Record Reviews

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 ~ SBB (WOLANIE O BRZEK SZKLA) GAD 096 (Barcode: 5903068120367) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1977 Released: 2019 This is a reissue of the album recorded by the iconic Polish Prog / Fusion group SBBFind albums by this artist (bassist / keyboardist / composer / leader Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist) in Czechoslovakia and released on Czechoslovak market in 1978. The group´s fame and following easily crossed the border between Poland and the neighboring Czechoslovakia and the local state owned SupraphonFind albums on this label Records label was keen to have their albums released on the local market. Initially licensing Polish releases was planned, buy eventually an original product won over and was released in 1978. The original LP presented just two extended tracks, both being almost 20 minutes long suites composed by Skrzek and including lyrics by Julian MatejFind albums by this artist. This reissue adds as bonus tracks both sides of a single (with two short tracks) released before the album was released. The music is a continuation of the concepts that clarified during the creation of the first four quintessential albums recorded by the group in Poland. They were successfully merging several quite distinct musical directions: Progressive Rock epic compositions including several discrete themes, Fusion based instrumental improvisations and Ambient explorations emphasized by the growing interest in electronic music by their leader. To a careful listener the entire approach was running slightly out of steam and the patterns started to repeat themselves, and as a result the group was unable to achieve the same amount of excitement and exhilarating intensity on studio albums as those existing during their live performances. The basic power trio format was being replaced by a myriad of synthesizers and the wonderful talent of Anthimos was being pushed aside. Although SBB were enjoying an enormous peak of popularity, their music was slowly becoming stagnant, a phenomenon that sadly was the curse of most Prog and Fusion bands over time. Having said that, this is still a great album and an enjoyable, even exciting listening experience, which did not loose much of its impact in the decades that followed. It was certainly every inch as advanced musically as anything created west of the Iron Curtain, and in many cases probably more exciting overall. Although this album was already reissued several times before, those reissues tend to sell out rather rapidly and it´s good to see it available again, at least for a while. Classic Prog / Fusion stuff indeed!

Updated: 08/03/2020Posted: 07/03/2020

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend