OMEGA (SAMPLER)

This compilation album was released simutaneously in North America ( Passport ) and Germany ( Bellaphon ) in early 1975 just after this classic Hungarian band had successfully established themselves in West Germany with their first three English language LPs and singles on the Bellaphon ( Bacillus ) record label . This well selected analogy served to introduce North American audiences to prog-rock from behind the veil of The Iron Curtain, although their touring was confined only to Western Europe and Eastern Bloc countries. The tracks give a good overview of the band`s style at the time ( they are still going as this is written in 2006! ) featuring a balance of tracks with a harder rock edge to them ( Everytime She Steps In, Stormy Fire ) with fiery guitar solos, as well as some very beautiful moody numbers which evoke romance and mysticism ( White Magic Stone, Spanish Guitar, After A Hard Year, Remembering ). Their trademark piece from the seventies is included here in the form of Help To Find Me, lyrically about a lost love which is very heavy on synths, which Omega started to exploit once given access to more modern recording equipment in the west. All songs can also be heard in their Hungarian language form on various Hungarian releases. Not available on CD, but for historical reasons of interest to vinyl junkies and well worth the search over the internet or in the second hand shops. Check out the interesting liner notes on the Passport release as well as the photo on the back of the record sleeve which gives a good impression of what was going on in the East European rock music scene in the early seventies. Highly recommended starting point for the curious.