MEMENTO Z BANALNYM TRYPTYKIEM

Last before SBB break-up, this is definitive SBB album, and some says it may be definitive even for whole prog-rock. Talking about style, it may be compared with UK/Danger Money, but in my. opinion this one is much more fascinating and original. This album has incredible diverse sound, broading from orchestral through jazz-rock to blues, and every piece has its own climate (e.g . "Strategy of Pulse", which refers in some parts to early, Mahavishnu-influenced SBB, or "The Triangle of Joy" with mediterranean glimpses) , coparing with previous jazz-rock and electronic shaded SBB releases this one is more in symphonic-rock direction. Also more guitar-oriented than the predecessors, but with guitar in the best art-rock style. Additional guitarist (Slavomir Piwowar) gives more freedom for Anthimos virtuoso playing, and there we have beautiful acoustic (charming "The triangle of Joy","Memento with a banal Tryptych") and electric guitar work (soaring solos on "My Land of Dreams", "Triangle of Joy" and the title track, all of them considered by many as one of the best in rock), along with some dynamic riffs. Skrzek's keyboard and bass playing is as always, more than excellent, and Piotrowski on drums is a class for his own. Unfortunately, this is less known than "western" Welcome and Follow My Dream albums. Absolutely must-have.

I have just recently rediscovered SBB, and WOW!!! is the only thing that describes the feeling of exubulation as I listen to their music. But, although all the music is great, Memento Z Banalnym Tryptykiem is one of the great prog/classical rock/jazz rock albums of all time.

Escpeically the song that took up all of side 2 (good ol' vinyl days) - Memento With A Banal Tryptych. My god, it just doesn't get better than this, and the final explosion of sound and playing is almost too much to behold.

I found the 79' video of them recently and it reflects this build up/tear down/re-build up styling of SBB perfectly.

Get this album (now of course on CD)!!!!!

Tom

This one is definitely the best from SBB. Incredible jazz-rock with slavonic soul. Memento z banalnym tryptykiem contain 4 compositions. Nnew edition posess also alternate version of "Z Których krwi krew moja" recorded in 1980 with the same line-up as "Memento z banalnym tryptykiem".

What is characteristic for this LP? Well... all super:

High level of performance; Professional musicians; Good production;

But most of all wonderfull melodies and impressive rythm changes, especially at tittle track. This one is real masterpiece from Polish rock badn SBB. If you didn't hear it yet go and buy ONE immediately :)

"Memento" is one of the best music ever recorded. I can't find similar and so good record. If you like climate of early Mahavishnu Orchestra, sound of "Making Movies" and beautiful (but not trivial sometimes called progressive) melodies, here you have everything. SBB leader Józef Skrzek says that epic track "Memento" is their first composition created in early 70-es. The whole record is unbelievable. Very complex, perfectly performed with deep sound. The music is developed from SBB best (without any doubts) composition "Walkin' Around The Stormy Bay" recorded on the previous longplay "Welcome".

Unfortunately it was the last SBB release before very long break caused by introducing war status in Poland in 1981. Imagine, how famous SBB could be if they are British.

Search, Break and Build.

Well... What can I say? The best Polish prog album ever! And, there is no doubt, one of the best of all prog albums. This one should stand togheter with "Close To The Edge", "Selling England By The Pound", "In The Court Of The ..", "Thick As A Brick", "Dark Side of the moon" and others. There is a question: Why it doesn't stand there? The Answer is simple and sad. It's becouse of time and a place where it was published.

Musicly we haeve here all what each prog-fan loves most. A perfect rock-suit which last about 20 minutes and fills whole second LP side. Mentioned suit is propably the best track from SBB. There are brilliant melodies, beautifull solos and unique climate.

The first LP side is brilliant as well. Moreover, "My Land Of Dreams" is a some kind of announcement of what is going to be in title-suit "Memento With A Banal Tryptych".

PERFECT album from POLAND.

You all MUST hear it. You will certainly love it.

