THE BLUE EFFECT & THE JAZZ Q PRAGUE: CONIUNCTIO

The second album by Blue Effect brings more ambitions on board. Perhaps inspired by jazz-rock attempts from the US, perhaps being self-invented, the band tries combining rock and more traditional jazz approach with subtle traces of psychedelia and heavy doses of avantgarde.

Organ, brass instruments, flute and orchestra is joining the band to record an album of good music freedom but not terrific cohesiveness.

Rock instruments are sometimes too overshadowed by orchestra and brass instruments, the flow is well organized and can even seem chaotic at times. Among best moments in the first suite "Coniunctio 1" are solo flute moments, the beginning aggressive guitar and saxophone duet, among worst ones are avantgarde organ and piano, however, a better organized piano/guitar section comes to the rescue in the 15th minute.

After this sonic experimentation, the second track "Náv?teva u tety Markéty, vypití ?álku čaje" is a balsam for ears clad in a more traditional rock outfit with first hints ot progressive rock: unusual time signatures, no clear song structure and contrastful flute and rocking sections. Some agressive King Crimson-like can be already heard as early as on this album as well as very tasty masterful soloing by Hladik which he would become famous for. After hearing this track in 1971, you would realize how gifted and proficient this young lad was and he belonged to the best ones in Czechoslovakia. "Asi půjdem se psem ven" is similar to the first track, quite experimental and avantgarde, in fact, only the drummer is audible from the rock combo. Absolutely forgettable track. "Coniunctio II" offers a more digestable edition of the title track well rooted in the 4/4 rhythm with mulitple fill-ins and organ/flute/guitar/saxophone making seamingly unorganized solos. This is actually more formidable even for a rock listener for its rich sound. Besides that, there is almost no compositional value in this track.

Giving 3 stars because of ambitions and historical value, however this album is an acquired taste.