disbanded in 1973
Formed in the late 60's by Rainer Brüninghaus, Houschäng Nejadepour, Detlev Landmann, Herbert J. Kalveram and Bill Brown, EILIFF were a German instrumental band who turned fusion on its head with a pair of studio albums featuring classy Canterbury-style jamming with bass, guitar and keyboards plus some ethnic instruments thrown in (mostly the sitar). Two live albums were also released, one of which only came out 30 years later. Being somewhat out of step with the then dominant Kosmiche tradition, the band never really made a name for themselves despite displaying some phenomenal musicianship. References include SOFT MACHINE, early KING CRIMSON, COLOSSEUM, NUCLEUS, VDGG as well as Miles Davis and Frank Zappa.
Their eponymous album (71) features some killer keyboards (electric piano), wild guitar and sax interplay with very complex grooves and extended jams. The similar but more psychedelic album "Girlrls" (72) is even more improvisational and jammy, with frequent nods to KING CRIMSON and DEEP PURPLE. On both live albums, the "Bremen 1972 Live" and "Close Encounters With Their Third One" (recorded in 71-72 but only released in 2002), the band moves effortlessly from energetic, fast-paced riffs to more spacey free-form passages with equal skill. The sound quality is surprisingly good on both.
Intense head prog, early 70's style, that will appeal to fans of SOFT MACHINE, EMBRYO and BRAINSTORM. progarchive

1971 ♦ Eiliff — Eiliff - st. (1994, World Wide Records – SPM-WWR-CD-0067) FLAC

1972 ♦ Eiliff — Close Encounters With Their Third One (1999, Garden Of Delights – CD 036) FLAC

1972 ♦ Eiliff — Girlrls (1994, SPM-WWR-CD-0068) FLAC

2003 ♦ Eiliff — Bremen 1972 (Garden Of Delights – CD 082) APE

EILIFF - Close Encounter With Their Third One (1972-1999) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

What should EILIFF emphasize as a Krautrock outfit in this work? This Close Encounters With Their Third One is a fascinating organ-based free-formed jazz-heavy-psychedelic (also Canterbury-tinged) progressive album indeed, but it may be another issue whether this album can be called as a Krautrocky one or not (honestly I cannot help doubting about the issue).
Anyway, Rainer's psych-tasted keyboard solo can be very brilliant entirely in this album. The very beginning of the first track "Lilybaeum" is completely conquered by his heavy, deep keyboard play. The solemn keyboard sounds can fly gracefully higher like a kingly magnificent eagle - exactly this only-4-minute song can be considered as a hero Rainer's opening performance itself. And two major stages can follow quietly but percussively - "Girlris", again under Rainer's heavily percussive keyboard guidance, can go ahead with Oriental tribal beats and tunes. A bit unrefined but straightly encouraging soundpower by Herbert's free-jazz-flavoured saxophone, Bill's thickened heavy bass, and Houschäng's sharp-edged guitar knives. Sadly Detlev's drum solo is slightly cheap-tasted but we can feel he absolutely could enjoy drumming. "Hallmasch" is a bluesy jazz rock - the voices (whose?) in the middle part are very dreamy and passionate, and particularly Bill's deep, deeeep bass solo can let us palpitate as if we step 'n' dance on stage in the dance hall. And finally we can go on a "Journey To The Ego", the most flexible and the most enjoyable soundscape in this album ... really a wonderful journey in EILIFF world. http://www.progarchives.com
Tracklist:
1. Lilybaeum (4:47)
2. Girlrls (18:47)
3. Hallimasch (15:12)
4. Journey To The Ego (7:45)
Total Time: 46:31
Line-up / Musicians
- Bill Brown / bass
- Rainer Brüninghaus / keyboards
- Herbert J. Kalveram / saxophone
- Detlev Landmann / drums
- Houschäng Nejadepour / guitar, sitar