IGRA STAKLENIH PERLI

This is a very good debut of the Belgrade psyche progsters, which carries five equally interesting pieces of music. "Gusterov trg" (Lizard Square), sung in English, and "Putovanje u plavo" resembled the HAWKWIND heavy-space sound with monotonous rythms and odd time signatures. "Pecurka" (Mushroom), another English lyrics, was made under clear influence of PINK FLOYD signature psychedelia of "Set Controls for the Heart of the Sun", along with deep whisper vocals and Rick Wright-style organ. "Solarni modus" and "Majestetski kraj" are engaging instrumental pieces that nicely filled the space between the rest of the songs. However, production of this album is rather bad and it deserves thorough remastering which is yet to be issued. Another minus is extremely short running of this album or should I say "mini-album" at less than 28 minutes! Vinyl LP is highly valued as a prime collectors item and is a rarity. I have not yet encountered CD release. Anyway this is still highly recommended piece of music for all fans of psychedelic rock. Somewhere between 3,5-4 stars.

This very short debut album (two master tracks were destroyed before the pressing of the vinyl) is of an impressive quality, but it must've sound quite dated back then since this album could be the Yugo twin brother of Floyd's Saucerful Of Secrets, or Ummagumma's live disc with a wee bit of Hawkwind-chromosomes in the rhythm guitars. Recorded in Belgrade at a time where such things were now openly allowed (although Yugoslavia was still communist, it had chosen to never join the Soviet block, and was frequented by western tourists), even compared to other groups in the country, this record sounded a bit dated and borrowed.

This album is a pure joy for anyone who enjoys psych-laced prog, and we have here a superb example of a lost gem in the genre even if it is hardly groundbreaking. The album is actually very even with every track of a very high calibre if you can forget the very derivative songwriting/improvisation. This reviewer has no problem with this "flaw" on this album, and the album gets a rather fourth star even if it is not really essential.

Igra Staklenih Perlih could be considered as Yugoslavia's answer to PINK FLOYD, with a strong dose of HAWKWIND and close to Krautrock. These comparisons are immediately noticeable - for the curious, listen to the mp3 here of 'Pecurka' - totally spaced-out with a mysterious Farfisa Organ driven intro (recalling Rick Wright's early days with Floyd) and stoned vocals/whispers ( I noticed that the words sung here are nicked from the CAN track 'Mushroom' off Tago Mago) and morphs into a heavy and intense, ascending riff which builds to an amazing climax and jams out Hawkwind style. Being totally struck by this track, I managed to get a re-issue vinyl from Greg W's Syn-Phonic site, and I can say that the whole album is a brilliant example of psychedelic space-rock with some dreamy atmospheres. Opening track 'Gusterov Trg' sounds like psychedelic punk-rock. Regarding the rhythm section, the drum sound is a bit compressed, and the bass has a 'woody' tone to it, but suits the music perfectly. ISP may not be the most original sounding band, but operating in this mode from behind the 'iron curtain' is most certainly impressive. The downside to this album, it clocks in at under half an hour and leaves you wanting more. Superb !!

Glass pearls which are proving themselves valuable ...

IGRA STAKLENIH PERLI's debut might also be categorized as a Krautrock album. First of all the recordings of the songs suffered from some bad conditions. The studio crew normally produced folk and pop albums and was obviously overchallenged by this 'unusual' music. And then two songs got simply lost - the reason why the album is only 28 minutes long. But this half an hour is fabulous though - very impressive indeed.

We have various keyboard work with floydy references to the deep space/psychedelic mood of the Ummagumma live songs here and there. This can be pointed out with the opener Gusterov trg for example - additionally provided with a compelling guitar work. Furthermore the songs are mostly instrumental spacy near to Hawkwind with some english vocals. But the band is able to manage an independend style at large on this album - a special spirit. Several repetitive hypnotic patterns are even bringing the album into the reach of Kraut - on the other hand there are a lot of speed variations and effects within the songs.

Whilst I'm writing this review I noticed there is offered a re-release with 8 bonus tracks by the Second Harvest label but unfortunately couldn't find any further information. Hopefully with the digitally remastering the sound quality is enhanced. Anyhow - musically it's a big recommendation in any case.

Very short but quite strong debut of Serbian psych/space prog band. Almost decade later than their main influences, band's sound is a bit vintage, but it is not imitation. Just all Eastern Europe (including South Eastern lands of Yugoslavia) during after WWII period was a place of itself, so many trends just needed years to come there.

Melodic, with very light Balkan scent, this album's music is mix of early Pink Floyd, Hawkwind and Can influences. Competent enough to be listened, not original enough to be named great music. Possibly, main problem is terrible sound mix and recording quality. Very flat sound and almost unpleasant instrumental mix destroy quite good musical material. For sure, better producing could help to make this material more attractive. Original album is extremely short (less than 28 minutes), and re-release with bonuses doesn't add much, because all bonuses mostly are raw musical material just filling CD space.