5 stars

It did not impact me as much as "Wolanie O Brzek Skla" (Slovenian Girls) or SBB 3. I still have a difficult time to listen to the entire album as one piece, even though SBB has been one of my dearest bands ever. But even as much as I love them, I think their creative peak was reached with the two albums I have mentioned above. This is a still very well played a performed music but the serenity and the raw energy that Jozef Skrzek was able to capture on their previous aorks, is missing. I just have a hard time with this one. Just because I love the band a great deal, does not mean that I will blindly follow anything they record. Infact, over time, they have been known to record a poor records, only to return with a fabulous projects. "Memento Z...." is one of those less memorable to me. three stars

Banal in name but not by nature....!

I have had something of a sheltered life regarding Jazz/Fusion, I am not an expert but know a bloody good album when I hear it - they say if you look hard enough you never know what may bite you - an obscure (to me) Polish Jazz Rock/Fusion band with an abbreviated name, an unpronounceable album title but with some very enthusiastic reviews, I had heard and been impressed by some other notable Polish bands and classical composers, so I looked for this particular album and lo and behold found a vinyl copy in Poland so duly thought despite the tacky "home made" appearance of the black and white photo on the cover and obscure record label I'd give it a whirl, and wow! what a fabulous album it has revealed itself to be - it has hardly been off my turntable since I received it, and here's why....

The first side is like a mini symphony, awash with synthesised orchestra, Dave Gilmour style guitar solos and electrifying keyboard passages, every second is a joy to listen to packed with so many ideas, hooks, twists and flourishes, the musicianship is excellent, the sound quality is rich and clear. The first sound before "My Land of Dreams" tricks you into thinking you may have bought a classical music LP by mistake - indeed a trick! The song kicks into a fast Jazz/Rock instrumental as sophisticated as any top class Jazz Rock you are ever likely to hear - it has a gloriously catchy theme, the song slows into the vocal section sung in Polish with another catchy hook line in the backing, then leads into a Genesis style build up, then another twist - a Funk style groove leading into another devilishly catchy hook line arrangement using lead guitar and piano, rousing to and a very fast guitar solo with orchestrated backing. The next song is the haunting "The Triangle of Joy", a slow magical instrumental which begins with a watery sounding effect on polymoog I would guess, backing a beautiful acoustic Spanish - style solo, then continues with a wash of synthesised keyboard overlaid with a complicated slightly distorted electric guitar solo, leading to the bluesy ending to the track. The third track "The Strategy of Pulse", is another tricky, catchy slab of Jazz/Funk overlaid with heavy distorted lead guitar - this style of this track is very reminiscent of early seventies Rock/Fusion bands such as Herbie Hancock and would stand up in comparison of quality very well indeed, it is that good!

Side 2 is taken up with the sprawling "Memento with a banal tryptych" - which is how it comes out in translation, but there is nothing banal about this music at all. This amazing piece begins with a grand introduction to a catchy melody, some very memorable hook lines. It includes some Polish language vocals which many may not understand but the language of this beautiful music will be understood by all. The music follows many interesting twists, moods and changes but follows through very smoothly to my ears - some American style folk and Slavonic influences here mixed in with some great Art rock themes, grand Floydian crescendos and melodies makes for a very engaging listen indeed....ooops....another trick ending...naughty boys!

I would recommend this brilliant album to all fans of Jazz/Rock as an excellent addition, which draws from some big name influences but the quality of the music stands up well alongside them, so a well earned 4.5 stars!

Well SBB, not an album that is kick in the face i might say, to me. This is not of those albums that i urge to listen, but is not bad. I'm not agree with adamB who said that this album must be placed along with Sellind England by the pound, Close to the edge or Dark side of the moon, really, is not that exceptional like is praised here. Now the best track here to me is the shortest one Strategia pulsu, the others are not bad but less enjoyble. So my rate is 3 stars, if you want some eastern Europe jazz this is the answear, it may be for you a masterpiece but for me is only good, but non-essential. I have hundreds of bands who sounds more intresting to me then this one, but after all the diffrents of opinions between reviewers made this music to go on forever. Just what i think. And do not forget, this is not only jazz, their is in a little portion some symphonic moments.

