Record Reviews

SBB ~ LOST TAPES, VOL. 1 – STUDIO & LIVE RECORDINGS 1974-1978 METAL MIND 001 (Barcode: 5907785027046) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 - 1978 Released: 2005 In 2004 the Polish record label Metal MindFind albums on this label released a magnificent Box Set called "Anthology 1974-2004Find albums with this title", with contained 22 CDs of music by SBBFind albums by this artist - the most important Polish / East European Prog band active behind the Iron Curtain. These epic recordings changed the face of music as we know and influenced generations of musicians across the Soviet Empire and its satellite states, which makes that Box Set a well deserved tribute to the band and a superb document of enormous historical and aesthetic value. People interested to learn more about SBB should simply read the review of that release. The process of collecting the material for the anthology Box Set did not stop however with the box being released and somehow reanimated itself and kept going with additional previously unreleased material being uncovered continuously. This led to the release of two additional Box Sets, called "Lost TapesFind albums with this title", of which this is the first volume. The music included here was recorded during the first five years of SBB activity, which is by far the most interesting and dramatic. It covers a plethora of studio, radio and live recordings, all by the original lineup consisting of bassist / keyboardist Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist. By far the most interesting recording in this Box Set is the quintet meeting between SBB and the legendary trumpeter Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Helmut NadolskiFind albums by this artist, in short the lineup that recorded with NiemenFind albums by this artist, this time sans Niemen himself. Another very interesting recording is the album SBB recorded with Polish female vocalist Halina FrackowiakFind albums by this artist, which is the only occasion the group agreed to accompany a vocalist. These three Box Sets with SBB music contain hours of excellent music and invaluable retrospective of history, but to be completely fair they also raise the question about compilations such these being "the right thing to do". There is a lot of repetition here and not every moment is truly inspired; much of it might have been perhaps best left undiscovered. Of course the band has a wide fan base ready to swallow any new piece of music recorded by SBB, but some moral / ethical questions could be also raised about cynical exploitation and opportunism. That said it is for the individual fan to decide if he wants to purchase all three Box Sets or not. All three Box Sets are numbered limited editions of one thousand copies.

Updated: 26/08/2020Posted:

CD 9 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SBB ~ LOST TAPES, VOL. 2 – STUDIO & LIVE RECORDINGS 1971-1979 METAL MIND 002 (Barcode: 5907785029156) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1971 - 1979 Released: 2006 In 2004 the Polish record label Metal MindFind albums on this label released a magnificent Box Set called "Anthology 1974-2004Find albums with this title", with contained 22 CDs of music by SBBFind albums by this artist - the most important Polish / East European Prog band active behind the Iron Curtain. These epic recordings changed the face of music as we know and influenced generations of musicians across the Soviet Empire and its satellite states, which makes that Box Set a well deserved tribute to the band and a superb document of enormous historical and aesthetic value. People interested to learn more about SBB should simply read the review of that release. The process of collecting the material for the anthology Box Set did not stop however with the box being released and somehow reanimated itself and kept going with additional previously unreleased material being uncovered continuously. This led to the release of two additional Box Sets, called "Lost TapesFind albums with this title", of which this is the second volume. The music included here was recorded during the first six years of SBB activity, before they disbanded in early 1980, which is by far the most interesting and dramatic. It covers a plethora of studio, radio and live recordings, all by the original lineup consisting of bassist / keyboardist Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist. By far the most interesting recording in this Box Set is the quintet meeting between SBB and the legendary trumpeter Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Helmut NadolskiFind albums by this artist, in short the lineup that recorded with NiemenFind albums by this artist, this time sans Niemen himself. Another very interesting recording is the meeting with Przybielski, captured on the last CD of this set. The opening CD of this set collects early recordings by SBB members, made before the group was formally founded. These three Box Sets with SBB music contain hours of excellent music and invaluable retrospective of history, but to be completely fair they also raise the question about compilations such these being "the right thing to do". There is a lot of repetition here and not every moment is truly inspired; much of it might have been perhaps best left undiscovered. Of course the band has a wide fan base ready to swallow any new piece of music recorded by SBB, but some moral / ethical questions could be also raised about cynical exploitation and opportunism. That said it is for the individual fan to decide if he wants to purchase all three Box Sets or not. All three Box Sets are numbered limited editions of one thousand copies.

Updated: 26/08/2020Posted:

CD 9 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend