DEZO URSINY & IVAN STRPKA: MODRÝ VRCH

This is generally though to be Ursiny´s best album. I don´t agree with it completely, but it is really one of his best. The tracks are even more complex, and the moods more varied and all featuring Ursiny´s unique sound and approach.

Cestujúci - starts off with Ursiny´s great guitar licks and vocals, then slows down to a more evocative passage, after which the third main melodic motif comes, a gorgeous part with Ursiny´s vocal backed only by Jaroslav Filip on piano. The scheme repeats then again. 5 stars

Lúka A gorgeous atmospheric ballad withone of Ursiny´s best vocal performances and aguest appearance from Marián Varga on organ. A terrific, melancholic piece. 5 stars

Obrázok After a loud full bandopening with powerful vocals from Ursinythe track gets slower, to a relaxed feel. Ursiny plays a fine, underestimated guitar solo, fitting perfectly with the mood. Then the faster part comes in and after the opening section it fades out. 5 stars

Modrý vrch I The first part of the most epic composition. After the midtempo opening, the song gets into a faster part., which includes a great guitar solo by Ursiny. Then a meditative passage comes in, with a great melodic theme played by the fluute. The repetion of the fast part features a nice saxophone solo this time and the track concludes with the opening part. Great rhytm section work on this one. 5 stars

Pod hladinou A lovely ballad with a beautiful melody. Arguably one of the best vocal performances by Ursiny ever, very emotional and exeprssive. HHe is only backed by Filip´s piano, which evokes the water waves (the song means "under the surface " in English.) 5 stars

Pristátie v marci The most funky track on the record, played in midtempo. Ursiny´s guitar licks follow the vocal melody inf the, chorus. The guest ľubomír Tamaškovič gets another saxophone solo. Well played a nice groove, but melodically nothing special.3.5 stars

Spomienka na drozda After a short fast intro, the song gets a slower midsection with Marián Varga on organ, after which the fast part comes again. The melody is much better this time,and during the outro, which develops the slower organ part, Ursiny gets a short guitar solo, with Varga playing impressive subtle tones. 5 stars

Modrý vrch II The second part of the epic track. It develops parttly on the melody from part one, but the flute motif introduced shortly after the beginning of the vocal part is even better than thae one in the first part. The song gets a faster passage as well, with a saxophone sollo again. Then one of the melodic themes from Modrý vrch I comes in and during the instrumental Ursiny plays a typically underestimated guitar solo. The track then concludes with the gorgeous flute motive. 5 stars

Nad riekou A pleasant blues rocker with some fine guitar licks from Ursiny and harmonica playing by guest Ondřej Konrád. 3.5 stars

Útok z hlbokého rána A miniature, based mostly on Ursiny´s vocal performance. And while he sounds atmospheric, there is very little to the track itself melodically. The child shouting in the song is Ursiny´s son. 3. stars

Všetko je vo vajci A straightforward blues rocker, again with the harmonica. This time, however it is much faster and the melody is better as well. Also, Ursiny sings very fast and rhytmical on this one, which adds a lot to its charm. 5

Overall rating: 5 STARS

ESSENTIAL: A MASTERPIECE OF PROGRESSIVE MUSIC

This highly regarded and most acclaimed Ursiny album in the top 100 Slovakian music albums between 1960-2007 (11th place) is not my favourite one among Ursiny output.

I agree that it could be the peak of his songwriter-driven career (which more or less started with the 1979's album Nove Mapy Ticha) but musically, it is the "Pevnina detstva" that convinces me most.

"Modry vrch" provides a more conventional sonic palette with rock quartet and occasional brass instruments. Filip still has a good array of keyboard sounds to deliver. There are instrumental moments compensating Ursiny's monotonous singing. It is easily the most recommended 80's Ursiny's album and has somewhat of cult status in Slovakia.

I'm not going to say a lot about this one as this man has his fans. Dezo Ursiny is from Slovakia and is a multi- instrumentalist and singer. A lot of fans point to this record as his best but I'd argue that "Pevnina Detstva" from 1978 is better. That one just suits my tastes more as he brought in the FERMATA rhythm section and it does have a jazz style overall while this 1981 release that I'm reviewing is more of a sophisticated pop record. Such a focus on vocals and short catchy tracks that are often quirky. But some inventive stuff and interesting sounds like clavinet, sax, flute and harmonica. So many catchy tunes with those unique vocals sung in his own language. No idea what he is singing about but it's fun listen that many of you would enjoy. I gave "Pevnina Detstva" a low 4 stars and this is a small step down from that one so 3.5 stars it is.