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)

CAROL OF HARVEST - Carol Of Harvest (1978-2001) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

One of the many German bands to release a single album on a private label and watch it grow into a collector's dream. Carol of Harvest played a dreamy blend of Progressive Rock and Folk with female vocals that might be compared with Mellow Candle and early Clannad mixed with Jane, Pentangle and Renaissance. The music has the added edge of long arrangements with Moog synth and acid guitar solos, and in reality has little to do with Krautrock.
Information on the band members is very hard to find, helping to shroud this hard to find album with an air of mystery.  progarchives
Tracklist:
1. Put On Your Nightcap (16:02)
2. You And Me (2:31)
3. Somewhere At The End Of The Rainbow (6:26)
4. Treary Eyes (4:17)
5. Try A Little Bit (9:59)
Total Time: 39:14
- Bonus Tracks -
6. River (2:36)
7. Sweet Heroin (7:04)
8. Brickstone (1:14)
Total Time: 50:08
Credits
Bass – Heinz Reinschlüssel
Drums – Roger Högn
Guitar – Axel Schmierer
Keyboards – Jürgen Kolb
Producer – Carol Of Harvest
Producer, Recorded By – Peter Klimek
Technician – Helmut Reinschlüssel
Voice – Beate Krause

CAN - Soundtracks (1970-2005) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Soundtracks is the second album from Can but it is also made up from many movie soundtracks that the band had contributed music to as well. The album has a kind of cut and paste feeling, as many of the songs fade in and out in a rather awkward and hurried manner. However, the big improvement is in the new singer Damo Suzuki, who sings “Tango Whiskeyman” and “Deadlock” in a style that could not be more opposite than Mooney’s: hushed, intricate, solemn, but still dynamic when needing to be. The fact that he sings in a mix of three languages- English, Japanese, and German- is a mere footnote. The lyrics are improvised and SOUND like it, but this only adds to the album’s internal mechanics. Songs such as “Don’t Turn the Light On, Leave Me Alone” have a new sonic clarity to them as the busy toms of Liebezeit merge with the whispering of Suzuki and add a new dimension the band’s moody textures.

“Mother Sky” is the band’s first monumental achievement, a 14 minute work of hypnotic beauty and forward thinking that at first uses elements of drone music (pretty much done solely by Czukay’s bass) and later elements of electric guitar noise and off kilter bass and keyboard playing to form a controlled jam of intensity where it feels like anything can happen. Unfortunately, they let two of Malcom Mooney’s last songs exist on the record as well, and “Soul Desert” and “She Brings the Rain” are truly trying experiences that recall the problems of the debut. The former song is completely unnecessary to the tone and flow of the record, bringing a kind of ragged, garage album feel to an album that is completely nuanced and flavored differently, while the latter song is simply bad beatnik poetry that any Lou Reed / Bob Dylan wanna be of the era could produce. The reprise of “Deadlock” is also slightly overlong and unwelcome so early in the record. Still, most of the record succeeds and points toward a bright future for the band with Suzuki as lead vocalist. The band sounds renewed and alive on Soundtracks, as scattershot and as inconsistent as it is. by Trevor Evans

Tracklist:
1 Deadlock 3:25
2 Tango Whiskyman 4:02
3 Deadlock 1:40
4 Don't Turn The Light On, Leave Me Alone 3:42
5 Soul Desert 3:46
Vocals – Malcolm Mooney
6 Mother Sky 14:30
7 She Brings The Rain 4:04
Vocals – Malcolm Mooney
Credits:
Bass, Engineer, Edited By – Holger Czukay
Drums – Jaki Liebezeit
Guitar – Michael Karoli
Keyboards – Irmin Schmidt
Vocals – Damo Suzuki (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 6)
Written-By, Producer – Can

