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Rating: From the hard rock of their eponymous debut, Eloy quickly moved towards a progressive space-rock with the lineup redesigned by the founder, guitarist Frank Bornemann. Recorded in 1972, "Inside" achieved decent commercial success, possibly due to the sound that lay between Hawkwind and Pink Floyd.
Fundamentally, "Inside" is built around a winning combination of melody, symphonic prog, and long jams. The musical pattern, devoid of additional horns or extra percussion, is the classic rock setup. The song structures aren't as complex as, for example, in Yes, but the album boasts memorable melodies, original arrangements, and significant lyrics; essentially, the tracks highlight consecutive mesmeric riffs of bass and drums, while guitars and organ alternately improvise the sound direction and rhythmic support.
The album has 4 tracks and starts with the 17-minute epic and dark "Land of no body", driven by the experiments and improvisations of Wieczorke's keyboards, plunging into grooving.
The title track "Inside" has a notable sinister riff, running throughout the piece before leaving us with an atmospheric finale.
"Future City" is characterized by pleasant percussive twists and constant guitar work throughout the jam, which then flows into the concluding "Up and Down", a classic combination of Eloy's elements, made of languid spatial detonations, rich organ string textures, and a sublime, slow merging of jazz and blues in the background.
The two added tracks on the 2000 reissue are short singles from '73, "Daybreak" (epic hymn for guitar and organ, with brief vocal choruses) and "On the road" (hypnotic crescendo keyboard backdrop).
Bornemann's guitar, fluid and never redundant, is versatile in supporting the textures and embellishing the solos, but often the play is directed by keyboardist Wieczorke, who, with a classy performance, brings out the best from his Hammond, sometimes powerful and furious, sometimes light and ethereal, often pushing it to the limit in the manner of Keith Emerson; the peak moments are reached when supported by Bornemann’s guitar, especially in the intertwining sections.
Excellent work by the rhythm section of Stocker and Randow, with the bass vigorously guiding the jams and the drums precise and warm, never over the top.
Additionally, in "Inside" Bornemann gives his first vocal performance, and unfortunately, we notice it: he was older, and despite the support of studio technicians, his vocal lines are bare and unsophisticated; definitely, the choice to sing in English, despite the diction and timbre, was unfortunate, especially considering that the meaning of the lyrics, being quite important, should be more easily grasped.
Thus, the uninspired voice is the only downside of this album, which could indeed be considered a masterpiece, as even after 35 years it still flaunts an admirable freshness and a contagious energy.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Land of Nobody (17:14)
we just leave the earths ground
on the way to see the new star
we forget the past time
released from our imperfection
molecular illusion
going on to confuse our minds
born in a world of conflicts
we don't recognize ourselves
then in the dying sun here
we saw the sight
we saw the birth of a planet
we saw a world without sorrows
without the eager
far as of mind of money
we walking throught the land
unrecognized we're back to the earth again
creatures come from nowhere
and find somewhere our place
we want freedom
we want freedom for the world
power to the people
and the righteous in the land
that's why we now in turn fight for them
we saw our world
where life is around
we saw the people there
living in the past
but they are happy
and then laughing
they feel like they're mice now
when they build the sky above
there's a lot of happiness
walls of conflict going smash
I found the end of the dream
listen here crashing down my mind
there reality is gray
with no hope and fame
I start a journey to inside waking my first term
I just returned to my dream where I'm coming from
02 Inside (06:35)
Sometimes stay alone
dream like a child
of all the seasons
pictures and fantasies
moving on and on in my mind
all the time, all the time
but the dreams are gone
then reality is near
I take your hands, feel your breath
and know that I won't stay alone anymore
I take your hands, feel your breath
and know that I won't stay alone anymore
04 Up and Down (08:23)
You try to get success directly
the way is far and even hard
once in a while it'll get shorter
sometimes the way is out of reach
up and down, up and down
up and down, up and down
up and down, up and down
up and down, up and down
We could join league, shape our life
but there's one to destroy us
perhaps he make it ignorant
but there the loud music echoes
up and down, up and down
up and down, up and down
up and down, up and down
up and down, up and down
We oppose these matter of facts
but sometimes we couldn't do against that
in the course of time we succeed in doing
the next time will demonstrate
if our time
if our time come thru
nevertheless
nevertheless
we will do more
we will do more about our get on...
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