Eloy - Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes CD
SKU
15-EMI 563774
Remastered edition of the 8th album by this popular German rock band who mix heavy and cosmic stylings together on their classic releases, of which this is definitely one. Overall quite excellent, heavy progressive rock. This one puts them back in heavy Floydian territory. It includes two bonus, non lp tracks: Child Migration and Let The Sun Rise In My Brain.
- LabelHarvest
- UPC0724356377424
Customer Reviews
Average Rating
1979 wasn't exactly a good year for prog. The decline was pretty obvious when many groups either ceased to function or forced to change with the tides (although I'm pretty convinced prog would have played itself out anyways, with or without punk and disco to answer to). But Eloy really surprised me big time with Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes, a big tie with its 1977 studio predecessor, Ocean, as being on of their crowning achievements. Simply one of the finest albums from 1979 I've ever heard, "Astral Entrance" sounds like a missing piece of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" right down to Detlev Schmidtchen's use of droning string synths, and Frank Bornemann's David Gilmour-like lead guitar. "Master of Sensation" kicks in, with some great bass work from Klaus-Peter Matziol, and some more great Moog work. There's also use of prepared piano, which is used to great effect. "The Apocalypse" is a fantastic epic piece showcasing Bornemann's lead guitar work, but there's some female choruses too and great keyboard work as well. "De Labore Solis" is a more mellow number, dominated by string synths, reminding me of Ocean's "Incarnation of Logos". "Mighty Echoes" has a short ELP reference in their lyrics ("Just take a pebble and cast it to the silent sea"), but another great piece demonstrating Eloy still had it in late 1978 when the album was recorded (meaning 1979 was when it was released). This piece also found Detlev Schmidtchen using a Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano, a keyboard you associate Genesis from this time period (circa Duke). A few accused Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes as a blatant Pink Floyd ripoff, sure you might mistake "Astral Entrance" for "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", but the rest isn't. Detlev Schmidtchen and Jurgen Rosenthal left the band after this album, apparently because of ego problems (their next project was Ego on the Rocks), but Eloy was still able to continue on in the 1980s with new members and more great albums. This album comes with my highest recommendation!
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