SULCU PORCE (AS POCOLOCO)

While this album is listed under the HOKR discography it's actually a POCOLOCO release. Pretty much the same band anyways which is why they're combined here. These guys are from the Czech Republic and they know first hand what it's like to have their music and concerts banned by the communist government. They have been around making music since the early eighties and on this particular release we get a pretty strong VDGG flavour with prominent sax and theatrical vocals. This is heavy music man with huge bass lines but it's the vocals sung in their own language that steals the spotlight for the most part. The guy has this deep voice and he can be very theatrical. Plenty of drums and percussion as well as piano but no guitar which I didn't miss. I like that they're listed under Eclectic but they do get experimental quite often. Regardless of the sub-genre this is a band full of passion, talent and adventure. This was self released in 2007.

"Nervy Na Pochodu" opens with multi-vocals offering up these strange expressions as the drums join in. Very avant to start then the sax and heaviness takes over just before a minute as the vocals stop. The vocals then return along with deep bass lines which are somewhat jazzy at times. The vocals are almost spoken yet they are full of character. "Sprint Na 100 mm" opens with piano and drums as the bass joins in then sax before a minute. Deep vocals after 2 minutes, synths too in this catchy section. Fast paced spoken vocals take over 4 minutes in and they get theatrical fast.

"Geron Tony" has deep spoken vocals with piano but it turns fuller rather quickly. Sax after a minute as the vocals stop but they are back replacing the sax a minute later. The vocals turn passionate to say the least after 3 minutes and the sax joins in as well right to the end. "Perpetuum Rodentia" has these sounds that come and go including spoken words. No melody here until we get some uptempo percussion of some sort before 1 1/2 minutes. When the sax kicks in after 2 minutes I'm thinking VDGG all the way. Nice bass here as well. This really gets intense at times, just smoking.

"Mandril" is a top four. This is powerful, especially the vocals. Heavy stuff with massive bass lines and blasting sax. The sax becomes dissonant before 1 1/2 minutes then we get vocals and some atmosphere before 2 minutes as the drums pound. Screaming sax before 2 1/2 minutes then back to that opening soundscape. "Uvitaci" is a top four as well. The sax is surprisingly light and melodic to start then a full sound arrives just before a minute including organ. It settles back around 1 1/2 minutes. I really like this as piano, bass and cymbals lead the way. The sax is back quickly though. Vocals arrive with a minute to go. I must admit that I also like this tamer version of the band.

"Vzpominky Na Kubu" is another top four, yes three in a row. Piano to start as the drums join in. Bass after a minute along with some atmosphere. Vocals join in just before 2 1/2 minutes and it turns fuller 3 minutes in. The vocals are psycho before 4 minutes. Check out the catchy drum work 5 1/2 minutes in as it settles back some, piano as well. "Vypocti Si Morone" features piano, bass and drums as the vocals and sax come and go. The sax after 3 minutes will curl your hair and check out the bass solo a minute later. Nice. "Fotr Krmivem" is my final top four and the last track on the album. Sparse piano, bass and atmosphere as spoken words join in. It kicks in after 2 minutes. Discordant piano and sax before 3 1/2 minutes. Love it! Vocals, drums and bass before 5 minutes as the sax also joins the fun. Man this is intense after 5 1/2 minutes.

This is such an enjoyable album and it doesn't hurt if your a big VDGG fan. The vocalist absolutely shines on this recording but then so do all five of these guys. A must if your into adventerous music.