Record Reviews

ENERGIT ~ ENERGIT (EXPANDED EDITION) GAD 220 (Barcode: 5903068123283) ~ CZECHOSLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1974 - 1976 Released: 2022 This is a 2CD reissue of the debut album by the Czechoslovak Jazz-Rock Fusion ensemble EnergitFind albums by this artist. It is a brilliant document of the music scene, which thrived in Eastern Europe behind the Iron Curtain, in all the so-called "Socialist" countries, and was every bit as interesting, groundbreaking and visionary as anything else happening at the same time in Western Europe or the USA. In spite of political pressures, artistic censorship and economic hardships, with very limited access to recordings from the West, decent equipment or proper recording facilities, these young and ambitious musicians were exploding with ideas and boldly exploring new territories. The resulting music created at the time remains completely relevant today and should be rediscovered by young audiences, as it lost absolutely nothing of its power and intellectual quality. Energit was formed by the brilliant guitarist Lubos AndrstFind albums by this artist, after he left the legendary Jazz QFind albums by this artist ensemble, joining forces with two excellent young musicians from another legendary ensemble SHQFind albums by this artist: keyboardist Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Rudolf TichacekFind albums by this artist. The lineup was completed by bassist Jan VytrhlikFind albums by this artist and alternating drummers: Karel JencikFind albums by this artist, Anatoli KohoutFind albums by this artist and Josef VojevodaFind albums by this artist. Percussionist Jiri TomekFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. Andrst wrote all of the original material performed by the ensemble, which although Blues influenced, was at the time centered on the Jazz-Rock Fusion idiom, similar in sound and obviously influenced mostly by Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist, but also by Return To ForeverFind albums by this artist or Weather ReportFind albums by this artist. The first CD presents the original album, which offers five tracks, with the opening 17+ minutes long and the closing tracks being parts of a suite. The second CD presents seven tracks of bonus material, two recorded live, four originating from a radio broadcast and one from a TV broadcast, from which four are previously unreleased. The reissue is accompanied by extensive bi-lingual liner notes, as usual with the superb GADFind albums on this label Record releases, which cover the group’s history and other background information. Overall, this is some of the best Eastern European Jazz-Rock Fusion, which should not be missed by any connoisseur of the genre, especially those interested in music originating from behind the Iron Curtain. A must!

Updated: 23/12/2022Posted: 23/12/2022

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend