From: mikebo@timesink.chi.il.us (Michael Borowiec)
Subject: ELOY Discography (Long!)
Keywords: eloy bornemann
Organization: HAM Radio Station N9EUZ, Naperville, IL
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 09:09:45 GMT

ELOY Discography
by Michael Borowiec (mikebo@timesink.chi.il.us)
Date: November 18, 1992
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Eloy began making records in the early seventies, producing 16 studio
albums to date, their latest being the 1992 release _Destination_.
The group takes its name from a fictional peace-loving race written
about by H.G.Wells in the science fiction novel "The Time Machine".
The music is a mixture of heavy and space rock with classical and jazz
influences. The music invokes various progressive bands of the 70's
and 80's and can best be compared to the likes of Pink Floyd, Yes,
Gabriel's Genesis, Kansas and Alan Parsons.

Eloy's main audience is their home country Germany, although they
have attracted followings in Switzerland, the U.K. and other European
countries. Not so surprisingly they were never introduced in the
Americas. Perhaps their publishers felt that Americans wouldn't buy
records made by a foreign sounding group. The lead singer, guitarist
and driving force behind Eloy, Frank Bornemann had a distinct German
accent. This, in my opinion at least, lent the group character and
distinguished it from the many other progressive groups of the seventies
and eighties. Another contributing factor may have been that most of
their songs are at least five minutes with many lasting eight to ten.
Definately not Top-Ten fodder to say the least.

All catalog numbers refer to the CD re-issues. I have them all... (-8
Hey EMI! Where the hell did all the liner notes go? )-8

Eloy - Eloy (1972)	Philips - 838 821-2
------------------
Today - 5'56
Something Yellow - 8'15
Eloy - 6'15
Song of a Paranoid Soldier - 4'50
Voice of Revolation (sic) - 3'07
Isle of Sun - 6'03
Dillus Roady - 6'32

Straight ahead rock and roll filled with political statements and
unlike anything the group has done since. This is on limited edition
re-issue CD from Philips and is quite expensive, so it would probably
only be of interest to collectors.
Overall rating: Time Waster *

Eloy - Inside (1973)	EMI Electrola - CDP 538-7 90969 2
--------------------
Land of No Body - 17'14
Inside - 6'35
Future City - 5'35
Up and Down - 8'23

What many perceive to be Eloy's real "first album". The first song
"Land of No Body" begins soft and slow, but soon bursts into the
classic 70's progressive rock sound that characterizes the rest of
the album - somewhat subdued but competent lead guitar, leslied
Hammond organ dominating the melody and a strong but very elegant
bass line. I find this album sounds remarkably like early Jethro Tull
(without the flute) especially on the title cut and "Future City".
Some songs invoke memories of the Genesis album "Nursery Cryme".
Overall rating: Good ***

Eloy - Floating (1974)	EMI Electrola - CDP 538-7 90970 2
----------------------
Floating - 3'59
The Light from Deep Darkness - 14'37
Castle in the Air - 7'13
Plastic Girl - 9'05
Madhouse - 5'16

This album sounds very similar to _Inside_, but doesn't break much new
ground and simply isn't very interesting. "Castle in the Air" stands
out as far and away the best track on this album and also contains the
first (brief) appearance of the distinctive spoken poetry of Eloy.
Overall Rating: OK **

Eloy - Power and the Passion (1975)	EMI Electrola - CDP 538-7 90971 2
-----------------------------------
Introduction - 1'10
Journey into 1358 - 2'56
Love Over Six Centuries - 10'05
Mutiny - 9'07
Imprisonment - 3'12
Daylight - 2'38
Thoughts of Home - 1'04
The Zany Magician - 2'38
Back into the Present - 3'07
The Bells of Notre Dame - 6'26

This is a concept album that tells the story of a young man whose
father is a scientist experimenting with a "time eroding" drug. The
young man "somehow" takes the drug and makes a journey back to 1358.
The story is developed more than the music. The album contains some
spoken dialogue which may take some getting used to. The guitarist
(Frank Bornemann) and the drummer have both improved technically.
The group is starting to use more sophisticated and symphonic
soundscapes. Somewhat interesting...
Overall Rating: OK **

Eloy - Dawn (1976)	EMI Electrola - CDP 538-7 91129 2
------------------
Awakening - 2'38
Between the Times - 1'50
The Sun Song - 1'57
The Dance in Doubt and Fear - 1'12
Lost!?? (The Introduction) - 1'08
Memory Flash - 4'55
Appearance of The Voice - 4'25
Return of The Voice - 5'18
Lost?? (The Decision) - 4'58
The Midnight Flight/The Victory of Mental Force - 8'09
Gliding into Light and Knowledge - 4'15
Le reveil du soleil/The Dawn - 6'45

This outing features a completely new lineup, with Frank Bornemann
the only original band member remaining. This incarnation of Eloy
is (IMHO) the most creative and talented musically and will stay
together for several albums. Things have really changed musically.
The sound is polished and production values are much improved.
There are more instruments, most notably strings or their synth
equivalents. This is a very arty concept album that demands a few
listens. Lots of variety, rich tectures and some surprises.
Sometimes tense, sometimes spacey. Highly recommended.
Overall Rating: Good ***

Eloy - Ocean (1977)	EMI Electrola - CDP 538-7 92020 2
-------------------
Poseidon's Creation - 11'38
Incarnation of the Logos - 8'25
Decay of the Logos - 8'15
Atlantis' Agony at June 5th 8498, 13 P.M. Gregorian Earthtime - 15'35

This is a *great* concept album that tells the story of the creation
and destruction of Atlantis. The music is outstanding and has a
spacey feel.. I'm particularly fond of the first half, especially
"Poseidon's Creation" which contains a unique fretless bass line
counterpointed by weeping slide guitar - really wonderful. Perhaps
the only downside is the overlong lead-in to "Atlantis' Agony...".
This is one of the two or three "must have" Eloy albums.
Overall Rating: Excellent ****

Eloy - Live (1978)	EMI Electrola - 1C 538-7 48503 2
------------------
Poseidon's Creation - 11'37
Incarnation of Legos - 8'46
The Sun Song - 8'30
The Dance in Doubt and Fear - 7'36
Mutiny - 9'56
Gliding into Light and Knowledge - 4'24
Inside - 6'34
Atlantis' Agony... - 20'54

What can you say about a live album? The quality of the recordings is
good with minimal distortion. I enjoy the alternate renditions of the
_Ocean_ tracks and the expanded version of "The Sun Song", altho half
its 8'30 length is spoken German which I can only assume is the story
behind the _Dawn_ album. I didn't understand a word... (-8
Overall Rating: Good ***

Eloy - Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes (1979)  EMI Electrola - CDP 538-7 92021 2
--------------------------------------------
Astral Entrance/Master of Sensation - 9'03
The Apocalypse - 14'54
    Silent Cries Divide the Nights
    The Vision - Burning
    Force Majeure
Pilot to Paradise - 7'01
De labore solis - 5'12
Mighty Echoes - 7'16

The music is as close to a shameless Pink Floyd copy as I've ever
heard, complete with effects that could be straight off _Meddle_.
Frank Bornemann has refined his guitar playing in the style of Dave
Gilmour and the whole album sounds so much like 70's PF it must be
either a tribute or a ripoff - but the songs and themes are original
and it sounds great, so go figure... Imitation is supposed to be the
sincerest form of flattery.
Overall rating: Good ***

Eloy - Colours (1980)	EMI Electrola - CDP 538-7 92499 2
---------------------
Horizons - 3'20
Illuminations - 6'19
Giant - 6'05
Impressions - 3'06
Child Migration - 7'23
Gallery - 3'08
Silhouette - 6'57
Sunset - 3'15

This is a "must have" Eloy record and my personal favourite.
It is perhaps the most accessible of all and strongly invokes the
Alan Parsons and Genesis sound of the late 70's. There are metallic
riffs here, but in my opinion they are tasteful and tempered by some
of the best vocals, guitar and keyboard work I've heard. No doubt
this is a transitional album and marks the demise of Pink Floyd
emulation and the evolution into a heavier, more percussive and more
original band. Hello flute! Frank Bornemann really lets the others
stretch. If you're into progressive music you should get this record.
Overall Rating: Excellent ****

Eloy - Planets (1981)	EMI Electrola - CDP 538-7 92500 2
---------------------
Introduction - 1'58
On the Verge of Darkening Lights - 5'37
Point of No Return - 5'45
Mysterious Monolith - 7'40
Queen of the Night - 5'22
At the Gates of Dawn - 4'17
Sphinx - 6'50
Carried by Cosmic Winds - 4'32

What the heck happened? Unfortunately, most of this sounds really
uninspired, as if the writers were just going through the motions.
The first of a pretentious two album long concept that concludes
in _Time to Turn_. The cuts "Point of No Return" and "Sphinx" stand
tall in the mediocrity. Sound is moody, dominated by synthesizer.
Where's the lead guitar? Aaaaaaaaaaargh!
Overall Rating: Time Waster *

