ONE NITER

Heading to a second album, Eela Craig's leading figures Hubert Bognermayr and Harald Zuschrader were determined to push the group into a more Classical-oriented sound.This fact led to several departures and new entries in the line-up and the fresh direction of Eela Craig could be heard in the 74' single ''Stories / Cheese''.From the original line-up only bassist Gerhard Englisch remained within the formation.The new Eela Craig included another keyboardist, Hubert Schnauer, drummer Frank Hueber and guitarist/pianist Fritz Riedelberger, while Zuschrader performed also on keyboards.The second album of the group ''One niter'' was finally released in 1976 on Vertigo.

There is indeed a dramatic turn in Eela Craig's sound in this release, leaving all Psychedelic and Jazz influences in the past and offering a grandiose Symphonic Rock with some spacey and Fusion touches, quite old-fashioned for the time.The group delivers some nice musicianship in four long tracks, opening with the 14-min. ''Circles'', split in four parts.Echoes of ELOY, BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST, PINK FLOYD and MANDALABAND are evident in this track, which combines a decent Orchestral Rock with spacey and keyboard-driven textures, led by synths, harsichord, piano and clavinets.The atmosphere of the track is pretty grandiose with an exceptional last part, led by Riedelberger's powerful guitar moves.The 9-min. ''Loner's Rhyme'' is another story.A very THE ENID-like Classical-oriented symphonic section opens and closes this composition, which however has a long and frenetic instrumental middle-part in a Fusion style with obvious funky vibes, characterized by strong clavinet and organ exercises, not far from GENTLE GIANT's sound.With the 11-min. ''One niter'' Eela Craig return to the opening MANDALABAND/THE ENID style with romantic, instrumental Classical textures, based mostly on mellotron, flutes, piano and harsichord, creating a delightful atmosphere.Again some funky moves are evident in the third part of this epic.The short ''Venezuela'' is a beautiful instrumental cut with acoustic guitars and flutes driving the music into more medieval ages, while the 7-min. closing ''Way Down'' follows a style between instrumental Fusion and synth-drenched Symphonic/Space Rock, featuring some nice changing climates.

''One niter'' contains some pretty fascinating music throughout, the mix of Symphonic Rock and Fusion stylings is not always succesful, cohesive or conveincing, but the tremendous instrumental work is sure to reward the listener.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.