HOKROVA VILA

HOKR are a four piece band at this point with vocals, keys, bass and drums but we do have guests adding sax on 5 tracks and cello on 4 songs along with guitar on the closer. This was released in 2004 and it clocks in at 68 minutes. These guys are from the Czech Republic and have been around since the late seventies so they know what it's like to have their concerts shut down and be harassed by the government. The vocalist sings in his native language and he's awesome, so theatrical with a strong, deep voice. The sax/vocal parts bring VDGG to mind while the cello/vocal parts hint at THE PLASTIC PEOPLE OF THE UNIVERSE. I do prefer the next album with pretty much the same lineup but under the name POCOLCO and it's called "Sulcu Porce" from 2007.

The keyboards are of the nasty and in your face variety when the cello or sax aren't leading the way. Again the vocals certainly dominate when they are in play. And of course they open it with an instrumental called "Tomcat" where the keys pulse while drums and bass support then the cello comes in over top. "The Look Of A Liar" is a heavy tune with sax and vocals leading the way, organ too and a lot of counter point. "Skin Lotion" has a repeated vocal section that makes me laugh. Not sure if it's supposed to be funny. "Mouse In A Trance" is a top three track for me. I just love the way it changes flavours especially the trippy section. Is that distorted keys after 2 minutes? Nasty! Organ solos late as the tempo speeds up.

"Voice Of WC" is very VDGG-like while the next tune "Who Rules Over The Stains" is another top three. It's dark and quiet to start with distant beats just before a minute. Lots of atmosphere. It really kicks into gear with yelling vocals, sax, distorted keys and more as they amp it up. My final top three is the next tune "Sorrow Of The Deflowered Virgins" where we get cello leading early then organ but the bass sounds the best on this one. It does brighten later but I prefer the earlier sound.

"A Dumb Ass In Love" has an interesting combination of sounds with the upfront drums, distorted keys and cello. Organ to the fore later as the cello slices away. "In The Yard" is pretty hilarious with those chicken clucks early on. Not big on the rest of the song. "Falacy No. 64" is the longest tune at over 9 minutes. Drummer puts on a show early as the organ helps out. This is fairly slow and dark. The pulsating organ before 3 minutes brings GENESIS to mind. It settles right down with spoken words. It turns fuller and how about those extreme yells. More of those on the next track "The Whip". Love the dual vocals on the closer "The Cell".

A very solid 4 stars for this powerful recording.

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