DREPTUL DE-A VISA

Progresiv TM is one of the legendary bands from my country, and why not one of the best from east Europe in the '70's. The band was formed and lead by bassist Ilie Stepan (who will form later on another famous band from Romania - Pro Musica), Harry Coradini on voice and Ladislau Herdina, whose restless pursuit of the ideal rock concept work made them an iconic figure of the local prog scene. Band formed in my home city Timisoara in early '70's but manage to release only two albums, one in 1973 and the last one in 1977 , after they were disbanded in summer of 1978. . Despite the long and painfuly prohibition of this kind of music from the comuunist regime - progressive rock alaways manage to come to the shore with head up, Progresive TM like other bands from Romania, manage all the time to come with somthing that many peoples find intristing. As the previuos reviewer said Progresive TM is one of the first bands from my country who manage to combine driving hard rock with progressive elements, the result is a quite impressive one and first album of the band named Dreptul de a visa from 1973 is a total winner. The bands sound very much like a heavy prog band, with excellent instrumental passages with flute interludes who remind me of the italian prog school of early '70's and specialy bands like Delirium and even some of the Jethro Tull atmosphere in places, but only because of the flute, the folky moments are not present here. Aswell they are more towards Deep Purple same period, or Uriah Heep, same heavy prog moments of the highest calibre. Excellent are the vocal arrangements made by Harry Coradini who realy can fight shoulder to shoulde with any vocalist from other country same period in prog, brilliant and smooth voice. The album sounds very strong, and if the band weren't from Romania, they for sure were among the best in this genre, sadly they remaining to be known in the country , gathering apluses only from romanian public, a thing that must be congratulated because in those time even this characteristic was a hard to ger, specialy when we talk about progressive rock music. On the other hand very intristing are the lyrics, and is a pitty only some of the reviewers from here will apreciat to the max the words, who are very meaning full. In the end a good album, from a legendary band from Romania, one of the bands with cult status even today after nearly 35 years of career but with little acomplished moments. Worth investigated and take some spins 4 stars and one of the first bands I ever listen from prog music, way back in 1991, remind me of high school and all those unforgetable moments of my youth. All the pieces are brilliant, specially the opening track Omul e valul (The Man is like a wave) or Va cadea o stea (A star will fall) are good examples of great heavy prog from my country, and makes me proud of this band and the thing I'm a romanian. Recommended one of the unknown bands from east Europe but with a great potential.4 stars easy.