Planets - Prologue

This is the story of Salta, a planet in the brightest and largest solar system of the universe, the solar system of Hel.
Hel's life-spending energy gifted nine planets, but only one, Salta, the green planet, brought forth the highest creation of life, a human species, the Ikareens these were the final link of the gigantic history of creation and evolution.
The Ikareens were destined to reach the highest possible form of development and civilization, which can, by any means, be attained by mortal beings.
Salta was a paradise-like planet, and nature granted its inhabitants with immense
wealth. No Ikareen suffered hardship, and a society evolved in which everybody was able to be content with his existence and happy about the gift of life.
Salta was such a beautiful planet, that even the highest spirits of the heavenly spheres would pay visits and stay there.
First came Kronos, King of the Light and of the positive powers of the universe.
His presence on the planet would later be described as the "Golden Age". Kronos
disposed of the laws of nature, and under his guidance the equality of forces was
preserved. But by and by other spirits followed Kronos to Salta: among them such that represented the spheres of darkness and the evil powers. These spirits began to influence the Ikareens in a way, that these started to develop destructive energies.
In effect, wars broke loose, and an unbelievable stream of violence shook the planet.
Systematically the human beings destroyed their planet, exploiting its resources and depriving it of its beauty.
The Ikareens interfered with nature and robbed it of its richness until Salta eventually resembled a desolate wasteland. This point reached, the spirits of the
highest spheres held court upon which they decided to diminish the human race.
First of all, all spirits regardless of their qualities, were banished from Salta.
They were sent to different planets of the solar system, taking a complete balance
between good and evil powers in consideration. Solely Kronos withdrew to a distinct planet, which was marked by seven huge rings, that steadily journeyed around the planet. The seven Knights of the Light, that were assigned to the rings, represented an unconquerable bastion for every intruder and kept away all the evil powers, so that the wonderful might of Kronos spread abroad until eternity.
The spirits of the higher spheres sent an enormous meteor to Salta, causing an
apocalyptic catastrophy: oceans flooded whole continents, volcanos erupted with all their force, pouring out their ardent masses of lava, destroying mankind's
civilization. Nevertheless, among other races, the Ikareens survived the gigantic
disaster. With them a new chapter of Man's history of the planet of Salta began.
Its older inhabitants remembered the "Golden Age" and informed their descendants about it; so that the memory of that time lingered on. With a warning voice they also reported of how this golden era had passed by, and how the disaster had been caused.
Taking their own weakness and infirmity in consideration, the people decided to live together by certain rules and laws. In these they wrote down the sum of their
experiences and positive ideas.
Some of the inhabitants realized that there would always be a constant fight between good and evil, and knew of the dangers for mankind, if influenced by this struggle for predomination. They noticed the steady fight between the powers, because the vibrations that the spirits transmitted, when their orbit crossed Salta's, could easily be traced in the way the planet's inhabitants behaved. The wise men also knew of man's self-determination, a power that could end up supporting the good or the bad.
A saying of those days expresses that the sum of man's deeds will determine the march of destiny for mankind.
At the wake of the new era, the books of wisdom were written. Among the thoughts noted were the secrets of the cosmic order, as well as a description of the long way that would lead the human race back to a golden age of light.
But, as time passed, the treasuries of these books were gradually lost and forgotten, and the era of Syton began.
New books filled with philosophical contemplations and others reflecting on how to
lead life in an utmost way were written, but none of them gave an answer to the
eternal question of the meaning of life.
The logical result of this fact was, that the inhabitants of Salta were unable to find
fulfilment, peace and comfort in life, only relying on material values.
Eventually a society evolved, solely on a foundation of desire for predomination, for strife for power and wealth, which gradually led to a disintegration of morale.
Increasingly overpowered by greed, vanity and egoism, the inhabitants of Salta's
inordinate desire for material fulfilment became their only measure for life.
Once again the planet was struck by wars and atrocity, having its origin mainly in
mankind's esteem of unspiritual values.
To bring the seemingly irresistible moral decay to a halt, the wise men all over the
universe called religion into being at various times, hoping that its commandments and promises would cause a change of conscience among Salta's occupants and their retreat to other forms of existence. In addition religion was meant to prevent selfdestroying notions and further senseless wars, regarding that weapons became so enormously dangerous, that all life on Salta could have been wiped away.
Though quite a few people took religion as a fingerpost for a new world order and as a hope for a better future, its force and credibility wore off.
After only a short period of time, religions's keepers and guardians recognized its
power as an influence on political matter as well as on personal interests; abusing
its once well intentioned meanings, and in the long run destroying a fountain of hope, salvation and trust.
Fear and moral decay proceeded to take control of Salta, endangering life in general by its negative excesses.
The powers of darkness realized their second chance to make themselves masters of Salta's inhabitants, and sent their ominous messengers to the planet.
The spirits of the higher spheres let them do as they pleased, provoking the powers of the light to react and send their messengers to Salta too, as they knew of the great danger threatening mankind.
Prophets, gurus, martyrs and ideologists appeared in large numbers, causing
misunderstanding and confusion among Salta's inhabitants.
Inevitably drawn by the suction of the negative powers, Salta's fate seemed to be
accomplished in a self-induced apocalyptic disaster.
Deep resignation marked by the fear of the terrors that the future would bring,
indifference and unsteadiness grew among the inhabitants of the planet. "Joie de vie" was surpassed by fear of life, simply leaving no perspective for themselves and their descendents. They felt that they were on the verge to an age that would lead to a terrible end.
The age of chaos was on the wake...
Ion comes into this world.

AMG пишет, что: "...1981's Planets and 1982's Time to Turn were two parts of a science-fiction concept album that found the group's sound increasingly dominated by keyboards..."
Мне кажется, что Planets аранжировками и стилистически, очень похож на предыдущий альбом, Colours.
Хороший, ИМХО, альбом.

1. Introduction (Bornemann/Eloy/Hausen) - 1:58
2. On the Verge of Darkening Lights (Bornemann/Eloy/Hausen) - 5:37
3. Point of No Return (Bornemann/Eloy/Hausen) - 5:45
4. Mysterious Monolith (Bornemann/Eloy/Hausen) - 7:40
5. Queen of the Night (Bornemann/Eloy/Hausen) - 5:22
6. At the Gates of Dawn (Bornemann/Eloy/Hausen) - 4:17
7. Sphinx (Bornemann/Eloy/Hausen) - 6:50
8. Carried by Cosmic Winds (Bornemann/Eloy/Hausen) - 4:32

Eloy - Arranger, Producer
Hannes Arkona - Guitar, Keyboards
Frank Bornemann - Guitar, Vocals, Producer, Story
Hannes Folberth - Keyboards
Klaus Peter Matziol - Bass, Vocals
Jim McGillveray - Drums
Klaus Peter Matzial - Guitar (Bass), Vocals
Jim McGillivray - Percussion, Drums
Story by Frank Bornemann, Lyrics by Sigi Hausen and Frank Bornemann

Выдрано из российского релиза СД-Максимум CDM 1100-550. Это, к счастью, последний диск этой фирмы в моей илоевской коллекции, остальные - оригинал.

Следующую часть дилогии, Time To Turn, выложит наш уважаемый коллега Meithar, за что, ему, огромное спасибо!