Record Reviews

SBB ~ ABSOLUTELY LIVE `98 (LIMITED EDITION) METAL MIND 0332 (Barcode: 5907785026155) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1998 Released: 2006 The legendary Polish Prog / Fusion group SBBFind albums by this artist needs little introduction to the avid Prog / Fusion fans the world over. Now in its fifth decade of activity, the group already established a unique position on the music scene, which can be rivaled only but a chosen few. Their prolific studio and live recordings include dozens of albums, each and every one of which is a meaningful musical experience of unrepeated intensity and depth and a display of dazzling virtuosity. This album documents the band´s live show made by the second lineup of the group – bassist / keyboardist Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Miroslaw MuzykantFind albums by this artist. Great stuff! Side Note: Limited Edition of 1,000 copies only.

CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SBB ~ ANTHOLOGY 1974-2004 METAL MIND 001 (Barcode: 5907785025936) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 - 2002 Released: 2004 This stupendous Box Set, released to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the legendary Polish Jazz-Rock / Fusion group SBBFind albums by this artist, is an attempt to present the entire recorded legacy of the band, as know at the time of the release. Later on two additional Box Sets and other releases unearthed more of their recordings, so this box is by far not a "complete recordings" collection. The band was formed in 1971 in the southern Polish province of Upper Silesia and consisted of bassist / keyboardist / composer Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist. They called themselves Silesian Blues BandFind albums by this artist and started to perform locally. By the end of that year Skrzek was approached by Poland´s leading Rock personality, Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist, to join his new group formed in order to fulfill the international contract Niemen signed with CBSFind albums on this label Europe. Eventually Anthimos and Piotrowski also joined the band and the trio stayed with Niemen for about a year and a half, recording several albums with him, including the two albums released outside Poland: "Strange Is This WorldFind albums with this title" and "Ode To VenusFind albums with this title". By mid-1973 they left Niemen´s group, shorten their name to SBB and the rest is history. From 1974 on SBB became the leading Polish Rock / Prog / Fusion band, recording a series of revolutionary albums and changing the face of music not only in their native country but in the entire Eastern European world living behind the Iron Curtain. SBB were also well known outside of Eastern Europe and in the span of the thirty years documented by this Box Set performed extensively in Western Europe and the USA as well. There is no doubt that their music influenced entire generation of Eastern European musicians, who had limited access to music made in the West and therefore SBB served for them as a musical role model for years. This Box Set included twenty two CDs, which can be separated into several sub-groups. First there are the studio albums vs. the live recordings, which are the majority. Then there is the output by the original trio in the years 1974-1980 vs. the later recordings after the group was reactivated in 1991 and played with different drummers (Miroslaw MuzykantFind albums by this artist, Paul WerticoFind albums by this artist). As far as the music is concerned, in retrospect one must admit that there was not that much change over the years, except perhaps for the fact that the group somewhat lost its steam in due process. Obviously the early recordings are the most groundbreaking, adventurous, inspired and therefore interesting. Both in the studio and live the early recordings are full of improvisation, which often borders with Avant-Garde Rock and exhibits strong Jazz / Fusion influences. The sessions with guest Jazz musicians like Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist and others are among the highlights in this Box Set. In time, and especially after the re-activation, the music turned more Rock oriented, and the added vocals did not help to make it more interesting. All the musicians involved are of course superb instrumentalists and there is plenty of great solos (guitar especially), but the magic is definitely lost. There is also a problem of the same material being included repeatedly, although in different versions, but still basically the same. In contrast to Jazz, where each performance of the same tune can be completely different from every other, it does not happen here and a sizeable part of the music included here seems redundant to a degree. In retrospect perhaps it would have been wiser to split this box into two separate boxes, one with the early material, which is divine and another with the later stuff, which would be for the die hard fans only. Overall this box includes some of the most important music made in Eastern Europe during the formative years of Rock history, and as such is invaluable. The size and contents of this limited edition Box Set might appear to be a bit megalomanic, but is lovingly excused by most.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 22 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SBB ~ W FILHARMONII: AKT 1 (LIMITED EDITION) METAL MIND 0333 (Barcode: 5907785026162) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1998 - 1999 Released: 2005 The legendary Polish Prog / Fusion group SBBFind albums by this artist needs little introduction to the avid Prog / Fusion fans the world over. Now in its fifth decade of activity, the group already established a unique position on the music scene, which can be rivaled only but a chosen few. Their prolific studio and live recordings include dozens of albums, each and every one of which is a meaningful musical experience of unrepeated intensity and depth and a display of dazzling virtuosity. This album documents the band´s live show by the second lineup of the group: bassist / keyboardist Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Miroslaw MuzykantFind albums by this artist. This is the first of a 2CD set. Great stuff! Side Note: Limited Edition of 1,000 copies only.

Updated: 26/08/2020Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SBB ~ W FILHARMONII: AKT 2 (LIMITED EDITION) METAL MIND 0334 (Barcode: 5907785026179) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1998 - 1999 Released: 2005 The legendary Polish Prog / Fusion group SBBFind albums by this artist needs little introduction to the avid Prog / Fusion fans the world over. Now in its fifth decade of activity, the group already established a unique position on the music scene, which can be rivaled only but a chosen few. Their prolific studio and live recordings include dozens of albums, each and every one of which is a meaningful musical experience of unrepeated intensity and depth and a display of dazzling virtuosity. This album documents the band´s live show by the second lineup of the group: bassist / keyboardist Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Miroslaw MuzykantFind albums by this artist. This is the second of a 2CD set. Great stuff! Side Note: Limited Edition of 1,000 copies only.

Updated: 26/08/2020Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend