GAMMAPOLISZ / GAMMAPOLIS

"Gammapolis" is an excellent album, one the Omega's best and deserves 5 stars. This remastered CD contains both Hungarian and English versions of the album. The only problem of this release is that because of time restrictions English version is incomplete - songs "Return of the Outcast" and "Start/Gammapolis" are missing.

Arguably Omega`s tour de force if you can ignore the New York Dolls style costumes! Initially released simultaneously in both the Hungarian and English languages in 1979 on the Hungarian Pepita label German Bellaphon label respectively. Both are presented here gloriously digitally re-mastered by the band themselves. In fact, the original anolog pressings on vinyl were impressive by any standard. Perhaps because of space restrictions three tracks were unfortunately omitted from the English presentation.

The underlying theme explores a Utopian world called Gammapolis metaphorically to express separation, isolation, longing for past loves & memories from another time and place as well as a the uncertainties of an unknown future. Omega had often worked with mystical and magical concepts in meloncholic minor keys since it`s inception in the 1960`s and this was their third quasi- concept album ( the two others being Time Robber `76/`77 and Skyrover `78 ). Gyorgy Molnar`s delicate guitar phrasings ( no heavy stuff on this one ) combined with Laszlo Benko`s sweeping synth work create a softer and dreamier atmosphere than heard on pre-1979 Omega work. One problem on earlier English language Omega albums was the difficult or almost impossible to understand vocals. On Gammapolis this problem seems to be solved with singer Janos Kobor coming in loud and clear with his best English language performance. And if you still can`t understand him a lyric sheet is provided.

Gammapolis was to be Omega`s swan song progresively speaking as their subsequent studio work, although retaining some of the older Omega prog formulas took a more upbeat simplified techno-like approach. My only qualm with this otherwise highly recommended package is the ommission of the English version of Return of the Outcast which, ironically is one of the stronger tracks on the work. Also, those new to the band should be fore-warned that the only differences between the two versions are the vocal parts which were dubbed over identical instrumental tracks. Nonetheless it is interesting to hear the songs sung in different languages just as other artists such as Peter Gabriel, Grobschnitt and others have done in the past. Omega has also made some recordings in German which were`t released until 1999.

Anyone interested in 1970`s prog should definitely take this reasonably priced blast from the past for a test drive. A real gem.