Eloy - Time to Turn (1982)	EMI Electrola - CDP 538-7 48487 2
--------------------------
Through a Somber Galaxy - 6'00
Behind the Walls of Imagination - 6'25
Time to Turn - 4'32
Magic Mirrors - 5'25
End of an Odyssey - 9'25
The Flash - 5'34
Say, is it Really True - 4'45

"Through a Somber Galaxy" is OK but musically based on a theme
that was thoroughly explored on the _Colours_ album. "Time to Turn"
is a really good cut, but not good enough to redeem this, another
disappointing record. Ho hum... Where's the lead guitar? Aaaaaaargh!
Overall Rating: Time Waster *

Eloy - Performance (1983)	EMI Electrola - CDP 538-7 92501 2
-------------------------
In Disguise - 4'29
Shadow and Light - 5'17
Mirador - 3'44
Surrender - 5'38
Heartbeat - 6'26
Fools - 5'10
A Broken Frame - 8'10

This is a better record. More breaks, upbeat compositions and
lively performances from all quarters. Not as derivative as
older albums. Feels like the band has emerged from an identity
crisis, tho the sound is still dominated by lead synth...
Overall Rating: OK **

Eloy - Metromania (1984)	EMI Electrola - CDP 538-7 92502 2
------------------------
Escape to the Heights - 5'03
Seeds of Creation - 4'28
All Life is One - 6'28
The Stranger - 3'59
Follow the Light - 9'37
Nightriders - 4'39
Metromania - 6'10

Synth still dominates but there are more lead guitar parts. The
music has taken a decidely heavy metal turn. There is a definate
Roger Waters/The Wall sound to this record; that is, lots of heavily
pumped up martial music punctuated by a combination of shouted,
spoken and sung lyrics. "All Life is One" is cool and cosmic with
vocoder vocals, but this is primarily a heavy rock record. This was
the last Eloy record to be a true band effort.
Overall rating: Good ***

Eloy - RA (1988)	ACI - SPV 85-4802
----------------
Voyager of the Future Race - 8'54
Sensations - 4'46
Dreams - 8'03
Invasion of a Megaforce - 7'42
Rainbow - 5'24
Hero - 6'54

After four years... Eloy is now basically a collaberation between
Frank Bornemann and one Michael Gerlach on keyboards. Various session
musicians and guests have taken the place of permanent band members.
Yet this is a truly great record! Eloy speaks again in neat intros to
songs on this concept album about immortality. The music is still
heavy metal space rock, but very tastefully done and reminds me of
Nektar. High production values (ADD mixing) add neat digitally sampled
effects. Bornemann's refined guitar makes several appearances. Bravo!
Overall Rating: Excellent ****

Eloy - Rarities (1991)	EMI Electrola - CDP 1C 538-7 96721 2
----------------------
Daybreak - 3'39
On the Road - 2'30
Child Migration - 4'03
Let the Sun Rise in Your Brain - 3'28
Silhouette - 3'30
Horizons - 3'20
Wings of Vision - 3'50
Sunset - 2'56
Time to Turn - 4'33
Through a Somber Galaxy - 5'16
The Stranger - 3'59
Wings of Vision (12" version) - 4'14

Interesting collection of 'B'-sides and a couple rare, unreleased
tunes from the early years. One tune, "Wings of Vision" sounds like
knockoff of contemporary (Collins/Banks) Genesis - it was so perfect
I had to laugh. "Let the Sun Rise in Your Brain" is excellent.
Probably of interest mainly to collectors...
Overall Rating: Not applicable, but good nonetheless

Eloy - Destination (1992)	ACI - SPV 084-48082
-------------------------
Call of the Wild - 6'49
Racing Shadows - 7'11
Destination - 7'41
Prisoner in Mind - 4'26
Silent Revolution - 7'55
Fire and Ice - 5'10
Eclipse of Mankind - 6'29
Jeanne d'Arc - 7'36

Another Bornemann/Gerlach collaboration. This album has definately
cut back on the metal although it is still kind of heavy. An original
band member, bassist Klaus Peter Matziol appears on two numbers. Many
of the tunes feature Bornemann singing lead vocal in falsetto and this
sounds amazingly like Jon Anderson/Yes.
Overall Rating: Good ***

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Hope you liked this discography... comments are welcome. Please send
them to mikebo@timesink.chi.il.us. Although I have all their recorded
output I know virtually nothing about the history of the band. Any
additional information is also welcome and will be incorporated into
this discography.

Regards, Mike

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Michael Borowiec  -  HAM Radio Station N9EUZ  -  mikebo@timesink.chi.il.us
  >>> Dedicated to the Pursuit of Computer Assisted Time Dissipation <<<
The Timesink Organization  -  121 Thrush Lane  -  Naperville, IL 60540 USA
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