Founded in 1969 by guitarist Frank Bornemann, the band has endured several line-up changes, with Bornemann being the only consistent member of the group. In the 1980s, after a series of major splits (like in 1984 although reformed in 1988) in the group, Bornemann pursued a more commercial direction. Despite attracting a large following, the band never gained popularity in the United States.
However, in later years, former members of the band re-joined, and in 1998 fans delighted in hearing Ocean 2, a return to the classic symphonic progressive genre that the band was so well known for. A sequel to the 1977's original, it is commonly thought among fans that it successfully recaptures the spirit of the band, and is a worthy follow-up to the much beloved classic.
Of the band's numerous records, fans generally consider Inside, Floating, Dawn, Ocean, Silent Cries & Mighty Echoes, Planets and Ocean 2 to be the superior albums.
Despite their nationality, the band is not generally considered krautrock due to their sound which has much more in common with English progressive groups such as Pink Floyd and Yes.
In 2009 after a decade of hiatus Frank Bornemann released a DVD celebrating their 40th anniversary and a new album called Visionairy.
In the following period he worked on a concept double album about the life of the Maid of Orleans, Jeanne d'Arc. The album The Vision, the Sword and the Pyre, Pt. 1 was released in 2017, followed by The Vision, the Sword and the Pyre, Pt. 2 in 2019.
Current Line-up:
Frank Bornemann
Klaus-Peter Matziol
Hannes Arkona
Hannes Folberth
Bodo Schopf
Incarnation Of Logos
Eloy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No living being
No movement, no colours, no elements, no eye to see anything
Complete emptiness
Before all was nothing?
The moon, companion of the sun
Touching celestial globe
The planets don't know where to move
They are unaware of puissance and of hope
Intrinsic virtues awake!
All of a sudden appears a light
Horizons open wide
Voices fill the air
And the Gods made love!
The layers tremble and raise in staggering
And words transform into flesh and blood
The act of uppermost magic has begun
Impulses working on and on
Movement here and there
Vibrations move the atmosphere!
Transcendental forces penetrate
The planet we call Earth
And all spheres of the universe
All the elements burst!
A warm powerful breeze
Inspires inanimate matter
And a creature, shaky reeling on two legs
Extends it's hands shivering against the sky
Primary procreation is accomplished!
Primary procreation is accomplished!
Primary procreation is accomplished!
MAN arises out of dusty clouds
Eyes are staring all around
Ears are noticing unknown sounds
Legs are pounding on the ground
Now Man knows he's not alone
So his hands take up the stone
Anxiety to hold his own
Fighting for the creatures throne
Man forms tribes to enlarge his chance
To survive the primeval living-dance
The strongest ones fight for leadership
And by these fights they attain the grip
On the weaker ones who become suppressed
By their violence so are we possessed
By the same ideas in a world
That's full of fears and tears and "progresses"
The lyrics to Eloy's "Incarnation of the Logos" describe the creation of the universe and the emergence of humankind. The opening lines suggest a vast emptiness before the Big Bang, without any matter or life present. However, a sudden light appears, and the atmosphere begins to vibrate with transcendental forces that penetrate the planet. The result of these forces is the emergence of human life, as a shaky creature arises out of the dust and stares up at the sky. The lyrics then describe the process of human evolution, as man develops language, tools, and tribes to survive in the natural world.
The song's title references the concept of the Logos, which in ancient Greek philosophy refers to the principle of rationality and order that governs the universe. In Christian theology, the Logos is identified with Jesus Christ as the Word of God made flesh. Eloy's lyrics suggest that the emergence of human life is an act of divine creation, a moment of "uppermost magic" that transforms words into flesh and blood.
The song's imagery and language are highly poetic and metaphorical, suggesting a mystical, almost psychedelic experience. The use of repetition and alliteration, such as "voices fill the air" and "vibrations move the atmosphere," creates a sense of rhythm and momentum in the lyrics. The song's overall message seems to be one of wonder and awe at the mystery of creation, and the potential for both beauty and violence in human society.
Line by Line Meaning
No Native soil, no ocean, no salty wave, no sky above
Existence is not yet present, no land, no sea, no sky. Everything is empty.
