Record Reviews

ABC ~ ABC MUZA 1269 (Barcode: 5907783422690) ~ POLAND ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1969 - 1970 Released: 2009 This is the only album by Polish group ABCFind albums by this artist, founded and led by drummer Andrzej NebeskiFind albums by this artist (previously with PolanieFind albums by this artist), one of the greatest representatives of Polish Rock scene in the late 1960 / early 1970. The group was fronted by three different vocalists: Halina FrackowiakFind albums by this artist, Jerzy KozlowskiFind albums by this artist and Wojciech GassowskiFind albums by this artist, and its instrumental sound was based on brass instruments rather than the usual lead guitar / keyboards sound popular at the time. In retrospect this music represents some of the best sounds of the incredible Polish music scene at the time. This expanded edition includes also the group´s only EP as well as live material. Wholeheartedly recommended!

CD 1 Digipak Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

HALINA FRACKOWIAK ~ GEIRA GAD 095 (Barcode: 5903068120299) ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1977 Released: 2019 This is a reissue of the second album by Polish Pop / Rock vocalist Halina FrackowiakFind albums by this artist, which she recorded with the legendary Polish group SBBFind albums by this artist comprising of bassist / keyboardist Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist. The omnipresent female vocal ensemble AlibabkiFind albums by this artist guests on the final track. The album presents nine original songs, all composed by Skrzek with lyrics by Julian MatejFind albums by this artist, a Polish poet who often cooperated with Skrzek. The music presents a diverse collection of themes, which might surprise the SBB / Skrzek fan base, and which is quite different from the material he composed for the group. It is certainly more ambitious, complex and extended than what most of the Polish Pop / Rock mainstream scene was into at the time, and as a result manages to remain interesting even today, whereas most of Frackowiak contemporaries and their output are long forgotten. The album reflects Frackowiak´s modus operandi as a determined Artists, always looking to expand her horizons and deal with non-trivial material, often connected with Polish poetry, which has set her apart from other Pop performers in her country. The sound, which is drenched in synthesizer overdose, is definitely dated, but a few guitar solos, inventive drumming and great vocal performances save the day overall and the album is an interesting, albeit a bit nostalgic trip to the history of the Polish Pop / Rock scene of the late 1970s. For the many SBB / Skrzek fans this album is an integral part of the extended discography and a must for collectors. As usual, kudos to the GADFind albums on this label Records label for bringing this music back to life from the deep cellars of the Polskie NagraniaFind albums on this label / MuzaFind albums on this label archives.

Updated: 17/02/2020Posted: 17/02/2020

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SBB ~ LOST TAPES, VOL. 1 – STUDIO & LIVE RECORDINGS 1974-1978 METAL MIND 001 (Barcode: 5907785027046) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 - 1978 Released: 2005 In 2004 the Polish record label Metal MindFind albums on this label released a magnificent Box Set called "Anthology 1974-2004Find albums with this title", with contained 22 CDs of music by SBBFind albums by this artist - the most important Polish / East European Prog band active behind the Iron Curtain. These epic recordings changed the face of music as we know and influenced generations of musicians across the Soviet Empire and its satellite states, which makes that Box Set a well deserved tribute to the band and a superb document of enormous historical and aesthetic value. People interested to learn more about SBB should simply read the review of that release. The process of collecting the material for the anthology Box Set did not stop however with the box being released and somehow reanimated itself and kept going with additional previously unreleased material being uncovered continuously. This led to the release of two additional Box Sets, called "Lost TapesFind albums with this title", of which this is the first volume. The music included here was recorded during the first five years of SBB activity, which is by far the most interesting and dramatic. It covers a plethora of studio, radio and live recordings, all by the original lineup consisting of bassist / keyboardist Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist. By far the most interesting recording in this Box Set is the quintet meeting between SBB and the legendary trumpeter Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Helmut NadolskiFind albums by this artist, in short the lineup that recorded with NiemenFind albums by this artist, this time sans Niemen himself. Another very interesting recording is the album SBB recorded with Polish female vocalist Halina FrackowiakFind albums by this artist, which is the only occasion the group agreed to accompany a vocalist. These three Box Sets with SBB music contain hours of excellent music and invaluable retrospective of history, but to be completely fair they also raise the question about compilations such these being "the right thing to do". There is a lot of repetition here and not every moment is truly inspired; much of it might have been perhaps best left undiscovered. Of course the band has a wide fan base ready to swallow any new piece of music recorded by SBB, but some moral / ethical questions could be also raised about cynical exploitation and opportunism. That said it is for the individual fan to decide if he wants to purchase all three Box Sets or not. All three Box Sets are numbered limited editions of one thousand copies.

Updated: 26/08/2020Posted:

CD 9 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend