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Review:
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In the second half of the Seventies I discovered the
German progrock in a small record-shop (Moonlight Records
from Pythagoras drummer Bob De Jong) in my hometown The
Hague: Novalis, Grobschnitt, Ramses, Jane, Wallenstein,
Hoelderlin, SFF and … Eloy, I still love their first two
albums (with a fine psychedelic touch) and the double live
record (wonderful vintage keyboard sound), a recording of
the Ocean tour in March 1978. Later my love for Eloy slowly
faded away, I am not very much into their sound since the
Eighties. So I was very curious to this first new Eloy CD
since Ocean 2 – The Answer from 1998 (11 uears ago!), the
result of the very loyal of Eloy fans from all over the
world on the Eloy website. - To me this new album (in the
Ocean 2 line-up) sounds as a pleasant variation on the Eighties
and early Nineties sound with the distinctive Frank Bornemann
vocals.
The album starts strong with The Refuge: a fluent rhythm
with propulsive guitar riffs and a cheerful sound of the
Renaissance flute, this adds an extra dimension to the music,
a good musical idea! The other six tracks are tastefully
arranged featuring pleasant atmospheres (from dreamy to
mid-tempo) with spectacular synthesizer work (Age Of Insanity
and Mystery), harder-edged guitar (fiery solo in The Challenge)
and acoustic rhythm guitar with warm vocals (the short Thoghts).
But I miss highlights, to me the music fails to capture
the spirit of the compelling Seventies progrock. -
The digipack version includes a special enhanced CD
featuring The Making Of Visionary. And good news: Eloy will
release a 2-DVD with video clips, interviews and a book!
Rating: [3 of 5 Stars!]
Erik
Neuteboom
Progwalhalla.nl
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