ELOY - Eloy (1971-2008) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This is the debut recording from one of Germany's most accomplished progressive rock bands. The band was originally co-led by vocalist Erich Schriever and guitarist Frank Bornemann, and the two differed on musical direction, which is evident here. The band was essentially a hard rock act at this time with a sound similar to Black Sabbath and Atomic Rooster. Although the production is lackluster and their technical abilities were not yet fully developed, it does have an intrinsic quality. "Today," in particular, demonstrates the band's abilities to create catchy rock songs. While Eloy would move in a more progressive direction, which would yield more consistent results, they would never sound as honest and vulnerable as they do here. Humble beginnings for one of progressive rock's most underrated bands. by Robert Taylor
Tracklist
1. Today 6:07
2. Something Yellow 8:14
3. Eloy 6:17
4. Song Of A Paranoid Soldier 4:54
5. Voice Of Revolution 3:09
6. Isle Of Sun 6:07
7. Dillus Roady 6:34
- Bonus Tracks -
8. Walk Alone 2:43
9. Daybreak (1970) 2:41
10. Vibrations Of My Mind 3:36

ELOY - Inside (1973-2000) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Eloy was only on their second album when they introduced their first major change of direction in sound. With the departure of founding member Erich Schriever, Frank Bornemann found himself able to take the group on a more resolutely progressive rock road. Still strongly hard-rocking, though, the music is dominated in turns by Bornemann's guitar solos and Manfred Wieczorke's Deep Purple-esque overdriven Hammond organ. The 17-minute "Land of No Body" tries too hard to emulate the clichés of the prog rock epic. A space-related theme ties together a string of riffs and extended solos. It lacks meat around the bone, and in the end sounds a lot like Benefit-era Jethro Tull. The shorter tracks are more satisfying. "Inside" and "Future City" rock hard and efficiently, the former pushing Wieczorke up front, the latter featuring Bornemann's best vocal impression of Ian Anderson. The closer, "Up and Down," remains, for the most part, a dazed piece filtered by Led Zeppelin and Procol Harum. Compared to the following year's Floating, Inside represents a transition from Eloy's first incarnation and a first exhibition of their leader's main influences -- influences that he still needed to digest. The 2001 remastered edition from EMI adds the two tracks from the 1973 single "Daybreak"/"On the Road." by François Couture   
Tracklist
1 Land Of No Body 17:20
2 Inside 6:35
3 Future City 5:35
4 Up And Down 8:25
5 Daybreak 3:39
6 On The Road 2:30
Credits
Bass Guitar – Wolfgang Stöcker
Drums, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Flute – Fritz Randow
Guitar, Vocals, Percussion – Frank Bornemann
Organ, Guitar, Vocals, Percussion – Manfred Wieczorke
Written-By – Eloy

ELOY - Floating (1974-2000) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

With Floating, Eloy hit their first artistic peak. The German group's brand of hard rock meets prog rock gelled beautifully for this set of five songs. The structural shortcomings of the longest track from the previous album are now things of the past: "The Light From Deep Darkness" is a 15-minute roller coaster. The opening title track gets very close to early Santana, thanks to a spirited drum track and Manfred Wieczorke's organ work, closer this time to Gregg Rollie than Jon Lord (Deep Purple). But the album's highlight resides in the infectiously heavy riff of "Castle in the Air," maybe the most recognizable sound bit in Eloy's first three albums. New bassist Luitjen Janssen gives the song a tremendous momentum. The lyrics to "Plastic Girl" are more down to earth (and relate to Frank Zappa's "Plastic People") than the group's growing interest in metaphysics and space-age references. The album is capped by "Madhouse," a frantic rocker that shows how Bornemann has integrated the influence of Jethro Tull in his music. Fans of Eloy's concept albums (Dawn, Ocean, Planets) have a tendency to look snobbishly at the first three LPs, but Floating stands as a great rock achievement, no matter what the group will record next. The music did not have to adapt to a plot and is not drenched in synthesizers. As a result, it feels more honest and direct. The 2001 EMI remastered edition adds three live bonus tracks.  by François Couture 
Tracklist
1 Floating 3:59
2 The Light From Deep Darkness 14:37
3 Castle In The Air 7:13
4 Plastic Girl 9:05
5 Madhouse 5:16
- Previously Unreleased -
6 Future City (Live) 4:59
7 Castle In The Air (Live) 8:08
8 Flying High (Live) 3:30
Credits
Arranged By, Producer – Eloy
Bass – Luitjen Janssen
Drums – Fritz Randow
Organ, Guitar – Manfred Wieczorke
Painting – Jacques Wyrs
Vocals, Guitar – Frank Bornemann