A true masterpiece of symphonic progressive music! Everything SBB have produced has been worth listening to, but this is a breath taking piece of work from begininning to end! Sweeping grandiose compositions and also delicate moments of acoustic intimacy....a hard album not to wax lyrical about! As a rating of well over 4.00 after 60+ reviews would suggest. Highly recommended to any followers of symphonic prog!

This 1980's SBB concept album is probably their finest work. I met Józef Skrzek in 1997 in radio station where I was working. He just released his solo album Pokój Saren. I asked him about SBB but he was so excited about his new solo release I began to doubt SBB would do a come back album. BTW SBB reunited year after that talk but it didn't matter cos they hadn't planned new release until beginning of next decade. Memento is mostly instrumental album with just few not 'banal' lines of text. The first song is something like taken from early Genesis albums. Very dynamic filled with jazz rock guitar parts and awesome moog tunes. The middle part of this song is a bit quiet and psychedelic though. Like Pink Floyd but also Genesis cos they had similar ideas. Apostolis plays great solo in the end of that opening epic. It's very technical and melodic. Triangle Of Joy is definitelly more quiet with Spanish guitar elements. Such moody track reminding me of band's early albums. Strategy Of Pulse is more vital and more rockish. Kind of interesting jazz rock. Opus magmum of this release is final 20 minutes long epic piece Memento Z Banalnym Tryptykiem. The opening theme sounds like something taken from UK or Yes albums. Lyrics to this one are awesome. "Córko zabici leżą pośród jabłek w sadzie" sings Skrzek somewhere around 16:40 (in English it's "daughter, the assassinated lie among apples in the orchard") The end of this track is strong and hard rockish with some feedback from Apostolis Antymos. This is probably the best Polish progressive rock album and it can easily be compared to classical albums by Yes or Genesis. Listen and enjoy these sweet tunes.

This is one of SBB's highest rated albums and I can certainly understand why. There's a bit of a Symphonic flavour to this one with some nice guitar solos thrown in. It's an enjoyable listen but there's something about it that is for lack of a better word "bland". It's not nearly as good or as dynamic as some of their earlier albums in my opinion. It's pleasant. The musicianship is of the highest level as usual it just seems that they don't try to be adventerous, it's all about being comfortable. I'm going to use the English titles to save time and space (haha).

"My Land Of Dreams" opens with some brief Classical music before the drums come in like a stampede.They settle as the main melody arrives before a minute. Some excellent guitar here and then it settles right down before 3 minutes as vocals come in. It kicks back in around 5 1/2 minutes with some nice bass. Great sound 7 minutes in. "The Triangle Of Joy" is laid back with some Spanish sounding guitar. It stops after 4 1/2 minutes as synths start to dominate and electric guitar comes in.

"Strategy Of Pulse" has this good heavy sound and a Fusion flavour to it. "Memento With A Banal Tryptych" is the 21 minute closing track. Guitar eventually takes the lead then it settles after 2 minutes with vocals. A change after 7 minutes as vocal melodies and clapping take over. A symphonic flavour 13 minutes in. It settles again with vocals 14 1/2 minutes in, the vocals get passionate at times. It kicks back in before 17 1/2 minutes. The guitar is outstanding ! Great finish then it ends with a brief Classical interlude like at the start of the album.

An enjoyable listen that the majority seem to be really taken with.

SBB is an excellent Polish band that makes engaging mostly instrumental music- it's not particularly strange, there aren't any weird synthy effects and there aren't any extremely complex guitar or keyboard solos that exist to show you how good the players are, and there aren't any overly concept-driven parts that end up being pretentious and annoying- it's just really good, consistent prog rock from a corner of the world that doesn't get much attention. I won't throw a barrage of adjectives at you, because there's not really much to say- while it's not heartless and artificial, it's not extremely emotional, either. The songs aren't all that different, so I'll spare you that too. All I can say is that there are three very good songs on the first side, followed by an exciting, enjoyable epic on the second. Nothing shocking, just really good music to listen to while doing something or on its own- excellent, four stars. Recommended to anyone who likes good prog music- if you are curious, listen to Strategia Pulsu, which has everything you need to know about these guys in a three-and-a-half minute package.

Two years later after "Slovenian Girls" release, S.B.B. recorded their second excellent work. Similar structure's album ( just four long compositions, two on each LP side), same band's line-up. And possibly, you will recognize there it is the same band. But the music is a bit different.

All four compositions are slower this time, with some sad and soulful music. Band's bluesy roots still are presented, but in a form of rare traces only. If two years ago their music was progressive mixture of blues-rock and jazz fusion, there is another mix - melodic symphonic prog with many jazz fusion and Eastern European folk elements. Much more sensible and soulful music, with acoustic (sometimes -Spanish) guitars intros.

All musicians play excellent music, but common album's atmosphere is more mature and ... with some sadness in every note. Plenty of more modern keyboards sound and some Floydian electric guitar solos - long, more dreamy ,than spacey.

Compositions are of complex structure, and there still are many jazz rock arrangements. Such combination makes the album easy accessible, but never boring.

If you want to have just two S.B.B. albums - take two these, and you will have possibly greatest Eastern European band from 70-s in their best.

Four and half for sure.

S.B.B. - Memento Z Banalnym Tryptykiem (1980)

This is one of the few S.B.B. albums that has a serious amount of ratings on PA, and my guess is that it's their most populair album as well. Perhaps this is due to international approach of the band after the 'Follow My Dream' album, but it's als due to the modern progressive/symphonic sound of this album. After the well recorded and timeless 'Wołanie O Brzęk Szkła aka Slovenian Girls', this is the last album of the band.

The band still has a focus on long compositions, three on side one and one on side two. The big difference is the approach on the progressive mix of S.B.B. The band has used symphonic, space and jazz-rock/fusion influences throughout their career, but on this album the music became less abstract and perhaps more 'catchy'. The band has a direct sound. The symphonic equipment of keyboard-player Jozef Skrzek is very modern, and a link to U.K. or perhaps even neo-prog can be made. I was relieved to find that master- guitarplayer Apostolis Antymos has again an essential role on this album. His fine guitarsolo's and melodic patterns had become a background-affair after '77. As if he was a lesser member of the band! The drums of Jerzy Piotrowski are again brilliant. As I mentioned before, he's perhaps my favorite drummer of the eclectic genre. His energetic fills are one of the main elements of the adventerious sound of S.B.B.

On side one we begin with (I'll use the English titles) My Land Of Dreams; an up-tempo sympho-progger with many jazz-rock influences and many instrumental parts. The song- part in the middle section has a peculiar atmosphere. The Triangle Of Joy is a dark instrumental song with a beautifull Spanish guitar solo. The symphonic section in the end is also worthwhile, but I'm missing a link to the long opening section. Strategy Of Pulse is again an up-tempo sympho prog track with jazz influences.

Side two is filled with Memento With A Banal Tryptych, a long epic 21 minutes. The song has many instrumental parts, a few song-parts and some moments for improvisation. The song-part in the middle has a happy pop feel, but somehow this works very relaxing. The ending section has an emotional impact.

Conclusion. Again a very strong S.B.B. album, but somehow I'm still missing the magic of my favorite 'Pamieç-album (1975). The band has a very modern sound, that still will attract listeners of modern symphonic prog and it's perhaps a brilliant sound for an album that was released in the eigthies, but it's not this sound that makes me want to listen to prog on a vinyl. The composion is very strong and the musianship of S.B.B. is plain brilliant. I wish I could understand the lyrcis, because I somehow got the feeling they are important on this album. A very strong four-star rating for this one.

p.s. Fans of S.B.B: go write some reviews! This band belongs to be named along with bands like King Crimson, VdGG and Gentle Giant as main bands of the eclectic genre.

One of the best prog album from Central Europe

If you are looking for a symphonic prog rock, this is the one which has everything you want for the music. Keyboards, acoustic and electric guitars, percussives, and gentle voices, but the most of all, melody ! I like the first track and the last 21-minute track both of which have the same orchestra intro and outro. I am simply amazed with the brilliant sound and rhythm development which has a comfortable complication for a prog fan. For me this is 5-star album that can compete with a number of the British representative prog classics. It is really symphonic.

The last album before SBB's dissolution in 1980 (they would reform some decades later) sees the band going out in fine form. With less space rock content than usual, the symphonic prog influences on the band - particularly those from Genesis - are on view more than ever, and guitarist Apostolis Antymos includes a wonderful extended classical guitar performance on Trójkąt Radości worthy of Anthony Phillips himself. Bookended by brief orchestral passages, the album seems to be intended as a farewell statement from the band - the "Banal Triptych" of the title quite possibly being the three band members themselves. If it was, it was a respectable enough way to bow out, though at the same time it doesn't quite hit the standards of the band's magnificent works from their great 1977-1978 burst of creativity.

"Memento Z Banalnym Tryptykiem" is my first journey into the world of SBB and it seemed a good place to start as it is the most popular and most reviewed album. It begins with (English titles as I can't write in Polish) 'My Land Of Dreams', with a classical music intro and then a rumbling drone before the manic percussion and guitar melodies crash in. The uptempo beat is refreshing, motorvating along nicely, and eventually some Polish vocals chime in. 'The Triangle Of Joy' follows, a dark beauty haunts it with Spanish flavours made possible by accomplished acoustic guitar picking. There are symphonic passages towards the end encompassing an ambient atmosphere. 'Strategy Of Pulse' wraps up side one of the vinyl, with quick tempo jazz fusion influences. The lead guitar flourishes glow brightly along with innovative keyboard motifs.

Side two is swallowed up by the monster epic 'Memento With A Banal Tryptych' made up of a myriad of instrumental passages ranging from improv jazz explorations to beautiful symphonic washes. The melodic lead guitar is a key feature on this, and the vocals return at times between the massive instrumental breaks. The lead break at the end is excellent and draws it to a dramatic conclusion with a symphonic blast.

I enjoyed this album as much as any instrumental dominated jazz fusion album such as that of Billy Cobham or Herbie Hancock. It is a strong contender for one of the albums of 1980, a dead year for prog, and has some amazing musicianship contained therein, worth pursuing.

Another great musical momento of this amazing Polish band. This album begins and ends with a classical music moment and the developement of rock music is amazing. Great keiboards moments and amazing guitar solos. A calm part with a classical guitar moment very beautifull but others have some Psichedelic Space Rock and Symphonic Rock parts. This album from 1980 have a soud of seventies and a music conception abolutely brilliant. Please listen carefull this album, put out the light and close your eyes and immerse yourself in this masterpiece by separating the sounds of the various instruments and in the end, you will realize why this album is really a masterpiece. Lyrics are in Polish but, what really matters is the amazing music performance and conception.Great album from a great band made East Europe. 5 stars of course.

SBB is one of the many wonderful bands that has been revealed to me through ProgArchives. I've picked up this, Pamiec and Slovenian Girls--this one on vinyl (!) I can never decide which of their albums I like the best. Probably Pamiec, but Memento has some incredible performances and shows the band playing very well as a collective.

1. "Moja Ziemio Wysniona" (8:29) is filled with extraordinary themes and riffs, all strung together like a . The subtle things on this song that catch my ear: rhythm guitar in the seventh and eighth minutes, the subtleties of the drums before that, the synth sound in the third minute, the Allman Brothers-like dueling guitars at the end. Cool song, if a bit dated. (9/10)

2. "Trojkat Radosci" (7:40) begins with 80 seconds of solo electric guitar--treated guitar a la PAT METHENY on New Chatauqua. The second section uses this treated guitar as support for a wonderful display of Spanish-influenced classical guitar playing--culminating in a gorgeous harmonized melody line 'chorus' at the three minute mark. A return to the before, at 4:29, a synth wash enters to set the stage for some electric guitar soloing. The TANGERINE DREAM-like synth work behind the bluesy ROY BUCHANAN-like guitar fire is awesome. Cool song. (or is it a suite with three parts?) (9/10)

