Various "Velvet Revolutions:Psychedelic Rock From The Eastern Bloc 1968-1973" 2013(comp)**

To people who grew up listening to vinyl, like I did, cover art is an important part of a record. At a time before internet when we only had state radio in Greece which seldom played rock music, we relied a lot on the cover to figure out how the music must have sounded: how did the band look on it? what kind of instruments they used? which font did they choose? was the cover funny? serious? sexy? all that played a role. My first record was Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. I bought it because I'd heard "Temple Of The King", but above all I think because of the cover: a guitar castle out of fairy tales, what more could a 14-year old fantasy fan ask? During the CD era, covers shrinked and became less impressive but there was still a lot to be gathered by looking at them. I'm only starting my review with this because I'm looking at this CD cover and wondering how much ignorance has gone into it, and whether this can affect the way I feel about the album. Let's start with the title: "Velvet Revolution" refers to the regime change (from Communism to Western-style democracy) in Czechoslovakia in '89. Which means that the compilers missed the mark by only 20 years. Many of the bands here do come from Czechoslovakia but that's probably just a happy coincidence. I'd think they had confused the Velvet Revolution with the Prague Spring (1968) but I don't want to give them too much credit. That would imply they have at least some clue. Next, to the one that really irks me: the huge CCCP  means of course that the CD contains music from the Soviet Union. Right? I mean you don't put a huge USA on an album containing music from Guatemala - or Canada, for that matter. Nooo...apparently you do. Just to throw potential buyers off. To amplify the message they use a pseudo-Cyrillic font that renders the band names virtually unreadable. Why? Cyrillic is used mainly in Russia, Bulgaria and Serbia. You feature bands from Czechoslovakia, Hungary, East Germany and Poland. These countries all use the Latin alphabet. Do you just want to get on my nerves by making me strain my eyes to decipher your bullshit font? But then I realized: the compilers apparently believe that the Eastern Bloc was a single country (capital:Moscow) that existed in an unspecified time and place. That explains why the cover features World War II bombers (again, 25 years off the mark) and a Soviet soldier - because this is what eveyrone wore in those countries, right? uniforms and hats with red stars on them. Ah, and according to discogs, the tracklist on the back has no less than 4 spelling mistakes. Now, why am I not surprised? Do you know how much skill it takes to copy a title from a record label? At least the booklet seems to have been written by a different person, someone who can actually tell Poland from Mongolia.

Now let us go to the music, starting with the Hungarian bands: Opener "Visz A Vonat" by Illés is groovy, organ-heavy, soul-rock with female vocals. A second song by the same band is completely different, featuring male vocals and a folk sound akin to Incredible String Band. Another (as Illes Zenckar) has some nice hard rock guitar but is otherwise unimpressive. Neoton is also represented with 3 tracks: hard rockers "A Haz" (Deep Purple-influenced) and "Nehez Fiuk" (Hendrix-like) and ballad "Gyere Alom". Moving on to Czechoslovakia, "18 Minut" by Juventus starts off like typical 60's pop but turns into a freakout with the singer yelling and band attacking their istruments hard. Olympic were a hugely popular band (nicknamed The Czech Beatles). "Tobogan" is a Yardbirds-like rocker and "Ikarus Blues" reminds me of Traffic circa 1968 - including a Chris Wood-like flute solo. Blue Effect were a Matadors offshoot (We'll talk about the Matadors in another post). The Effect's "White Hair" has some nice guitar but otherwise sounds like an outtake from the musical Hair. Of the Polish bands, Czerwono Czarni offer their own take on The Electric Prunes' Mass in F Minor with the instrumental "Kyrie". No To Co's "Saturday To Sunday" is English language flower pop. The band even made an attempt for an international career by releasing a record at the UK, but failed to get noticed. By "international" I mean in the West. Most of these bands did have international careers within the confines of the "Eastern Bloc". Breakout's "We Have Told All" (sung in Polish, despite the English title) sounds a lot like Jullie Driscoll circa 1968-69. Rounding the compilation up, there are some East German numbers. East Germany had a great rock scene, evidence of which is the fantastic hard rock of Scirroco Combo (think Atomic Rooster), Joco Dev Sextett (Black Sabbath without the ultra heavy riffs) and Electra Combo (rather progish -  Jethro Tull meet Cream?). On the whole this compilation helps to dispel the myth that Eastern Europe was this backwards place where rock was unknown or banned. Despite their difficulties in dealing with the state, rock bands flourished and produced music at least equal to the one made on the other side of the Continent. Musically, this is probably worth 3,5 stars but I'm subtracting 1,5* because of the disrespectful cover art presenting all these countries as if they were nothing more than Russian provinces.

