Record Reviews

NURT ~ NURT KAMELEON 27 ~ POLAND ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2013 This is the criminally long-overdue reissue of the only album recorded by the legendary Polish Rock group NurtFind albums by this artist. Founded in Wroclaw in 1970 by guitarist / vocalist / composer Aleksander MrozekFind albums by this artist, it also included bassist Kazimierz CwynarFind albums by this artist, drummer Ryszard SrokaFind albums by this artist and vocalist Waldemar DomagalaFind albums by this artist. By the end of 1971 Domagala was replaced by Roman RunowiczFind albums by this artist, who was previously a member of the no less legendary group Romuald I RomanFind albums by this artist. The group performed extensively in the early 1970s but managed to record only one eponymous studio album in 1972 for the State owned MuzaFind albums on this label label and several Radio recording sessions, which are now available on a companion CD to this reissue. In retrospect it is clear that Nurt were surely one of the top Polish Rock acts in the early 1970, surely as good as NiemenFind albums by this artist, SBBFind albums by this artist and BreakoutFind albums by this artist and in many respects even more adventurous. Their music amalgamated some Blues influences, but basically was all about early Hard Rock, Psychedelia and early Jazz-Rock Fusion. The fact that Polish Jazz legend, trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, participates on the album´s extended central composition, which incorporates Free Jazz passages, speaks for itself. Stanko´s contributions are of course nothing short of spectacular. The excellent lyrics by their resident writer Andrzej KuryloFind albums by this artist were another aspect of the group´s high quality output. The album is full of great instrumental passages by the lead guitar, accompanied by the unique sound of the fuzz bass guitar, which gave the group a sound unlike any of their contemporaries, and superb dynamic drumming. The album is not much different from the best efforts by groups active at the time in Western Europe or USA. In spite of the fact that this music was recorded about four decades ago, it is still full of that magic that characterized that period and its music. It lost absolutely nothing of its charm over time. Remastered and with informational liner noted based on the memories of the band members, this is a proper tribute to a legend, which should not be forgotten. These memories tell a tale of how this music was created against all odds: censorship, animosity and oppression of the Socialist Regime and its bureaucracy - a miracle by all means. Kudos to the KameleonFind albums on this label label for bringing this music back to circulation.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

NURT ~ THE COMPLETE RADIO SESSIONS 1972-1974 KAMELEON 28 ~ POLAND ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1972 - 1974 Released: 2013 This album collects all the material recorded for the Polish Radio by the legendary Polish Rock group NurtFind albums by this artist. Founded in Wroclaw in 1970 by guitarist / vocalist / composer Aleksander MrozekFind albums by this artist, it also included bassist Kazimierz CwynarFind albums by this artist, drummer Ryszard SrokaFind albums by this artist and vocalist Waldemar DomagalaFind albums by this artist. By the end of 1971 Domagala was replaced by Roman RunowiczFind albums by this artist, who was previously a member of the no less legendary group Romuald I RomanFind albums by this artist. The group performed extensively in the early 1970s but managed to record only one eponymous studio album in 1972 for the State owned MuzaFind albums on this label label, which is now available on a companion CD to this release, and two Polish Radio recording sessions: one before the recording of the album (February 1972) and the other over two years later (May 1974), both present herein. In retrospect it is clear that Nurt were surely one of the top Polish Rock acts in the early 1970, surely as good as NiemenFind albums by this artist, SBBFind albums by this artist and BreakoutFind albums by this artist and in many respects even more adventurous. Their music amalgamated some Blues influences, but basically was all about early Hard Rock, Psychedelia and early Jazz-Rock Fusion. The fact that Polish Jazz legend, trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, participates on the studio album and other Jazz musicians take part in these sessions speaks for itself. The excellent lyrics by their resident writer Andrzej KuryloFind albums by this artist were another aspect of the group´s high quality output. The album is full of great instrumental passages by the lead guitar, accompanied by the unique sound of the fuzz bass guitar, which gave the group a sound unlike any of their contemporaries, and superb dynamic drumming. The circumstances surrounding these Radio sessions were much more relaxed than the studio album recording sessions, and therefore the music presented here is much more similar to how the band sounded on stage at the time. The first session includes six tracks, which were later included on the studio album, and one mostly improvised piece that was not included on the album. The second session includes material composed later, after the album was recorded. Remastered and with informational liner noted based on the memories of the band members, this is a proper tribute to a legend, which should not be forgotten. These memories tell a tale of how this music was created against all odds: censorship, animosity and oppression of the Socialist Regime and its bureaucracy - a miracle by all means. Kudos to the KameleonFind albums on this label label for bringing this music back to circulation.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ROMUALD I ROMAN ~ Z ARCHIWUM POLSKIEGO RADIA VOL.05 POLSKIE RADIO 1039-1040 (Barcode: 5907812240394) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1968 - 1976 Released: 2007 This album compiles archive material by the Polish Rock group Romuald I RomanFind albums by this artist recorded by the Polish Radio over a period of several years, covering the group´s history from its formative years to its ultimate demise. The fact that these recordings exist at all are a miracle and since the group never managed to record an album they are the only source of material that tells their story. In the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s Polish Rock suffered from extreme limitations enforced upon the music and the artists by the Socialist regime, which considered long-haired and bell-bottom jeans wearing musicians as enemies of the state. Therefore many Polish Rock groups never managed to record even one album on the state-owned record label, especially if their songs were different from the Pop material considered safe by Government censorship. Luckily enough, the regime was also extremely bureaucratic and regionally partitioned, which allowed for some local sovereignty of some institutions, which was explored to the max by the Polish Radio, which had many regional studios and was able to record artists without asking too many questions. Thanks to the brave man and woman working at the Polish Radio all over the country many Polish Rock recordings survived the unsympathetic times against all odds. The band was formed sometime during the troubled days of early 1968, when Poland was shaken up by political unrest, demonstration and strikes, brutally quenched by the Socialist regime. The group´s founders: guitarist / vocalist / songwriter Romuald PiaseckiFind albums by this artist and guitarist / vocalist / songwriter Roman RunowiczFind albums by this artist, both students at the time, met during a student strike and quickly merged their musical forces to create one of the early legends of early Polish Rock. They added a rhythm section (bass and drums) and quickly established a growing following performing many gigs around the country. Runowicz left the group by late 1971 and Piasecki continued to lead it under the same moniker until it finally disbanded in late 1976. These recording present the musical history of the group, which went through several phases like Psychedelic Pop, Hard Rock, Progressive Rock and eventually even Jazz-Rock Fusion. Their material was very ambitious and involved a significant element of live improvisation, which of course was most evident during their live performances. Although the sonic quality of some of these recordings is not perfect, the music is excellent from start to finish and provides a wonderful glimpse into the past, serving as a fascinating document of Polish Rock history. Definitely a must to all Polish Rock fans both in Poland and anywhere in the world. Highly recommended!

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend