Show Date: Tue. June 15, 1999
Show #19
Hungary / Poland / Czech.



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Playlist:
# Artist Song (click to play) Album Year CD label
1 Omega H., az elektromos furTsz Jszakai Országút 1970 Hungaroton-Gong
This is Omega's second album. This is pretty early for prog, especially from Hungary. And, it's surprisingly good. Often, if you look at the history of a band's output, you see how their musicianship improved, etc. But, there is something on a talented band's first couple of albums that is always refreshing to hear - and that is a certain optimism and inspired spark. You can hear that on this early Omega release.
 
2 Pavol Hammel, Marian Varga, Radim Hladik S chodnikom na chrbte Na druhom programe sna 1976 Opus
This is a collaboration of Collegium Musicum's Marian Varga, Modry Efekt's Radim Hladik, and guitarist Pavel Hammel. I find most of the material on this and the Zelena Posta to be a little iffy, though there is some very good stuff. The guitar playing is especially interesting at times. My main complaint is that there is too much vocals. The song represented here is mostly instrumental with some tasty guitar playing. Oh yeah, the guys are from Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic.
 
3 Fermata 80 000 Huascaran 1977 Opus
Fermata's music is somewhat typical of fusion groups of this time period, like Weather Report, Billy Cobham, ... They are also from Czechoslovakia. Lots of heavy bass playing, flanged guitar.
 
4 Townscream Nagyvarosi ikonok I Nagyvárosi Ikonok 1997 Townscream
This is a side project (or descendant) of After Crying led by keyboardist Csaba Vedres. It has a somewhat similar sound to After Crying. Sonorous classical rock.
 
5 East Megikus Ero Hüség 1982 Hungaroton-Gong
East presents a pleasant symphonic/fusion music, that is a bit reminiscent of Eloy. There are lots of guitar/keyboard dual melodic runs that remind of later Mahavishnu or Jeff Beck/Jan Hammer.
 
6 After Crying Manticore erkezese II. Föld és ég 1994 Periferic Records
After Crying, from Hungary, are a bit hard to classify, as they are pretty unique. Instrumentation includes piano and keyboards foremost, with guitar, bass, cello, trumpet, vocals, percussion. You can hear alot of ELP influence with small hints of King Crimson. They are sort of a chamber prog. But, not in any way similar to other groups who are classified as chamber prog, which are usually Rock-In-Opposition type groups that play a complex dissonant music. After Crying is a very easy listen, and what I would call a "major key" band - that is, a happy sound.
 


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