**** for Visz A Vonat (Illés), Wege Mit Gutem Namen (Scirroco Combo), Stapellauf (Joco Dev Sextett)

*** for 18 Minut (Juventus), Tobogan (Olympic), Du Bist Mir Nah (Joco Dev Sextett), The Story Of M (Illés), Ikarus Blues (Olympic), Kyrie (Czerwono Czarni), Saturday To Sunday (No To Co), We Have Told All (Breakout), Über Feuer (Electra Combo), Nehez Fiuk (Neoton)

** for A Haz (Neoton), Gyere Alom (Neoton), Menekilles (Illes Zenckar), White Hair (Blue Effect)

Budapest Record Shops

I visited Budapest directly after Prague, and I couldn't help noticing the similarities and differences. Both cities have a beautiful historical center with imperial period architecture, but while Budapest had some bigger and more majestic buildings, the overal look was a bit more rundown. Which, I'll have to admit, I liked. It looks more like a lived-in city when Prague has this fairytale quality that seemed to be fabricated for tourists (I'm sure it isn't so, but that's the feeling I got). Also, in Prague they may sell the chimney cakes (there it's called trdelník) in every corner, but here you'll find the most authentic ones. They're called Kürtőskalács and if you want to taste some really good (and cheap) ones I strongly suggest Molnár's. Another thing I loved about Budapest was how lively it is. When you go out at night it's full of young locals having fun. A special feature of the city's night life is the so-called ruin bars. Be sure to at least visit the first and best one Szimpla Kert on Kazinczy Street. It's very crowded at night, so if you want to take a look around I suggest going in the afternoon. And as long as you're there, don't forget to eat at Karavan Street Food a few meters away. It's an open space with food trucks serving everything from Goulash-in-a-bun to the delicious Hungarian pies called lángos.

Despite the fact I was only in Budapest for 2,5 days, I tried to visit most of the city's record shops - at least the ones within walking distance from the center. Starting with Musicland which may be somewhat out of the centre (Almássy Square 8) but is, at least size-wise, the biggest in the city. It's a semi-underground establishment with two big rooms. During my visit the CD section was closed for construction, but there was enough to see at the main (vinyl) section. It's very well stocked, had lots of record store day specials and new 180gr reissues (€15-25) as well as second hand LP's and a bunch of 7' singles (60's to 80s pop & rock in dubious condition) for a measly 100HUF. There's also a record player you can use to listen to LPs. Conveniently for international buyers, prices are also listed in €. International LP's (Classic rock, psych, pop) cost 3,5-20€, Hungarian editions 1,5-5€. To get an idea of the prices from now on, at the time of my trip 1000 Hungarian Fiorins were roughly €3,5. Second stop was Headbanger (Múzeum krt. 17),a small store dedicated to Heavy Metal. It has a big variety of Metal T-shirts, and a few hundred vinyls (mostly 5-7.000 HUF). It doesn't sound like much, but you'll be surprised with what you can find: Anything (but not everything) in HM plus some rock albums (e.g. Pink Floyd, Doors), mostly new and sealed or used in good condition.

Laci Bácsi Lemezboltja (Kertész utca 42) 

Rock diszkont on Kiraly 108 reminded me of a shop in my old neighborhood that sold buttons and shoelaces. Cd's are in boxes on the walls, some you can get out and browse through while others are out of touch behind the counter. There are no price stickers, so you'll have to ask. The problem with that is that these guys there don't speak English or make any effort to communicate. The prices they gave me were the same or slightly lower than the average prices anywhere in Europe. On the other hand, there's a huge variety of Hungarian music in CD so if you're looking for something specific in that department, it's worth a visit. A bit further (Kiraly 67) you'll find Lemezkucko, Budapest's oldest record store (from 1986). It looks the part, too. It's of good size and, while it may not be the trendiest in town, it's nice to look about. You'll find 2nd hand vinyl (60s/70s/80s pop & rock, international albums mostly costing 2000-3000HUF, Hungarian ones typically 2000), new LP's (around 5000HUF) and CD's (international 2000-4000HUF, a big variety in Hungarian rock mostly 2000HUF). It's possible to listen to albums. I bought a couple of Yugoslavian pressings of Western rock LP's here, they're cheaper than e.g. German but still of good quality - which I can't say about the Hungarian-made vinyls I listened to in this trip. 

Zene Borze

Rock Dizkont

Laci Bácsi Lemezboltja  (Kertész 42) is the place to look for vinyl. Long corridors stuffed with all kinds of LP's (60s/70s/80s for 600-6000 HUF, new reissues and rarities sometimes more expensive). Some really cheap ones also, prices vary according to the vinyl's condition and issue. Worth spending time, there's no telling what you can find. Especially recommended if you're looking for East Bloc Rock. 

Many shops are listed on a wide road called Erzsébet str. The most visible is Zene borze at no. 52. No vinyl here, only CDs and DVDs apparently 2nd hand. A lot of international rock/pop CD's for good prices (1000-2000HUF). At no.58 you'll have to go inside the back yard to find a tiny shop. The sign says Hanglemez, which apparently means "Records" in Hungarian. I think it's probably Film-Zene Kuckó which is mentioned in some sites and is registered in the same address. It's really packed with very little space to move, but I did see some interesting stuff, classic rock mostly. CD Pince at n. 41 is likewise in an inner yard, and underground to boot. Fairly big, though, if somewhat one sided. To paraphrase The Blues Brothers, they have both kinds of music: Heavy and Metal. If that's your thing you'll find lots of CD's (new 3000HUF, used 1500-2000HUF) and T-shirts as well as some vinyl LPs. Média Pont A Lemezbolt is a little out of the center (about 15 minutes' walk from the parliament building). It's small and cluttered both inside and out, but in a nice, colorful, manner. There a few boxes of offers for 500HUF outside. Inside there are both used CD's and vinyl. A surprising variety for such a small shop, with prices slightly lower than elsewhere (typically 1500-4000HUF for vinyl). Saving the best for last, Wave (Révay Köz 1) is a beautiful record store that serves as the center of the Hungarian underground scene since 1989. The owner speaks good English, he's friendly and very knowledgable about music. The focus is on Alternative rock, punk and underground music but you can find everything from Jazz to Garage Rock to Soviet records. New vinyl costs 5000-8000HUF. used around 3000HUF with some cheapos for 300-1500. CD's in different prices (used ones 1500-2000HUF). This is a must visit place, even if you don't have much time. After all it's just a few steps from St. Stephen's Basilica, which is an obligatory tourist stop.

During my trip I managed to visit most, but not all, of the record shops in my list. For example I couldn't find Rock in Box on the given address, Paulay Ede utca 8. Metro-nom (Kresz Géza u. 11) is apparently the place for New Wave, dark wave and electro, but it was closed on Saturday. Newport Records is a very small shop hidden in a passage (Teréz krt. 8). I swung by, but it was closed. Supposedly it's good for Jazz, Classical, 60s and French vinyl. AktRecords (Ó u. 35) and Deep Music (Aradi u. 22) specialize in dance music which isn't my thing so I chose to cut them out of my schedule. A couple of shops at the city's 8th district sounded interesting, but I didn't have time to visit them: Ethno Sound (Krúdy Gyula 7) has ethnic stuff including world music CDs and Iguana (Krúdy Gyula 9) retro/vintage items, including garage/punk vinyl LP's. Maybe next time. To summarize, it seems that vinyl is alive and well in Budapest (well, in Pest at least. Not much to do in Buda). Many shops cater to the needs of record buyers, although price-wise there aren't many bargains except for local artists. At first it struck me as odd, seeing as the cost of living is supposedly lower than in Western Europe, but it makes sense after all: there weren't many rock records getting pressed in Hungary during its communist years, so most of the records on sale are imported. Not that it matters - if you're like me, you won't be able to resist searching the shelves. And when you do, you're bound to find some good stuff, I certainly did...

Ω Omega "Idõrabló/Time Robber" 1976***

As I've written before, Omega were Hungary's greatest rock band and a significant musical export, mainly in Central Europe. Like most bands from the former "Soviet Bloc" they sang in their own language, probably to please the commissars. But who else in the whole world would willingly listen to rock sung in Hungarian? So they made a point of dual releases, one for the home crowd and one in English for export. This CD sensibly gathers both versions of their classic "Time Robber" album. The cover is certainly not the original of the international edition, which was a typical space rock affair. These Boney M-join-the-Cossack-cavalry outfits must have been the height of kitsch even in the 70's. What am I saying - they'd even be booed off the stage in an 80's Eurovision contest (even as I wrote it I realized that's not true - of course nothing can be too kitsch for Eurovision). Anyway, even if this was the original Hungarian LP cover, one would expect them to hide their hideous fashion crimes from the CD generation, but I guess there's a threshold beyond which kitsch becomes a form of expression. You never know, maybe Lady Gaga will wear one of these outfits on next year's Grammys. But enough about the cover, let's review the music. First of all, the English and Hungarian versions are identical except from the vocals. Opener "Napot Hoztam, Csillagot/House Of Cards" is an atmospheric song with gentle acoustic guitar and spacey moog keyboard. Singer Janos Kobor's English is accented but not bad, it certainly goes down easier than his native Hungarian. What bothers me most with the vocals are the echo effects. I think they heard this effect on a Pink Floyd album and decided to use it everywhere. Bad idea (although nowhere near as bad as the costumes on the cover). The first three tracks are actually connected to form a song suit, so "House Of Cards" blends into hard rocker "Idõrabló/Time Robber" (great bluesy solo here), while the 3rd part "Ablakok/ House Of Cards (Part Two)" reprises the moog-heavy atmospheres of the first. "A Névtelen Utazó/ Invitation" is a nice hard rocker with top-notch guitar and drums but almost ruined by a few seconds of intrusive spacey electronic effects in the beginning, middle and end. It's an otherwise radio-friendly song and was indeed a moderate hit in Germany. "Nélküled/Don't Keep Me On Waiting" is a psychedelic ballad with a heavy Pink Floyd influence, with excellent Gilmour-esque guitar and spacey keyboards. "A Könyvelõ Álma/An Accountant's Dream" is fast glam rock track with vocals reminiscent of Alex Harvey, Steve Harley or even Ziggy-era Bowie. "Éjféli Koncert/Late Night Show" has a similar vocal but a more complex composition. The first half is more of a glam power ballad while the instrumental second half is rich and atmospheric with great harpsichord and choral female vocals. Once more Omega prove themselves the equals of English/West European prog rockers. This CD (or just its English counterpart "Time Robber") should satisfy fans of Eloy, Pink Floyd, Uriah Heep etc. Plus there's certainly some added comedy value in the cover. 

***** for Nélküled/Don't Keep Me On Waiting

**** for Napot Hoztam Csillagot/House Of Cards, Éjféli Koncert/Late Night Show

*** for Idõrabló/Time Robber, Ablakok/House Of Cards (Part Two), A Névtelen Utazó/Invitation, A Könyvelõ Álma/An Accountant's Dream

Ω Omega "10 000 Lépés" 1969****

Omega is supposed to be Hungary's greatest rock band. Or, at least, the only one that managed to escape its country's margins and get known internationally. I know what you'll say, the iron curtain etc, but I think it has to do with how open cultures are to outside influences and maybe how they present themselves to the outside world. Even 20 years ago, I knew of Hungary's Omega, Czechoslovakia's Plastic People Of The Universe, Yugoslavia's Bijelo Dugme (you know, Bregovic's group) but I couldn't readily name a 60's/70's rock band from Austria, Switzerland or Portugal. Ω were apparently popular in the two Germanies, Poland and elsewhere and even recorded and released a beat album in the UK with the help of the of The Spencer Davis Group's manager. Despite their relative success at the time, their albums aren't all that common in Greece (or in the Netherlands). So when I found this for a nice price, I bought it. It catches the band in transition between psychedelic pop and the progressive space-rock for which they're mostly famous for. Opener "Petróleum lámpa" is a fast number with country harmonica and boogie woogie piano. Typical 60's, could be Chris Farlowe if not for the obnoxious vocals - although maybe I shouldn't blame the singer but the Hungarian language itself: It sounds like an unholy mixture of Turkish and Slavic or, more accurately, like no other human language at all. Not that easy on the ears usually, though it didn't stop me from enjoying "Gyöngyhajú lány", the album's high point. A gorgeous ballad (later covered by the Scorpions as "White Dove"- and the Scorpions really know ballads). It features atmospheric organ, fluid guitar, soft lead vocals and big harmonies on the chorus. "Túzvihar" and "Nem tilthatom meg" are Hendrix-inspired hard rock, while "Félbeszakadt koncert" shows more similarities to Led Zeppelin. All three are excellent. "Udvari bolond kenyere" and "Halott viragok" are closer to the Kinks circa 1967 and "Kérgeskezú favágök" a soul-jazz instrumental with a long drum solo. "Tékozló fiúk" is a crazy one and a personal favorite, a fuzz guitar monster blending prog grandiosity, hard rock aggressiveness, garage punk attitude and what sounds like a seriously pissed-off ghost at backing vocals. The album's namesake "Tizezer lépés" is another prog/hard rock dynamite, with impressive organ and guitar work reminiscent of Deep Purple from the same period, while "Az 1958-as boogie-woogie klubban" is what the title (probably) says, a retro rock'n'roll number. Once again, the language sounds wrong and it comes out like Borat impersonating Elvis - but in a fun way. "Régi csibészek" is a whimsical country stomp while "Spanyolgitar legenda", "Volt egy bohóc" and "Naplemente" are Renaissance-flavored folk with flutes, strings etc. This album proves that music knows no national or political boundaries, as it shows Hungarian rockers to be every bit the equal of their English and American contemporaries, at the forefront of the progressive movement and impressive instrumentalists - especially the guitarist and organist. If the singer was half as good, I'd even call it a cornerstone of its genre.

***** for Gyöngyhajú lány

**** for Tekozlo fiuk, Tizezer lepes, Félbeszakadt koncert

*** for Petróleum lámpa, Túzvihar, Udvari bolond kenyere, Kergeskezu favagok, Az 1958-as boogie-woogie klubban, Spanyolgitár legenda, Nem tilthatom meg, Volt egy bohóc, Naplemente

** for Halott virágok, Régi csibészek