POWER AND THE PASSION

What could be more appropriate for a band calling themselves after a humanoid race from the SF classic - H.G. Welles' "Time Machine" - than to dedicate their first concept album to a theme of time travel!? As many previous reviewers already noticed, PATP sounds like a transitional album for ELOY. As heavy rocking PURPLE/HEEP elements began to wane, more atmospheric spacey FLOYD-ian influences as well as some hints of symphonic prog found their way in helping to forge a recognisably ELOY sound. In contrast to previous albums, a plethora of keyboard instruments are dominant here while guitar parts seem to focus more on the particular solo elements and accentuating certain parts of compositions. This is also the first album that carried a distinctive ELOY logo. And another difference from previous efforts, PATP contains even 10 tracks of varying duration, although being a "concept" work all of these could be considered as parts or movements of a single unified work. Now, how pleasurable to listen is all of that? A mixed bag, I would say. The lengthy "Love Over Six Centuries" and "The Bells of Notre Dame" are the best moments for me, being mostly done in an atmospheric spacey style with slow growing sensation, excellent rhythm section and tasteful keyboards. Another fine moment is a dark and menacing, almost metallic texture of "The Zany Magician". All the remaining tracks are much less convincing. "Mutiny" offers some good guitar and bass sequences but otherwise drags a bit too long. The fourth ELOY album is again a decent effort and it seems the band finally found their unique blend of psychedelic/space rock and symphonic sound, but it would take another album or two to perfect it.