DEZO URSINY & IVAN STRPKA: NOVÉ MAPY TICHA

Dezo Ursiny, arguably one of the most influential artists and geniouses coming from behind the 'iron curtain', in duo with poet Strpko, have created a jewel on this album. Similar to "Modry Vrch" and "Pevnina Detstva", it is a very moody music, inclined to more jazz than rock. I have a little problem to clasisify his music as progressive but it is very original, nonetheless, and therefore from that prospective we may look at it as prog music. For the listeners who do not understand the language, it may sound as unemotional piece of music, sometimes sounding monotone like, with mechanical playing of all the players in the band. However; Ursiny's singing, intonation and a special phrasing of his personal rhytm changes the entire prospective here, especialy when one understands the lyrics - among the most haunting and beautiful poetry I have had chance to hear or read ever, period. Clearly, there is a great chemistry between the musician and the poet and it all translates into a very special atmosphere that is created on almost every album. Although I have no clear favorites on any album, on this one, the mirror-symetrical built composition 'Na Malej Stanici' (At a Little Train Station') has clearly the edge as the most important title on the album, perhaps symbolizing best what this great musician was all about. Philosophically very usual theme, yet so originaly expressed that you can't but get goosebumps every time you listen to it. The melody is crystal clear, it's sweeteness enwrapping you entirely like a pleasant cacoon.

Most of the compositions look a sort of dark mode when listening to them, only to realize that the lyrics are uplifting, noticing the beauty around us in every little thing - just make a choice. Very strange combination, indeed; yet in Ursiny's interpretation it all comes alive somehow. Even the name of the band, Burciak (young wine) symbolizes the idea that by age, when everything settles down, it all will get just better....at least that's how I look at it.

Unfortunatelly, this (and all others) record is not a material to listen to for anyone who is not familiar with the culture or a language. Nothing surprising performance wise, rather a sterile sound with seemingly no emotion, yet very exact and professional. No one rises above the solid professional level of jazz -fusion like performance.

It all has to be listened to as a package; you just can't isolate the music and try to take something from it. Even the English version of one of Ursiny records that I own just does not do it for me; it loses all the electricity to it. All the energy that otherwise flows from the slovak performance just simply disappears. To me, it is an exceptional record, indeed. My personal rating is high five, thanks to the emotional uplift it always provides me with. However, the inaccessability of this music to other than a slavic culture deems it to stay just a local phenomenon forever.

2.5 stars

God Rest Your Soul, Dezo. I've always loved you.