3. "Strategia Pulsu" (3:23) has a sound and almost disco-influenced that is shows its age but could have come off a JAN AKKERMAN, LENNY WHITE or AL DiMEOLA album from the same period. Clavinet and harmonica are interesting touches. (8/10)

Side 2, song 1(4) "Memento z banalnym triptykiem" (20:28) begins with a mild pace with a bluesy FOCUS-like feel to it. At 2:10 all music drops away and a vocalist begins singing (in a foreign language I presume to be Polish). At first he is only accompanied by acoustic guitars and background synths. A strong vocal performance in the vein of the best of the Italians. The shift at the four minute mark is breathtaking in its emotional impact. Very delicate cymbol play is used to keep time while slide guitar, acoustic guitar and one single repeated keyboard chord sucks you in and keeps you locked there while the nylon-stringed guitar goes EARL KLUGH sh*t-crazy! Absolutely amazing! Very gradually the pace starts to pick up, prepping us for the end of this section, followed by a jovial almost bluegrass folk-section, with some more awesome guitar work--several, in different channels and levels. Hand clapping, choral "Na-nah, na-nahs," beer-hall piano and harmonica proceed to add to this very friendly, engaging section. At the 10 minute mark we are ushered out of the party barn and enticed into yet another theme house. It's like being at a Renaissance Faire: Each booth, stage or vendor offering his or her own slice of their world. By 11:45 a synthesizer is taking center stage before giving way to an organ's introduction to a moderately paced rock section with a little electric guitar solo. At 14:10 the music again drops away to make way for the vocalist to again tell his story. The use of vocal harmonies beginning at 15:10 is effective if a bit foreign for the unusual (to my ears) diatonic chordal structure of the harmonies. At 16:13 a delicate part starts to support the vocalist(s) sounding a lot like HARMONIUM's "Depuis l'automne" before an electric guitar blasts into center stage carrying the band with it into a classic blues-rock solo scene. Great, emotional playing--that reminds me of someone/some song of classic stature-- and then POOF! it's gone and the same finale of the classical music piece that opened the album (a Strauss waltz?) finishes the album. Awesome. Prog doesn't get much better than this, folks. (10/10)

I've got to give this one a full five stars, folks, cuz, as I said, Prog just doesn't get much better than this. this band worked hard to put these delicate, complex demanding songs together-- and their efforts paid off in that they have definitely put together one for the ages--something quite memorable and certainly not banal!

I got to admit that when I first heard this album I was expecting an older more seventies type of sound, but on hearing it I had to think again. Yes when reading about the band and reading about infuences like King Crimson and Van Der graff Generator etc, I was expecting something in that style (obviously I can hear the influence behind some parts), but when Moja Ziemio Wysniona starts it was a more modern sounding style of sound that I heard - possibly the more modern keyboards helped but wow I did not predict that and the song just got me fired up for the rest of the album. The next three songs just put me in a trance like state - and that is why I think this album works so well, it's literally an album especially Memento Z Banalnym Tryptykiem - which accomplished everything I wanted to hear but without going to Spacey sounds I usually like but to a seemingly new type of space sound - as I said a more dreamier trance like sound than atmospherical distortion I had in mind at first.

I believe SBB put their heart and musical souls into this album and possibly ahead of their time - that sounds Ironic with Progressive music, but I just expected something different and instead got a faster more of an upbeatish sound but with its fair share of slower sounds but keeping a complexity of which I am looking forward to exploring whithin more of their albums and to check if there are layers of which I am missing. I remember listening to other Eclectic Prog and the versatility of instruments make this type of Prog and especially this album just another reason to express my ongoing journey into music which SBB and bands like them keep creating, and this mind blowing album is an extraordinarily example of this genre.

I salute another masterpiece from the Prog archives - Thanks again for getting these albums noticed.