EGON BONDY'S HAPPY HEARTS CLUB BANNED

'Plastic People of the Universe's' history reveals nightmare upon misery in Communist ruled Czechoslovakia. It's a real shame what these guys went through with their vile repressors hanging over their shoulders at every turn. Such a pity then that this is such a forgettable album. The production values are decrepit and the actual execution and planning is poor. Although in saying this, there's a lot of varied instrumentation at work throughout.

Screeching strings, wailing guitars and alarmed paranoid vocals are at the forefront. Admittedly, there's a real tension felt in this recording, as though they're playing at gunpoint in fear of their lives. Hence the problem within...

'Egon bondy;s Happy Hearts Club' is a lesson in freedom after-all. These guys clearly were ill at ease on this recording. It sounds like a bunch of lads playing in a locked up garage waiting for a bust by the authorities.

There is some nice heavily treated saxophone on "Nikdo' which flutter about like canaries in a cage as bass player 'Milan Hlavsa' looks nervously over his shoulder and whispers some Czech mutterings.

Supposedly this is their best offering. Thankfully it's the only one I bought (Second hand mercifully). Maybe if I understood the language it might have made more sense. Particularly on the humorous 'Jo- to se ti to spi' which has a lot of comedy vocal treatments.

Two stars is probably a bit harsh as it does have certain moments of darkness and originality. The background to the band themselves is far more intriguing than their music.

At the end of the day I can't help but come back to the fact that it sounds awfully tinny and poorly recorded which will always be it's major downfall with me.