EYESBERG – Blue (2014)

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German outfit EYESBERG were found in Frankfurt circa 1980 having played the European Prog circuit with their own songs, but apart from some demos, the band didn’t record officially.
Now 2014, these experienced musicians return and their debut “Blue” is a more than welcomed piece of melodic progressive music.

Eyesberg 2014 features original members Georg Alfter (guitar, bass), Norbert Podien (keyboards, backing vocals) and English singer Malcolm Shuttleworth. Multi-instrumentalist Thomas Klarmann (Argos, Superdrama) was part of Eyesberg in the beginning, but not in this return. However, Klarmann recommended his bandmate on Argos, Ulf Jacobs, to join and play the drums on “Blue”.
The album features old compositions of the band penned 30 years ago, completely re-worked and updated to the new production standards.
But you can’t deny the feeling and overall structures of these songs clearly rooted in the ’80s Melodic Neo Prog, a pure delight to the ears if you ask me.

The material in ”Blue” shows obvious influences from the music of IQ and Fish-era Marillion, but with a very distinctive ‘German touch’ and lots melody.
The album is filled with a great guitar work on the rhythms and elegant solos, also sporting a prominent keyboard role as well. Guest drummer Ulf Jacobs’ job is excellent too, and I would sign him up permanently if I were the band.
Malcolm Shuttleworth’s seasoned vocals contribute to provide an ‘international feel’ and his sometimes bluesy phrasing expands Eyesberg’s sound to a wider audience.

As said, much sounds familiar – but there are a sense of varied melodiousness that helps “Blue” to reach the status of a convincing, refreshing, original Neo Prog album.
There are the ‘pop’ hooks (as in “Porcelain”), traditional Prog atmospheres (the delightful “Inquisitive”) and tough-sawing riffs (“S II”).
In the best ’80s Neo Prog tradition, we have melodic rock touches on the dynamic “Closed Until The Resurrection” (with some Saga on it), early Marillion pump in “Faces On My Wall”, and elegant passages in “Feed Yourself”.

“Blue” is a pure delight for ’80s Neo Prog lovers, with a wider appeal for any listener eager for melodious Rock music.
Eyesberg arrange, play and produce their music with that ‘instantly likeable’ factor the Eighties recordings used to. Everything is crisp and bright, sonically dynamic.
“Blue” is the kind of album that, silently released, sadly will pass unnoticed by the massive public, one of the hidden gems releases of the year.
We are here to solve this (at least in part), give it a try and you won’t regret it.
Very Recommended.

01 – Child’s Play
02 – Epitaph
03 – Closed Until the Resurrection
04 – Winter Gone
05 – Inquisitive
06 – Feed Yourself
07 – 4-2-F
08 – Faces On My Wall
09 – Porcelain
10 – If I Told You the Truth
11 – S II
12 – Detachment and Replacement

Malcolm Shuttleworth (lead and backing vocals)
Georg Alfter (guitar, bass)
Norbert Podien (keyboards, backing vocals)
Ulf Jacobs (drums)

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