ATLANTIS - Atlantis (1973-2008) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Atlantis' debut album follows firmly in the footsteps of the earlier Frumpy, with one major difference: shorter songs. Just three of the seven tracks break the five-minute barrier, only one -- the defiantly Deep Purple jazz-rocky "Living at the End of Time" -- approaches ten. But Atlantis rises regardless. The closing ballad, "Words of Love," essentially predicts Heart's entire career, while the funky overtures of "Get Up," colliding with some of Inga Rumpf's finest, gutsiest vocals, would have made a sensational FM radio favorite. The latter portion of "Living at the End of Time," once the band drops the jazz-rock elitism, is spellbindingly fairyland folky, and both "Rock 'n' Roll Preacher" and "Maybe It's Useless" show a Free influence that is quite spectacular. And that, if there is a downside, is where the disappointments lie. At their best, Frumpy's forte lay in their ability to fly off at monstrous tangents without ever losing sight of such notions as melody, cohesion, and discipline. The tangents are less pronounced here, the exploration is less bold and forthright. But the performances are as strong as ever, the songwriting is even stronger, and Inga Rumpf draws out some of her strongest vocals yet to power the band to some brilliant highs. by Dave Thompson  

Tracklist:

1. Get It Up (Inga Rumpf) - 5:24

2. Big Brother (Inga Rumpf) - 5:07

3. Rock 'n' Roll Preacher (Frank Diez)  - 3:42

4. Maybe It's Useless (Jean Jacques Kravetz, Inga Rumpf) - 3:41

5. Let's Get on the Road Again (Inga Rumpf) - 3:33

6. Living at the End of Time (Frank Diez) - 9:07

7. Words of Love (Frank Diez, Inga Rumpf) - 4:52

Atlantis is:

Inga Rumpf - Vocals, Guitar, Percussion

Frank Diez - Guitar

Jean Jacques Kravetz - Keyboards

Karl Heinz Schott - Bass, Vocals

Curt Cress -  Percussion, Drums

Guest Musicians

Rainer Baumann - Guitar

Rebop Kwaku Baah - Percussion, Conga

Jackie Diez -  Background Vocals

Carsten Bohn Bandstand - Drums

Jean Roussel - Keyboards

Claire - Vocals

ATLANTIS - It's Getting Better! (1973-1993) APE (image+.cue), lossless

 Atlantis' second album, It's Getting Better, was the first to be recorded with new members Dieter Bornschlegel (later to join Guru Guru) and Ringo Funk, but it remains firmly cemented within the explorative realms that highlighted the band's debut, at the same time prompting the U.K. music press to describe the band as "the most English of all German groups." This was due in large part to vocalist Rumpf's avowed love of jazz and soul. The funky elements in no way outweighed Atlantis' prog instincts, however, with the seven tracks each spreading out in directions that confirmed the heroics of Atlantis and, in places ("Drifting Winds," "Fighter of Truth"), even surpassed it. The opening title track, too, is a triumph, and well deserving of its inclusion on DJ Andy Votel's much-loved Vertigo Mixed anthology.  by Dave Thompson

Tracklist:

1 t's Getting Better 4:50

2 Drifting Winds 5:06

3 Days Of Giving 7:23

4 Changed It All 6:05

5 Fighter Of Truth 6:17

6 Woman's Sorrow 3:23

7 A Simple Song 1:59

Credits:

Bass – Karl-Heinz Schott

Drums – Ringo Funk

Electric Piano [Fender], Grand Piano, Organ – Jean-Jacques Kravetz

Guitar – Dieter Bornschlegel

Vocals, Percussion, Lyrics by – Inga Rumpf

ATLANTIS - Get on Board (1975-1994) Mp3

Tracklist:

1 Get On Board 3:46

Written-By – Frank Diez

2 Change My Mind 4:31

Written-By – Adrian Askew

3 The Man 3:45

Written-By – Adrian Askew, Karl-Heinz Schott

4 Let Me Stay For A While 3:57

Written-By – Frank Diez

5 Keep The Music Going On 2:49

Written-By – Adrian Askew, Rainer Marz

6 Chartbuster 3:12

Written-By – Frank Diez

7 The Captain And The Ship 3:46

Written-By – Inga Rumpf

8 If I Couldn't Sing 3:38

Written-By – Inga Rumpf

9 Tried To Climb A Mountain 4:34

Written-By – Adrian Askew, Rainer Marz

bonus 

10 Mainline Florida 2:55

Credits:

