ECHOES FROM THE PAST

Coming in out, not of the blue, but rather of Shine On You Crazy Diamond introductory synth ditties, the opening of this album sounds like an obvious but, still so, really nice touch of floydiana, similar to others in the prolonged career of this German band. There's no reason, however, to be afraid for the personality of this music, since right after of that few first moments, the personal Eloy traits come to shine in full splendour: fully fleshed electric guitar riffs setting the tone in a rocking and grandiloquent manner, keyboards with orchestral and climatic vocation, pounding drums and bass underpinning the whole thing, pulsating but bringing also variation to the signatures.

Now, Bornemann's voice, that can be a problem if you have some prevention against vocal cords carved by old age and/or heavy accent. He's a German and it shows clearly, most of the time, exactly as it's always been the case with Eloy. So we can reasonably expect that that won't be a problem for people familiarized with the band, let alone their fans. On the other hand, he sounds perfectly capable of handling the emotional tone of this work, heavily charged at times, heart-broken on others, ecstatic on the moments of resignation, as he always counts with great female supporting vocalists constructing the massive harmonies required by the unfolding of the storyline, in thight collaboration with keyboards and orchestral parts.

Since this is the closing instalment of a trilogy telling the story of French saint and martyr Jeanne D'Arc, one is obviously waiting for The Pyre, and, when it finally comes, it is clearly a challenge for the tolerance one can dispense to a so obviously predictable outcome. The only thing I have to say is that I didn't suffer the lack of surprise, but rather enjoy the final two tracks very much, and that was because I never ceased to be transported by the sheer emotion of the music to the mistery of a person overcoming the paralyzing fear of unimaginable pain, body consumption, and death.

Only spiritual need makes art worthy, and I feel grateful that Frank Bornemann had that need, and together with his band they were able to shape it in this marvellous music.