Eiliff - 1971 - Eiliff

Eiliff
1971
Eiliff

01. Byrd-Night Of The Seventh Day (5:05)
02. Gammeloni (6:43)
03. Uzzek Of Rigel IV (10:53)
04. Suite (20:38)

Bill Brown / bass
Rainer Brüninghaus / keyboards
Herbert J. Kalveram / saxophone
Detlev Landmann / drums
Houschäng Nejadepour / guitar, sitar

EILIFF were an early 70s prog band who released two albums before breaking up. "Eiliff" is their 1971 debut. The band seemed quite influenced by early Frank ZAPPA, SOFT MACHINE, and VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR. Listeners are quickly treated to countless complex, yet gritty, sections on each of the 4 tracks. There is an emphasis on sax and electric piano interplay, but the album also features excellent guitar work (although some solos border on noodling). Most of the vocals reminded me of the MOTHERS OF INVENTION. They tend to be dissonant, somewhat sloppy, yet charming. Overall, this is great stuff if you enjoy early 70s prog. If I were to point out a flaw it would have to be that EILIFF had the tendency to sound exactly like their influences. So, the ZAPPA-influenced sections sound exactly like ZAPPA, the SOFT MACHUNE-influenced sections sound like long-lost SOFT MACHINE recordings, etc. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, because it sounds like EILIFF did quite a bit of research and they did it correctly, but if you're looking for originality maybe you won't find it. Fans of SUPERSISTER, and MATCHING MOLE should definitely check "Eiliff" out.