Mostly interested as good musical evidence of time and the place, album could be listened with some interest from psych/space prog fans.

4.5 stars. Tom Ozric as usual hit the nail on the head in describing this Yugoslavian band from the late seventies. Very PINK FLOYD-like and were talking the "Saucerful Of Secrets" era with a dash of HAWKWIND and Krautrock. Man I have been enjoying this album.

"Gusterov Trg" is spacey with sparse sounds to open then it starts to pick up and it kicks in before 2 minutes followed by vocals. The guitar lights things up before 3 minutes. "Solarni Modus" opens with piano, drums, guitar and more reminding me of FLOYD. It settles in with a good beat and prominant guitar 2 1/2 minutes in. "Putovanje U Plavo" is a fantastic track that opens in a spacey manner with a beat. Keys, vocals and a heavier sound 2 minutes in. Great sound here. This reminds me of HAWKWIND. Ripping guitar after 4 1/2 minutes. The guitar stops but the beat continues as it becomes very psychedelic.

"Pecurka" is my favourite and one of the best psychedelic tunes i've ever heard. It's humming to start and it's dark. A beat slowly pounds then whispered vocals and creepy guitar expressions come in. It's FLOYD-like after 3 minutes as it builds with the guitar crying out. It kicks in after 4 1/2 minutes. Nice. It then settles back. So good ! "Majestetski Kraj" opens with organ and moog? and it's building 2 minutes in until we are rocking pretty good.

It's interesting how many East European countries seem to follow musical trends many years later because of how difficult it was to get Western music in past the Communist governments. So yes this was released in 1979 but that for me is not a negative at all. A must for Psychedelic fans.

Review Nº 662

In the days when Yugoslavia was essentially a Communist country, despite the differences with the other Eastern Countries, pretending to be open and democratic to promote and encourage West World to expand its economy via a growing tourist industry, there was also a side effect that lead to a proliferation in music and in the arts in general. But, naturally, with such a state as Yugoslavia, it was only bands that we can call 'safe' that made it and got albums made.

So, what to say about Igra Staklenih Perli (The Game Of Glass Pearls), often reputed to be as one of the finest of 70's Yugoslav progressive rock bands, in the same vein of Tako? Their origins started in 1976, initially a guitar and percussion duo, later augmented by a bassist. Even at their first live appearance in Belgrade, in the early of 1977, psychedelic influences were evident, with the use of theatrical costumes and elaborated light shows. Two albums were recorded, their eponymous debut 'Igra Staklenih Perli' of 1979 and their second 'Vrt Svetlosti' of 1980 and some twenty odd concerts were made. On vinyl it's surprising how good these recordings sound with some excellent music.

Take one part of the very early spaced out Hawkwind's sound, add a touch of Ash Ra Tempel and Tangerine Dream, add the hypnotic rhythms of Can, complex progressive arrangements and space it out with an abundance of organ with a touch of Pink Floyd and you have the picture. Acid heads and space rock fanatics are sure to go a bundle on this band.

So, 'Igra Staklenih Perli' is the eponymous debut studio album of Igra Staklenih Perli and was released in 1979. The line up on the album is Vojkan Rakic (Joshua N'Goma) ' (vocals and guitar), Zoran Lakic (Svaba the Kraut) ' (vocals and keyboards), Drasko Nikodijevic (Drakula) ' (vocals and bass) and Predrag Vukovic (drums and percussion).

'Igra Staklenih Perli' is an album where the final result was a very tighter and enjoyable work with some strong Pink Floyd and Hawkwind influences, featuring crunchy guitars and solos, pounding rhythms in the vein of Can, marching bass and cosmic vocals. The material is surrounded by beautiful Eloy like effects and guitar trembles, which still links the band to the principles of Krautrock music. During this series of outlandish grooves piano is always there to offer a richer and more sinister sound, with great spaced out textures with dark atmospheres and no intention to fill the sound with needless jams. The circular percussions are deceptively simple. The precise throbbing bass stays steady while the keyboards and guitar fly out into vast reaches of space, on this free flowing, primarily instrumental effort. The album does contain a smattering of vocals, done often through an echo effect, which further cements the Can influence. Some of the sound all over the album is a bit murky, but that only enhances the underground vibe that we can hear all over it.

About the tracks, 'Gusterov Trg' can boast the full force of the space rock of the early 70's. In addition to futuristic keyboard blubbering, dust dry guitar riffs provide for a powerful energy. Atmospheric hypnotism and unaffected power determine the sound that, despite convincing deficiencies, can convince. With 'Solarni Modus', the psychedelic drive is interrupted a bit. This instrumental number looks more orderly and already it seems to me a much more classic symphonic in its basic concept. Subsequently, with 'Putovanje U Plavo', Igra Staklenih Perli embarks on some hypnotic rhythms in devious psychedelic climes. Powerful space rock riffs and bubbly synths turn this number into an intense trip into the realm of mind expanding sound. A sophisticated percussion and tight bass lines provide a filigree backbone for all the crazy drive sound. In the further course, 'Pecurka', the sound of the ex-Yugoslavs looks like an herbaceous version of the early Pink Floyd. The deficit in the sound unfortunately contributes to the fact that the true brilliance of the band appears rather restrained and leaves the album in its entirety a slightly fragmentary character. In the concluding, 'Majestetski Kraj', in spite of all hypnotism, a melodic undertone from the hidden again enters into the musical event. It can only be boldly speculate as to which could be the more impressive work here, if the original recordings had not taken place under with some adverse conditions. Still, this is an interesting way to close the album.