Arranged By – Atlantis, Dieter Dierks

Bass, Vocals – Karl-Heinz Schott

Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Ringo Funk

Guitar, Vocals – Frank Diez, Rainer Marz

Keyboards, Vocals – Adrian Askew

Lead Vocals – Inga Rumpf

ATLANTIS - Ooh, Baby (1974-1995) Mp3

Tracklist:
1. Brother 3:05
Written-By – Rumpf
2. Son Of A Bitch's Son 3:51
Written-By – Askew, Conti
3. Waiting And Longing 3:14
Written-By – Rumpf
4. Mr. Bigshot (You Get The Credit) 5:34
Written-By – Askew, Conti
5. The Way I Choose 3:53
Written-By – Askew, Conti
6. Ooh, Baby 2:53
Written By – Rumpf-Conti/Conti
7. Smiling People 3:33
Soloist, Piano – Jasper Vant' Hoff
Written-By – Rumpf, Kravetz
8. New York City 4:41
Written By – Askew/Askew
9. Godfather 3:43
Written-By – Askew, Conti
10. Leave It To The Devil 3:13
Written By – Askew/Askew
Credits:
Arranged By – Atlantis
Backing Vocals – Linda Fields
Bass, Backing Vocals – Karl-Heinz Schott
Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Ringo Funk
Grand Piano – Jean-Jacques Kravetz
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Alex Conti
Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals – Adrian Askew
Lead Vocals, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Inga Rumpf
Producer, Engineer, Arranged By – Dieter Dierks

ATLANTIS - Rock Heavies (1980) Mp3

ATLANTIS - Live (1975-2011) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist:
 1. Friends 8:39
 2. Ooh Baby 4:11
 3. Somewhere 6:02
 4. It's Getting Better 6:52
 5. Waiting And Longing 3:40
 6. Brother 5:34
 7. Rock'n Roll Preacher 4:10
 8. New York City 3:56
 9. Mr. Big Shot 6:01
 10. Mainline Florida 6:27
 11. Godfather 4:05
 12. Going To The Country 5:36
 13. Rock Me Baby 4:38
 14. Leave It To The Devil 4:12
Credits:
Bass – Karl-Heinz Schott
Drums, Percussion – Ringo Funk
Guitar, Vocals – Alex Conti
Keyboards, Vocals – Adrian M. Askew
Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion – Inga Rumpf

ATLANTIS - Top of the Bill (1978-2019) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist:

1. He's Got A Gun In His Hand 4:12

Bass – Gerald Hartwig

Keyboards – Ingo Bischoff

Lead Vocals – Ringo Funk

Written-By – Frank Diez

2. Hot Rocks 2:53

Keyboards – Ingo Bischoff

Lead Vocals – Rainer Marz

Written-By – Applegate, R. Marz, R. Diesel-Smith

3. Out Of Tune 3:24

Lead Vocals, Written-By – Inga Rumpf

4. Don't Put The Lady Down 3:46

Lead Vocals – Inga Rumpf

Written-By – F. Diez, Palmer James

5. Northern Bounty 3:59

Keyboards – Ingo Bischoff

Lead Vocals – Rainer Marz

Written-By – Applegate, R. Marz, R. Diesel-Smith

6. Haven't You Heard 5:26

Lead Vocals, Written-By – Inga Rumpf

7. Just Blues (Session) 11:28

Lead Vocals – Inga Rumpf

Written-By – Atlantis 

Credits:

Bass – Karl-Heinz Schott

Drums – Ringo Funk

Keyboards – Adrian Askew

Lead Guitar – Frank Diez

Rhythm Guitar – Rainer Marz

Vocals – Inga Rumpf