nedeľa 25. októbra 2009


Blue Effect - Modrý Efekt & Radim Hladík (1974, Czechoslovakia, progrock 256@)


This album was not meant to be instrumental originally, but communists forced the members of Blue Effect to leave out the vocals (because of the lyrics) and later also to change the name of the band to czech equivalent "Modrý Efekt". But even these facts don't influence the high quality of the recordings, solo guitarist and song-writer Radim Hladík is at his best and shows his talent especially on the legendary song called "Čajovna". Newly released version of the album includes two bonus tracks recorded in East Germany in 1973.
This album is one of the top of the Blue Effect. It is an instrumental album,but really, I don´t missing vocals. In the period of 70´s, when I heared this album at the first time, I was breathless.
Boty (Shoes) is maybe a best song. Hard bass line in the opening goes on to the nice
flute and guitar solo. After this passage starts an instrumental hell with Radim Hladík´s
high energy guitar playing. Čajovna (Tea room) with melancholic and very nice guitar figure
in simple theme in 4 minutes, but it works. Skládanka (Puzzle) is the song with jazzrock touches
with excellent flute of Jiří Stivín (like guest). Ztráty a nálezy (Lost and found) is a nice
melancholic ballad with lame fade out. Hypertenze (Hypertension) with hard begining later
mature into the interesting jazzrock with nice vocals in the end. Song Armaggedon (in bonus)
is a vocal version of Skládanka (Puzzle). Guitar playing is more agressive and better, I think.
And song Clara? Bass line really catch you. Thank You, Blue Effect.


Total time: 54' 40''


Tracklist (including translations):

1. Boty (Shoes) 9:57
2. Čajovna (Tea room) 4:01
3. Skládanka (Puzzle) 5:49
4. Ztráty a nálezy (Lost and found) 5:12
5. Hypertenze (Hypertension) 12:30

Recorded from March 18th to June 6th, 1973 in Prague (tracks 1-5).

Bonus tracks:

6. Armageddon 6:22
7. Clara 4:13

Recorded in Germany in 1973.

Line-up/Musicians:

Radim Hladík - guitars, circle modulator
Lešek Semelka -keyboards, vocal
Josef Kůstka - bass guitar, fiddle, vocal
Vlado Čech - drums

guests:
Martin Kratochvíl - piano
Jiří Stivín - flute, altsaxofon



cover from export variant (A Benefit of Radim Hladik - 1975).


Download link 256@:

http://rapidshare.com/files/297992435/Modr__Efekt___Radim_Hlad_k__1974__Czechoslovakia__progrock__256__.zip


album artwork link:
http://www.cover-paradise.to/?Module=ViewEntry&ID=199998

piatok 9. októbra 2009



Modrý Efekt (a.k.a. Blue Effect) - Svět Hledačů [Czechoslovakian progressive jazz rock fusion/1979] + 6 bonus tracks


Lead by ace guitarist Radim Hladík, MODRÝ EFEKT were one of the major progressive bands in Czechoslovakia; they were to their own country what OMEGA were to Hungary, or SBB to Poland. They started out in 1968 with a couple of early R&B-oriented albums. Actually, these were released under the band’s original name, BLUE EFFECT. However, the Czech governement strongly disapproved of English names at the time, so the band switched to MODRÝ EFEKT and later to simply M.EFEKT. After these two albums, their material veered towards jazz rock and by the early 80’s, following sereval personnel changes, their music had become a little less prog, more accessible. They released their last album in 1981 and then quietly disappeared.
Of particular interest to prog fans are three albums: “Modrý Efekt & Radim Hladík” (1975) which features an energetic mix of YES-like symphonic rock with some fusion; the overall effect will likely remind you of FINCH or CRUCIS. Emphasizing Hladik’s brilliant soloing, this was the album that established him as “the” Czech guitarist par excellence. However, it is “Svitanie” (1977) that is considered the band’s true masterpiece. With its sinewy bass lines and bold keyboard/guitar melodies, it is still quite YES-influenced but it also has a definite Czech flavour that makes it unique. Finally, there is the bolder, more complex and not so YES-like album titled “Svet Hledacu – World of Searchers” (1979); this one is characterized by many sudden tempo shifts and emphasizes the flux between the spacey synths and Hladik’s biting guitars. Except for this album, whose 5 official tracks are all sung, the band’s répertoire is mostly instrumental.
Primarily recommended to fusion lovers but YES fans will also likely find something to sink their teeth into.(http://www.progarchives.com/)
ME’s Last album of the decade - Svet Hledacu, is in some ways one of their most “prog”, it was to signal the end of the Czech’s most brilliant group, even if the following 33 album still has some moments. By this time bassist Freso has left ME, replaced by the returning Semelka, adding a second keyboard player, leaving the bass guitar spot empty. Oddly enough, while the 73 album and most of Svitanie were largely instrumental, Svet Hledacu has extended vocal tracks, with both keyboardist sharing vocal duties, and even odder, they both sound quite alike: it’s quite hard to tell which voice belongs to which singer.
From the lengthy opener Za Krokem Zen, one can say that ME had heard of Grobschnitt’s Solar Music live concept. Indeed an interesting track, a bit in the musical line of their previous Svetanie album, but nothing spell-binding past the Grobschnitt allusions. Hledám Své Vlastní is a keyboard-led track that hovers between Eloy and Yes. Closing the first side is Rajky probably the most complex of the album and has a definite Yes twist to it, but again vocally this is a cross of Ian Gillan meeting with Jon Anderson.
The flipside starts on the Zmoudření Babím Létem, a great and furious track that even Crimson clone like Anekdoten couldn't possibly match in terms of energy and is possibly my fave on the album with the opening Krokem track. Again the strong Eloy tendency resurfaces on this track. The 12-min scorcher Zázrak Jedné Noci is another excellent mini-epic, especially in its use of heavy/minor scale passages and its alternance between spacey/jazzy stretches and more symphonic lines ala Yes (especially in Hladic's Steve Howe-inspired lap steel guitar solos).
As with Freso leaving ME to refound Collegium Musicum and later Fermata prior to this album, Vesely would leave the group to reform Synkopy, the album comes with a bunch of later non-albums single releases, obviously shorter (due to the format), all sung as well and recorded after Veseny’s departure. The six bonus tracks included are not much added value to the original album, sounding like typical AOR of the late 70's with an Italian vocal delivery, with the lengthier Fotka being the best of the lot, but not coming to the waist-height of the lesser original album tracks. Nevertheless, beside these slight drawbacks, Svet Hledacu is very much in the ME trio of “must- discover” lists, even being at moments better than Svetanie, but unfortunately ruined by the unwise choice of bonuses.


Track Listings:
1. Za krokem žen (11:43)
2. Hledám své vlastní já (4:12)
3. Rajky (7:14)
4. Zmoudření babím létem (8:45)
5. Zázrak jedné noci (11:48)

Bonus tracks on 1999 CD re-issue:

6. Fotka (5:31)
7. Ptáky když kroužkujou, pouštěj' (3:49)
8. Šaty z šátků (4:05)
9. Nerad mám ráno dým (4:07)
10. Žena v okně (4:08)
11. Známe se dál (3:14)


Total Time: 68:36

Line-up/Musicians:
Vlado Čech / drums, percussion
Radim Hladík / guitar
Lešek Semelka / keyboards, synths, clavinet, celeste, vocals
Oldřich Veselý / keyboards, synths, clavinet, vocals

Releases information:Recorded from September to December, 1978 in Prague (tracks 1-5).
Download link 256@(with covers front and back):
Covers (HQ):