Record Reviews

CYTRUS ~ TRZECIA LZA OD SLONCA GAD 074 (Barcode: 5901549197983) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1980 - 1984 Released: 2018 This is an archival album collecting recordings by the Polish Jazz-Rock Fusion / Prog group CytrusFind albums by this artist, which comprised of guitarist Andrzej KazmierczakFind albums by this artist, multi-instrumentalist Marian NarkowiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Waldemar KobielakFind albums by this artist and drummers Andrzej KalskiFind albums by this artist / Zbigniew KraszewskiFind albums by this artist / Leszek LigezaFind albums by this artist. The album presents fourteen original compositions, most of which were composed by Kazmierczak or Narkowicz or co-composed by them. The group never recorded an album and all the music originates from radio recordings. The music is a superb manifestation of Fusion / Prog instrumental pieces, beautifully crafted and superbly performed, which stylistically are parallel to similar achievements by groups from behind the Iron Curtain, recorded a decade earlier, when Jazz-Rock Fusion and Prog were at their artistic apogee. The degree of isolation that musicians in Eastern Europe suffered from cased Fusion and Prog to flourish there with a certain delay, coming to full bloom only in the 1980s, when the music presented on this album was recorded. But regardless of the delay, this music is as strong as anything hailed "Classic Prog or Fusion" ever was. Wonderfully melodic and harmonically coherent, these tunes serve as ideal vehicles for fiery guitar and flute solos and energetic group delivery. In a "blind test" situation this album would be easily declared as a lost gem of the 1970s European Prog. And a gem it is indeed, which nobody can deny. If you are a Fusion / Prog fan, regardless of where you are on this tiny planet, make an effort to grab a copy of this brilliant album, which will definitely give you great pleasure and remember where you first heard about it. Brilliant stuff!

Updated: 10/08/2018Posted: 10/08/2018

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SAVANA ~ SAVANA GAD 033 (Barcode: 5901549197419) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1984 Released: 2015 This is a reissue of the only album by the obscure and short-lived Polish Prog band SavanaFind albums by this artist, released originally on the small independent ArstonFind albums on this label label in 1984. The band was co-founded and co-led by vocalist Marek TomaszewskiFind albums by this artist and guitarist Krzysztof JarkowskiFind albums by this artist, who were joined by bassist Wieslaw CybulskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Andrzej KalskiFind albums by this artist. Tomaszewski and Jarkowski wrote all the songs (music and lyrics in English). Tomaszewski, who grew up in Egypt, spoke English fluently and was the only vocalist on the Polish Rock scene who did not have a foreign accent. This is the first time this material is released on CD and this edition is expanded with the addition of two previously unreleased tracks, which have lyrics in Polish. The music is typical melodic Prog, which flourished in UK a decade earlier, sounding a bit similar to GenesisFind albums by this artist, CamelFind albums by this artist and countless others. Prog arrived on the Polish scene a bit late but every bit as strong musically as those earlier efforts by the Symphonic Prog pioneers. Great solo guitar parts and a solid rhythm section, all those in addition to the impressive vocals make Savana sound like an enigmatic British Prog band. There is not much innovation here, but whatever they offer here is certainly as good as most Prog produced on the other side of the Iron Curtain. Listeners and collectors following East European Prog will find this little gem absolutely irresistible, especially in view of its anonymity. As usual we owe the opportunity to be able to rediscover this music to the superb work done by GADFind albums on this label Records, which is a true treasure chest as far as unearthed forgotten gems are concerned. Warmly recommended!

Updated: 24/02/2016Posted: 24/02/2016

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend