NURT

The sound on this album is very raw and though recorded in the studio for radio airplay I get the feeling that this is the way they sounded live and that makes me very interested indeed. The music is very bluesy and quite typical, to some extent, of the early progressive scene that came out of jazz, rock and blues. You won't find many classical ingredients, rather a stripped down and dirty progressive rock, bordering on hardrock.

The two opening tracks are great stuff, especially the second. It's heavy and raw bluesy, progressive rock. The fourth track, Syn strachu, reminds med of Deep Purple bar the organ but holds a surprising trumpet solo, performed in a sort of primitive Miles Davis fashion. Interesting track, which leaves the Purple territory and heads into some sort of ballad and back to the jazzy menace of Davis vs. Purple. Morze ognia is more hardrock, Holograficzne Widmo is progressive and Gato is simply raucious but great.

It is an interesting piece of history, this compilation. It showcases the diversity of Eastern bloc progressive. I like it because of the rawness but also the vision of music as something more than genres and cohesiveness. Interesting but not for everyone. I would rate it three stars but some of the music is worth more. Still, I would never part from it. It attracts me in a primitive, earthy way.

As I have grown up when rock music was in its glory days of 70s, I always feel listening to vintage rock music with its limited recording quality (a bit of treble but more on midrange) is a unique joy that brings me to the wonderful past days, when I was a teenager. That's why, I sometimes go to secondary market to get old cassette of vintage bands including those by local bands The Rollies, Rasela, etc. For me, the sound truly represents old days and I find it entertaining. No, it does not mean I just want to live in the past. The same is true when I met (through the net) a Polish friend who shared the same view with me in terms of appreciating vintage rock / prog musician. So we traded records of our own local prog bands, including NURT. Thanks to the internet inventor who has made my music horizon expanded, indirectly. Having heard a band which I have never known before - especially when it's 70s band, is an enjoyment for me. So, I treat this CD by NURT in a very good care. This review is based on the digipack version, not the LP.

Couple of tracks in the beginning of this album is actually not true prog music. However, the music is very energetic and entertaining. The band demonstrates their passion in rock music by delivering this album in high energy level especially through lead vocals, drums, and stunning guitar work. All songs do not use riffs as their basic elements, but they use guitar fills and melody that move along with the music. As the basic music is basically not "prog" in nature, however, the band composed "Morze ognia" (track #6) with some prog elements especially through the inclusion of flute improvisation during interlude. The next track 7." Parter na klaustrofobię" (4:06) is a straight forward rock music in fast tempo and high energy in delivery. The last two tracks "Piszę kredą na asfalcie" (5:51) and "Syn strachu" (9:40) are basically progressive in nature. The guitar solo and drumming are really stunning while the music moves in fast tempo. It's stimulating the mind, really. Especially that the sound quality is vintage analog technology. The use of trumpet at last track has made the song quite avant-garde in nature.

Overall, it's an energetic rock music (including some prog elements) with powerful guitar and drum work, high energy vocal line. Recommended. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW