INSIDE

"Inside" was only Eloy's second release, but already the line up changes had started. Drummer Helmut Draht had to leave due to injuries incurred in a car accident, while lead singer Erich Schriever simply decided that this was not the life for him (did he fall or was he pushed?). Draht was replaced by Fritz Randow, but Schriever was not substituted at all, his vocal duties being assumed by band leader Frank Bornemann. At the same time, Eloy moved to the Harvest label, a British subsidiary of EMI dedicated to progressive bands and artists.

The result of these changes was a migration from the direction searching of the band's eponymous début, to the focused statement that is "Inside". For many, especially in these parts, this is where Eloy arrived, the sophisticated prog which would serve the band well in coming decades being presented for the first time here.

In a clear statement of intent, the album opens with a 17+ minute piece entitled "Land of no body". There's no doubt that these days the track sounds rather clichéd and dated, with more than a little of the Spinal Taps. It must be remembered though that this album dates from 1973, when the organ driven rock and mystical vocals would still have been refreshingly new and innovative. The blending of lead guitar riffs, Hammond organ and a strong powerhouse remind us of bands such as Uriah Heep, Atomic Rooster, Argent, Nektar and Titanic from the same era. The track also boasts some good old phasing along the way, a technique lost on engineers of the digital age.

The album consists of just four tracks, the remaining three making up the second side of the LP. The title track sets out as a slower number, similar in passing with Uriah Heep's "Shadows of grief" from "Look at yourself". The vocals here are adequate but tentative. The opportunity is taken though to incorporate a fine lead guitar solo, which burst through with impressive pace and dexterity. "Future city" is the shortest track on the album at 5½ minutes. There is a Jethro Tull like feel to the song in the quivering vocals and distinctive bass line. Once again, some fine lead guitar completes the track.

The album closes with "Up and down", an 8½ minute piece with similarities in structure to "Land of no body". The similarities with the music of Uriah Heep, especially that band's earliest days, are strong here. Vocally though, while his voice is fine, Bornemann is no David Byron.

In all, an excellent early album from Eloy which captures their ambitions and talents well. There is a more dated feel now to the music here than on albums by some of the band's peers, but this remains classic prog.

Around the time of the album's release, a non-album single called "Daybreak" appeared. Both sides of that single are included on the expanded remaster of this album. "Daybreak" sounds similar to Titanic's hit single "Sultana", the strong rhythm and instrumental lead clearly being designed to capture the same success as that release (but failing to do so). The track also features some rare orchestration. The B-side, "On the road" is a pacey pop based number with rhythmic organ and driving guitar.

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