SILENT CRIES AND MIGHTY ECHOES

"Astral Entrance" is on par with "The Walls of Babylon" ("Pendragon"). The same rip off from "SOYCD" from "Wish You Were Here" but so pleasant (in both case) that I don't blame those bands for this.

When you listen to "Master of Sensation", "Floyd" comes again immediately to your mind. But a harder "Floyd" ("One Of These Days" for instance). Another good song of course but the problem with "Eloy" from their early days, is that they are five years behind the trend. But of course they are no trend-setter. A good band releasing good albums. That's all. Even if I like the instrumental parts of "Master...". Because vocals didn't improve.

In this order of things, "The apocalypse" should have been a full instrumental. Some great synth and guitar work (but this is general to this album). Sweet and melodic, like the masters could play. Such music is really pleasant and when "Eloy" performs such a great number, it does belong to a very good class of bands. Would these awful vocals being taken out of it, this would have been a great track. As such, it is a very good one because most of the "vocal" part will be held by Brigitte Witt.

I just put vocal into brackets since they will be more in the style of what can be heard in "The Great Gig In The Sky" and the fabulous work from Clare Tory. What a pity that no one in their management could have made this clear. Anothe rvocalist should have been assigned. But even so, "The Apocalypse" is a highlight and one of the best "Eloy" song from this side of the earth. It also shows obvious "Tangerine Dream" influences (mid seventies period during their great trilogy). An abrupt end though which is rather weird for a song of that lenght. The band could have thought of something more "refined".

This first part of the album is really great. It will be difficult to keep this high quality level.

Still "Pilot to Paradise" holds a great deal of psychedelia and great guitar sounds during the second part. The very good mood keeps on going.

This is one of my favourite album from the band. not a single weak song even if the invading vocals rather destroy "De Labore Solis" which is only saved by a great and pleasant finale. As one could guess, "Mighty Echoes" is fully "Floyd" oriented again. This time it is strongly related to "Have A Cigar" for the chorus.

This album might not sound very innovative nor personal but it is a pretty good album. One of the best "Eloy" one. Four stars.