Conclusion: Igra Staklenih Perli's debut album suffers from the bad condition that the album was recorded, in those times. And what is even most impressive is that two of the songs that should be part of the album, simply disappeared. So, this is the reason why this album is only twenty minutes long. However, this half an hour recordings are very impressive, really. The thing that makes this album so unique is the fact that it can be proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with many worldwide psychedelic space rock artists. This is definitely something each psychedelic fan must hear, and the band allowed that by putting it online for a free download. 'Igra Staklenih Perli' is really a great album, despite is unfortunately and basically a mutilated work. The master tapes of this production are probably lost for a long time. Pity! This music really deserves to be rescued to the digital world. I hope you can enjoy it as happened with me.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

One of the few advantages of some of the Eastern European nations that were locked behind a wall of censorship that didn't allow Western influences to pour in was that by the time many nations had started to comprehend the magnitude of the fertile free market systems that allowed unbridled artistic expression in the 1960s and 1970s, there had already been a wealth of musical sounds to glean inspiration from. Such is the case of the Yugoslavian band from Belgrade (now Serbia) IGRA STAKLENIH PERLI which formed in 1976 by keyboardist Zoran Lakić, guitarist Vojkan Rakić and percussionist Predrag Vuković. The band's name which means "The Glass Bead Game" which was borrowed from a Hermann Hesse book of the same name.

Primarily influenced by the psychedelic scene of the UK as well as the German Krautrock world, IGRA STAKLENIH PERLI delivered a fascinating combo pack of albums at the end of the 70s that were comparable to the farthest out trips that were taking England and Germany by storm. Once joined by bassist / vocalist Dra?ko Nikodijević and drummer Dejan ?oć the band began to perform live as early as 1977 and recorded its self-titled debut album that was released on the state-owned PGP RTB label of the socialist Yugoslavia however it would take a couple years for the album to finally be cleared for public consumption. Apparently the censors liked space rock after all! Together with bands like Smak, Time, Leb i Sol, Kornelyans, Tako and Buldo?er, IGRA STAKLENIH PERLI delivered the rare sounds of progressive space rock to a nation not accustomed to the crazy world of music that had been brewing out west.

While considered by many to be ex-Yugoslavia's answer to Pink Floyd, IGRA STAKLENIH PERLI was more accurately the perfect hybrid of Floyd and Hawkwind with secondary influences from Can, Kraftwerk and progressive electronic artists such as Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze. This debut album features a unique mix of "Saucerful of Secrets" era craftsmanship, koscmische drifting organ runs and atmospheres, a Can-like cyclical groove and a distinctly unmistakeable Hawkwind worship with staccato guitar strumming and especially in the vocal parts. Long extended instrumentals through clearly point to pre-"Dark Side Of The Moon" Pink Floyd with references to "Ummagumma," "Atom Mother Heart" and "Meddle." What the band lacked in absolute originality, it more than made up for in its passionate delivery system of throwing all the ingredients into the cauldron and alchemizing a bizarre chimera of them.

While the English bands tended to eschew the extremities of the farthest out trips with the rare exceptions that Pink Floyd delivered of course, the German bands often forsake melodic grooves or grinding guitar riffs in favor of experiments for their own sake. In the case of IGRA STAKLENIH PERLI's debut, these problems are resolved and the album provides a beautifully melodic album in the vein of Hawkwind or Pink Floyd only fortified with the freakiest electronic embellishments and experiments that allowed many Krautrock acts to drift off the musical map into their own little nook and cranny of the experimental sound universe. While the band would enthusiastically release a second album in 1980 and continue to play live, its overall career was cut short due to the horrific civil war that plagued the homeland in the 80s. A third album was recorded but not released until 1992 as "Inner Flow" but can be found in its entirety as bonus tracks on the 2007 Second Harvest reissue.

This band is incredible! IGRA STAKLENIH PERLI really delivered something unique even if moments of near plagiarism occur at least stylistically so. I would totally give this 5 stars if this came out ten years earlier because it's as developed and performed as well as any great energetic slice of progressive space rock of the early 70s however the blatant references to Hawkwind and Floydian moments are a little to close for comfort although that won't affect your enjoyment value. There's a reason why IGRA STAKLENIH PERLI is heralded as one of the most prominent prog acts to exist in the communist era Yugoslavia and one single listen to this album and you'll understand why! A near perfect space rock experience that offered captivating melodies, kosmische space freakery and fueled with a high energy delivery system.