OMEGA 8 - CSILLAGOK ÚTJÁN

The second Omega LP to be issued simultanuously in the English (as Skyrover) and Hungarian languages with identical instrumental tracks. It was available in English on the Bellaphon label in Germany as well as the Passport label in North America. The photograph of the band as well as the covers on the Hungarian Pepita and English Bellaphon albums are quite similar however there is a real cool painting which appears on the North American English Passport version IF you can find one.

On to the music. The album as a whole has a very traditional Eastern European sound with the utilization of tradiotional techniques and the archaic Balalaika string instrument by guitarist Gyorgy Molnar. Listen to Lena and The Hope,The Bread and the Wine to get a taste of this. Like all other Omega albums from the 1970's they had always been able to do something essenstially different with each succeeding recording and this one is no exception. But as always there are rockers and romantic ballads on this one. Interesting effects such as a police siren can be heard throughout. Of particular note are the graceful guitar lines on The Lost Prophet and a cool bass riff which introduces the title track Csillagok Utjan.

A suggestion is to visit Omega's official web-site to get literal English translations to the songs before listening. These are perfect translations but only apply to the HUNGARIAN versions. The Hungarian version of this record over the English one is recommended. The beauty and intonation of the Hungarian language adds to the spacey theme. Csillagok Utjan is comparable to their previous offering which resulted in a massive tour , Idorablo (Time Robber). Eloy fans might also find something redeeming in this offering from these legendary Magyar Rockers who overcame tremendous political and linguistic odds by the time of this 1978 release.