Eloy - Ocean

Year of Release: 1998
Label: EMI/Electrola
Catalog Number: CDP 538-7 92020 2
Format: CD
Total Time: 43:13:00

To describe Eloy's Ocean on strictly musical terms (versus lyrical), one must use the words atmospheric, densely arranged, pulsing. In parts, languid keyboard phrases wend their way behind the beat of drums and bass. In some ways, Eloy would have been better served as strictly an instrumental band - which isn't to suggest that they have a bad vocalist in Frank Bornemann. Yes, his heavily accented English is nasally, but given the length of their career, it has't hurt any. And as mentioned in other reviews here, I've encountered far worse vocalists.

While this album is seemingly about the fall of Atlantis - the mythical isle - Altantis here is symbolic of Earth. Despite the presence of lyrics, this album works better on an interpretive level - that is, listening to it without deliving into the lyrics. Otherwise, the quirkiness that happens when lyrics are composed by someone for whom English isn't a first language creeps in, drawing attention to the words themselves versus the intended meaning.

Ideal for a lights-out, headphones on listening experience - based on the instrumentation alone.

Eloy have started sounding like Rabin-led Yes of late - or rather, more neo-prog than prog, so going back to this earlier release (1976), shows the degree to which they've changed. But, do I like it? Recommend it? Overall, yes - but despite the level of musicianship, it seems plodding - especially during the vocal sections.

Tracklisting:
Poseidon's Creation (11:38) / Incarnation Of The Logos (8:25) / Decay Of The Logos (8:15) / Atlantis' Agony At June 5 - 8498, 13 P.M. Gregorian Earthtime (15:35)

Musicians:
Frank Bornemann - lead vocals, guitars
Klaus-Peter Matziol - vocals, bass guitars
Detlev Schmidtchen - Hammond organ, mini-Moog, ARP synthesizers, mellotron, RMI keyboard, xylophone, angelic voices
Jurgen Rosenthal - drums and percussion, flute

Discography:
Eloy (1971/2000)
Inside (1973/2001)
Floating (1974/2001)
Power And The Passion (1975/2001)
Dawn (1976/1998/2004)
Ocean (1977/1998)
Live (1978/2004)
Silent Cries And Mighty Echoes (1979/1998/2003)
Colours (1980/1998/2005)
Planets (1982/1998/2005)
Time To Turn (1982/1998/2005)
Performance (1983/2005)
Metromania (1984/2001/2005)
Ra (1988/1998)
Destination (1992)
The Tides Return Forever (1994/1998)
Best Of Eloy (1996)
Best Of Eloy Volume 2: Priime (1996)
Chronicles I (1998)
Ocean II (1998)
Chronicles I & II (2000)
Timeless Passages - The Very Best Of (2003)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin DE

Added: July 25th 1999
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Hits: 3887
Language: english