POLAND - THE WARSAW CONCERT*

The dreary and instantly forgettable sleeve of 'Poland' seems to depict a negative photographic image of ice blanketed members of TD in a similar depiction of Jack Nicholson at the end of 'The Shining' as he screams - "I'm comin' for ya DANNY!".

Get the Relativity 2CD edition if you can. It's the complete version. I bought this on cassette in 1988 which was about 20 minutes longer than the cd version I purchased some years later. I felt cheated and deceived. Can you believe that out of twelve different CD releases, only two have the complete album, all the others are either missing 'Tangent' or have a shortened version of 'Barbakane'.

How annoying...

Apart from the introductory speech, 'Poland' doesn't sound live at all. According to Chris Franke, ideas were used on 'Poland' from their soundtrack 'The Keep' recorded the previous year.

Sitting for 85 minutes in a venue in extreme cold during a Polish winter listening to this with icicles hanging off my face and boots stuck frozen to the ground isn't my idea of a good night out. So I cheer myself up safe in the knowledge that there are people more agitated than me, who suffered these conditions AND missed the 19 minute absent track when buying the cd in the late 90's.

Some pretty good ice cold drum machines, a wide array of keyboards and sequencers are utilised. Some parts go on a bit too long - as if Froese is wondering where to go next - which separates this from the masterful 'Ricochet' which was far more precise. However 'Poland' has its moments and is a far better album than its predecessors 'Exit', White Eagle' and 'Hyperborea'

During 1984 TD were well into their descent of mediocrity. Thankfully they gave themselves a good kick up the pants for this double album AND the superior 'Underwater Sunlight' from '86 which truly was their last great moment. I'm Still a bit annoyed after 20 years that I don't have the absent 'Tangent'.

I can't even remember how it sounds dammit.