OCEAN 2 - THE ANSWER

Giving a sequel to a great album like Ocean after 30 years which have included the 80s was surely a big challenge and I have to say that I had a lot of concerns and I have managed to listen to it only several years after its release.

Eloy are still a bit derivative. On the Floydian opener they use some sounds which can be heard exactly the same on the intro of Shine on You Crazy Diamond, but respect to the plastic and synthetic sound of albums like "Destination" it's surely a big improvement.

Part of the old lineup, but not the same of the first "Ocean" is at work and they seem to have forgotten things like "fairlights and drumatics" (I don't know if Eloy have ever used them but is to give an idea of the sounds I'm referring to).

After the intro the first "song" maintains what the intro promised. It's a true progressive song which can remind to the first "Ocean". The Floyd influence is not so relevant. The Bornemann's vocals and they keyboardsare a trademark of the band which in now clearly recognisable. On the last notes of Ro Setau I can imagine Jon Anderson starting the following song, but it's just an impression. This is a very good song.

"Paralyzed Civilisation" is another very good song. The guitar has something "Camelistic" but can't be defined derivative.The song has many different moments and passages and in the riff at the middle of the song Bornemann places one of his best guitar inventions. The vocoder adds a touch of Pink Floyd (AMLOR) to a choir close to 90125.Derivative? No. Eloy have absorbed other's music and created their trademark. They can't be confused with anybody else.

"Serenity" is a short bridge leading to the following track whose title "Awakening of Consciousness" seems taken from a Senmuth's album. It has a rocking intro and proceeds with a high tempo for half of the track where it slows down for a short interlude before returning to the initial theme.

"Reflections From The Speres Beyond" is the longest track and the one more similar to the old Eloy. It could easily stay on the original Ocean album and it surely the highest peak of the album. Bornemann has adjusted his accent which now doesn't sound so unbearably German as in the 70s, but I'm so used to his voice within those chords that I'm quite missing the strong accent he once had. Only the female choir is a bit misplaced as it's too high-volumed respect to the rest of the song. A mention goes to the excellent keyboard layout.

Another relatively short song, "Waves Of Intuition" which proceeds in the same mood, acts as bridge to the closer but not only. It's another good song on its own. The only problem is that all the album's songs are quite similar. It's good that the mood of the album doesn't change too much as in Ocean, but that was a vinyl with a langth around 40 minutes. This CD is near to double that time and it can make the listener tired. Anyway, this track contains a very Camelistic guitar.

"The Answer" is a good closer with an almost "operatic" choir and a sort of "Bolero" progression. It sounds like a sort of religious anthem. In these years bands like "Enigma" were rediscovering the Gregorian chants and this is where also this song seems to be going. It leaves the last two minutes for an electronic coda and the album is gone.

It's just a bit too long but it was the best Eloy's release of the previous 10 years. It will remain the last until an unexpected return more than 10 years after which I still have to listen to. Even if is a bit derivative, like the ost of the Eloy's production, I'm happy to rate it with 4 stars