NOVÁ SYNTÉZA [AKA: NEW SYNTHESIS]

An obscure, yet well recorded album from 1971, from behind the Iron Curtain, full of fierce jazz rock with an orchestra of copper instruments to back it up. Who wouldn't enjoy that? As it turns out; the fans of Blue Effect (Modry Efect) that prefer the string of eclectic prog masterpieces the band would launch in 1974. I think this album (and its follow-up) deserve to be seen in their own light though. Blue Effect and the Czechoslovak Radio Jazz Orchestra offer an instrumental brass-rock record with some touches of heavy psych, blues rock, progressive, soundtrack music, jazz-rock and bit a of swing. The whole recording is rather loud & intense and sounds like it was recorded live in the studio. Guitar player Radim Hlad'k is already showing great promise in a Jan Akkerman style of Les Paul guitar playing. The first four tracks sound pretty much like composed and arranged pieces, whereas the album ends with jam-band vibe tracks. The music reminds me of the instrumental parts of The Chicago Transit Authority, Colosseum and perhaps a bit of Uriah Heep's Salisbury album. Other reviewers would suggest that the albums lacks moments that are memorable and I would agree, but what remains is a very energetic, unique and ambitious progressive rock project from (what is nowadays) The Czech Republic. Recently there's a re-print of remastered vinyls (combining Nova Syntheza 1 & 2) on a double vinyl on the Supraphon label and I can warmly recommend this release. As these vinyls of Blue Effect are hard to attain, we can only hope for more re-releases in the future (right now the excellent 'Svitani' album is also available).