ELOY - Ocean (1977-2004) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

As good as Dawn was, the weight of the orchestra prevented it from being truly compelling, while its story seemed a bit thin. Eloy fixed both flaws for Ocean, creating their most striking album, a true classic of progressive rock history in Germany and abroad. Written by drummer Jurgen Rosenthal, the lyrics relate to Greek mythology, combining the tale of Poseidon and the myth of Atlantis. Man lost the paradise on Earth that was Atlantis because of his violent nature -- an obvious metaphor of the nuclear menace that was still very much alive in 1977. The album consists of four extended pieces that combine atmospheric keyboards (think early Vangelis), progressive rock developments à la Pink Floyd-meets-Yes, and occasional recitatives inspired by the Moody Blues' storytelling form (In Search of the Lost Chord, On the Threshold of a Dream). Frank Bornemann sings slightly better than usual, his voice carrying more emotion. The band hits the perfect balance between heaviness and lightness: the riffs are solidly anchored, yet the music really floats, especially in "Atlantis' Agony at June 5th -- 8498, 13 P.M. Gregorian Earthtime." "Incarnation of Logos" provides the best moments. Three of the four songs are also featured on the Live album, released a year later, which revealed how little musical material they actually had. Their strength resides in the rich studio arrangements. by François Couture   
Tracklist
1 Poseidon's Creation 11:38
Engineer [Remixing] – Günther "Felix" Beyer
2 Incarnation Of The Logos 8:25
Engineer [Remixing] – Günther "Felix" Beyer
3 Decay Of The Logos 8:15
Engineer [Remixing] – Georgi Nedeltschev
4 Atlantis' Agony At June 5th - 8498, 13 P.M. Gregorian Earthtime 15:35
Engineer [Remixing] – Georgi Nedeltschev
Credits
Composed By, Arranged By, Producer, Performer [Played By] – Eloy
Crew [Road Crew] – Delle Hä!, Klaus The Soldier
Engineer [Recording Engineer], Other [Creative Ideas & Great Sound] –  Georgi Nedeltschev
Lyrics By, Drums [Sonor Genuine Rosewood], Cymbal [Paiste], Timbales, Rototoms, Drums [Kettle Drums], Temple Block, Bells [Tubular Bells], Voice, Triangle, Flute, Other [Morse Key & Paper] – Jürgen Rosenthal
Organ [Hammond], Synthesizer [Mini-moog], Synthesizer [Arp], Mellotron, Computer [Rmi Keyboard Computer], Xylophone, Voice [Angelic] – Detlev Schmidtchen
Painting [Cover] – Wojtek Siudmak
 Producer, Lead Vocals, Guitar [All Electric & Effect], Acoustic Guitar – Frank Bornemann
Vocals, Bass Guitar [Thunderbird- And Fender Fretless] – Klaus-Peter Matziol

ELOY - Colours (1980-2005) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

A new decade, a new lineup, with Frank Bornemann on guitar and vocals, Klaus-Peter Maziol (who stayed on from the previous lineup) on bass, Hannes Folberth on keyboards, Hannes Arkona on guitars, and British born drummer Jim McGillivray. This marked a new direction for the band, a more accessible, direct approach in their music. The guitars tend to be heavier, the keyboards aren't so drench in atmosphere as Detlev Schmidtchen had. Still, this is the sound of the band reluctant to enter the 1980s (and that holds true with their following two albums, "Planets" and "Time to Turn"), and Folberth sticks with strictly '70s keyboards here (but more early '80s keyboards will enter the setup after this album) like Mini Moog, string synths, Hohner Clavinet, and Hammond organ.

The album opens up with "Horizons", complete with clavinet and female chorus, with quote from YES' "Tales From Topographic Oceans" in the lyrics. "Child Migration", "Giant", "Silhouette", and "Gallery" all show the more straighforward direction, a lot of this reminding me of the ALAN PARSONS PROJECT. Some of this music borders on AOR. "Sunset" is an instrumental, synth dominated piece with spacy Moog. web

Tracklist:

 1. Horizons (3:20)

2. Illuminations (6:19)

3. Giant (6:05)

4. Impressions (3:06)

5. Child Migration (7:23)

6. Gallery (3:08)

7. Silhouette (6:57)

8. Sunset (3:15)

- Bonus Tracks - 

9. Wings Of Vision 4:14

10. Silhouette (Single Edit) 3:30

Line-up / Musicians

- Frank Bornemann / lead vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, co-producer

- Hannes Arkona / acoustic & electric guitars

- Hannes Folberth / keyboards

- Klaus-Peter Matziol / bass, backing vocals

- Jim McGillivray / drums, percussion

With:

- Edna & Sabine / lead vocals (1)