Eloy - Destination

Year of Release: 1992
Label: SPV
Catalog Number: SPV 084-48082
Format: CD
Total Time: 53:36:00

This is another disk that I started to review a few years ago, and just never finished writing it. And as with Tiemko (and others), my opinion and thoughts regarding this disk now are nearly exactly the same. While perhaps closer to rock than prog, especially given the comparisons I make, it's not a bad album. It does seem like the band have gone in a more commercial direction than their other material. It certainly seems more accessible than past efforts.

The thought that goes through my mind while listening to Eloy's Destination is: Yes. That's Yes, as in, Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, et al. That is, more specifically, Rabin produced Yes. Oh, of course, Frank Bornemann sings heavily accented, which Anderson doesn't ... erm, rather a heavily Germanic accent which Anderson doesn't. But still, Bornemann's range is the same, that very high pitched falsetto., if only with a dark undertone not found in Anderson's voice. This isn't a criticism, mind you. I'm just as much a fan of Yes as the next person. And it isn't just Bornemann's vocals, which are the most up front element. The music does as well - think of the crunch that Talk had. This is in the same realm. Interestingly, it precedes Talk by about two years. Of course, it also recalls, to varying degrees 90125 and Big Generator, becoming less so the further back in time we go.

The album rocks and rocks fairly hard. There are some interesting arrangements on this guitar heavy album ... well, that's misleading, because it's more accurate to just call this a heavy album - deep, booming bass, throaty keys, dark guitar, pounding percussion (which sound digital on the title track). The more accessible tracks -- the opener "Call Of The Wild" and "Racing Shadows" -- really stick in the mind. "Call Of The Wild" pulses darkly and includes light flute notes from guest Lenny MacDowell that are reminiscent of that other famous Anderson, which seems like an easily, lazy comment to make but I could help but think of classic Tull. "Racing Shadows" could easily have been a track on Big Generator, though I think more of "The Calling" from Talk.

This is far from a boring album, as "Silent Revolution" is anything but, being a hard pounding rocker with some great guitar work - rocker is an understatement. The drive of this track is just propulsive, not quite with speed metal ferocity and velocity. The latter two minutes feature twinkling keys and the chirpy voices of a kids choir. This is a heavy album, aside from the music, covering such weighty issues as ... well, humanity's destination, political lies/promises, ... songs perhaps of the coming millennium - closer now than when this was released in '92 [from my point of view in 1998]. The title track musically sounds like something from Genesis' Invisible Touch album until we get to the lighter chorus.

"Prisoner In Mind" is in the mold of the typical rock song, easily the most accessible track here, and the shortest at just over four minutes. The odd track out is "Jeanne d'Arc" which closes the album, in that it is more operatic-rock, with a majestic choir of voices. It is an epic track along the lines of Ayreon, say, to make a somewhat anachronistic reference.

Tracklisting:
Call Of The Wild (6:49) / Racing Shadows (7:11) / Destination (7:41) / Prisoner Of The Mind (4:26) / Silent Revolution (7:55) / Fire And Ice (5:10) / Eclipse Of Mankind (6:29) / Jeanne d'Arc (7:36)

Musicians:
Frank Bornemann - lead and backing vocals, guitars
Michael Gerlach - keyboards
Nico Baretta - drums
Klaus Peter Matziol - bass (2, 5)
Detlev Goy - bass (1,6,8)
Helge Engelke - bass (3,4), rhythm guitars (4), and acoustic guitar and solo (6)
Kai Steffen - guitar solo (5)
Lenny MacDowell - flute (1,3)
Peter Chrastina - arranger and conductor of classical choir (8)

Discography:
Eloy (1971/2000)
Inside (1973/2001)
Floating (1974/2001)
Power And The Passion (1975/2001)
Dawn (1976/1998/2004)
Ocean (1977/1998)
Live (1978/2004)
Silent Cries And Mighty Echoes (1979/1998/2003)
Colours (1980/1998/2005)
Planets (1982/1998/2005)
Time To Turn (1982/1998/2005)
Performance (1983/2005)
Metromania (1984/2001/2005)
Ra (1988/1998)
Destination (1992)
The Tides Return Forever (1994/1998)
Best Of Eloy (1996)
Best Of Eloy Volume 2: Priime (1996)
Chronicles I (1998)
Ocean II (1998)
Chronicles I & II (2000)
Timeless Passages - The Very Best Of (2003)

Genre: Progressivew Rock

Origin DE

Added: September 24th 2001
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website:
Hits: 2690
Language: english