No living being
There's no life yet. Everything is still and void of movement.
No movement, no colours, no elements, no eye to see anything
There's no motion or colors. There are no elements or eyes to perceive them. Everything is desolate.
Complete emptiness
This void is complete and absolute.
Before all was nothing?
This is questioning the existence of anything before this moment of creation.
The moon, companion of the sun
The moon orbits the sun, which is the center of the universe.
Touching celestial globe
The moon touches the sky where the stars are.
Motionless starry sky
The stars are still and un-moving.
The planets don't know where to move
The planets have no way of knowing their position or where they should go.
They are unaware of puissance and of hope
They don't have the power or strength to control their own motion or destiny.
Intrinsic virtues awake!
Suddenly, virtues are awakened within them that allow them to explore their potential.
All of a sudden appears a light
A light appears out of nowhere, illuminating the previously dark void.
Horizons open wide
The horizons that were once closed off are now open to new possibilities.
Voices fill the air
People, gods, or other forces make themselves heard for the first time.
And the Gods made love!
The gods, or other powerful forces, unite in creation.
The layers tremble and raise in staggering
The previously still and empty layers now tremble and shake with the force of creation.
And words transform into flesh and blood
Words and ideas become reality in physical form during creation.
The act of uppermost magic has begun
This creation is seen as the highest form of magic, which has just begun.
Impulses working on and on
These forces continue to work on creation, pushing it forward indefinitely.
Movement here and there
As creation progresses, there is movement in many directions, creating new paths.
Vibrations move the atmosphere!
The vibrations from this creation ripple through the atmosphere, causing change and shifting.
Transcendental forces penetrate
Forces beyond our understanding are at work, influencing creation from every angle.
The planet we call Earth
One of the creations of this transcendental force is the planet Earth.
And all spheres of the universe
The entire universe is affected and influenced by these forces at work in creation.
All the elements burst!
All of the elements of creation reach their limits and explode in a burst of energy.
A warm powerful breeze
The creation is accompanied by a warm, powerful breeze that brings new life.
Inspires inanimate matter
This breeze inspires and brings to life things that were once inanimate.
And a creature, shaky reeling on two legs
A new creature emerges from creation, uncertain and struggling to exist.
Extends it's hands shivering against the sky
This new creature reaches out to the sky, unsure of what it has to offer.
Primary procreation is accomplished!
The first step in creation has been achieved through the birth of this new creature.
MAN arises out of dusty clouds
This new creature is the birth of mankind, created from dust and earth.
Eyes are staring all around
Mankind opens its eyes and begins to observe its surroundings.
Ears are noticing unknown sounds
Mankind begins to hear and perceive the world around them, sensing new things for the first time.
Legs are pounding on the ground
Mankind begins to move and explore the world around them with new-found strength.
Now Man knows he's not alone
Mankind realizes that they are not the only ones in this world.
So his hands take up the stone
Mankind reaches for tools to help them shape and change the world around them.
Anxiety to hold his own
Mankind feels the need to establish their own identity and dominance in the world.
Fighting for the creatures throne
This anxiety leads mankind to engage in conflict with others, fighting for power and control.
Man forms tribes to enlarge his chance
Mankind creates tribes to strengthen their chance of survival and improve their quality of life.
To survive the primeval living-dance
Mankind needs to learn to survive in this new world and adapt to its challenges and opportunities.
The strongest ones fight for leadership
Within these tribes, the strongest individuals rise to positions of power and influence.
And by these fights they attain the grip
These individuals fight for power and control, solidifying their position and grip on their community.
On the weaker ones who become suppressed
This pursuit of power comes at the cost of those who are weaker and vulnerable, who are suppressed by the stronger.
By their violence so are we possessed
This cycle of violence and dominance becomes ingrained in mankind's culture and history, affecting their behavior for generations to come.
By the same ideas in a world
The same ideas of violence and dominance are perpetuated and reinforced in the cultures and societies that mankind forms.
That's full of fears and tears and "progresses"
These societies are full of anxieties and sadness, but they continue to move forward in progress, even if it means sacrificing their own values and ethics.
Contributed by Claire I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.