Eela Craig — A Spaceman Came Travelling( CD boxset)
A Spaceman Came Travelling is a three-CD set from the German MIG label, bringing together four mid to early 80’s albums from Eella Craig- an Austrian project who present a fairly synth-heavy blend of prog rock & jazz/funk-classical fusion, which had either a Sci-fi or Christian theme running through it.
The set comes presented in an old school/ chunky four-disc CD case- each of the CD faces takes in artwork from the album(s) featured. It comes with a twelve-page colour inlay booklet- featuring minimal texts about the band/ albums in both English & German, and a fair selection of black & white/ colour band pictures.
Eela Craig were formed in the year 1970 in the Austrian city of Linz- with initially five piece bringing together: Harald Zuschrader- Acoustic Guitar, Organ, Flute, Saxophone. Gerhard Englisch- Electric Bass .Heinz Gerstmair- Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Organ. Hubert Bognermayr- Electric Piano. Horst Waber- Drums, Percussion. The band later increased to a seven-piece. The project was in existence from 1970 and 1988- in this time, they released six albums- Eela Craig (1971), One Niter (1976), Hats of Glass (1977), Missa Universalis (1978), Virgin Oiland (1980), and Hit or Miss (1988).
The first disc takes in 1976’s One Niter- it originally appeared on Vertigo, and is the band's most notable/known album. It takes in two lengthy, ten-minute/multi-part tracks and three (relatively) shorter tracks. We open with one of the said longer tracks, the three-part “Circles” which moves from grand/ pomp synth emanating brass meets cascading classical keywork, on through spacy/ drifting keyboards and flute lushness, onto upbeat ‘n’ jiving organ funk rock work out. We have the steady beat lined, flute swooned, hazy guitar/ bass drifted, and layered male/ background soulful vocals of “Loner’s Rhyme” which late drops into wah-wha funk/ spacy synth simmer groove. With the album playing out with the suitably titled “Way Down” goes rising synth, organ, and flute trails edged with shimmering ‘n’ crashing cymbals, before kicking up in wailing/ strutting funk touched prog. One Niter certainly deserves its standing as a notable prog/fusion album, as it rewardingly shifts between the mellow/ spacy and more grooving material.
Moving onto the second disc, and we get two albums- 1978’s Hats Of Glass, and 1980’s Virgin Oiland. So first up, we have the seven tracks of Hats…this, I’m afraid, is somewhat mixed. We open with a rather flat/spacy synth-trailered/ not very good cover of Chris De Burgh's “A Spaceman Came Travelling”. But things do improve- with “Chances Are” which moves jaunting classical key weaves and a tick-tocking prog pop rock groove. With the album playing out with the lengthy titled “Remove Another Hat Of Glass And You Could Easily Find Assorted Kinds Of Cheese” which blends buoyant funk rock runs. bright pulsing keyboard banks, and blues-rock simmered soloing.
Next on the second CD, we have 1980s Virgin Oiland, this is a ten-track album. It moves the prog rock semi-reggae groove of “How It Started” with lyrics about Eden, flaming swords, and other Christian faith-focused fare over tolling keys, light strutting/ blues tinged guitars, and smoky vocals. We have the upbeat singer-songwriter vibe of “Pig City” with its jiving/ showy keyboards, chugging guitar/ bass, and mid to high-range sing-song vocals. Or the bright weaving keys meet more forlorn piping bass organ, later getting electro funky/ vocoder lined of “Love To Hate You, Baby”. Over all Virgin Oiland is not wholly consistent, but there are some decent/ surprising moments along its length.
Finally, on disc three, we have 1978’s Missa Universalis- it’s a six-track affair, blending symphonic rock, ambient swoops ‘n’ dips, layered at times choral vocals, swirling ‘n’ ebbing synths, and the odd more funked-up moments. It’s certainly a epic/ grand album- which works best as a classic play through in sequence album. Though, do be warned, it’s the most Christian lyrical focused of all the albums featured here.
I know over the years One Niter has been reissued more than a few times, but I don’t’ think the other three albums have- so it’s great to have all four albums together- and order of playing I’d say One Niter & Missa Universalis, then Hats../ Virgin Oiland- as those last two are more mixed/ less consistent. One for those who enjoy synth-heavy blends of prog & fusion.