GATTCH

Gattch were a Czechoslovakian group formed in 1969 that originally played beat, pop and psychedelic music. By the time their self-titled album was released in 1972, the band had moved in an instrumental direction, playing a mix of undemanding blues, gentle jazz grooves and slightly adventurous rock music. Often driven by the scorching lead guitar (and some striking violin) of Tomas `Tomy' Redey, the tracks on the album are catchy, breezy and very easy to listen to, the sort of music that would probably make the perfect soundtrack for a nice drive on a summer afternoon!

Right from the start, Tony Lancaric's chunky bass punches through to the front, where it remains throughout most of the eight pieces offered here. All of the pieces are effortlessly groovy and often upbeat, foot-tapping tunes. Gentle jazzy piano frequently tinkers away, soothing acoustic guitar flavours strum along, and occasional wordless sighing group harmonies enhance the laid-back cruisy mood. Delicate harpsichord rings dreamily throughout the second track, `Narodenie' is a nicely plodding slow-burn blues with a cool snarling acid-rock tone to the electric guitar and rattling drumming, `Neznama Tvar' jumps in and out of frantic up-tempo moments with sprightly piano and bluesy guitar, and `Vlak' has an infectious melody behind some nicely searing lead electric guitar soloing.

Things get more interesting starting from the lengthier pieces in the second half, displaying the most potential that the band had, as well as numerous directions they could have moved in on future albums. Other-worldly treated drowsy group harmonies, stirring violin, disorientating piano and thick plucking bass pounds through this tasty take on jazz-fusion, the band taking their music to a higher level with more variety and sophistication. The darkly dramatic continuation `Reminiscencia II' is psychedelic and freeform with drifting electric piano and softly droning violin. `Pontrapunkticka...' starts off nicely playful, with maddening winding electric guitar lines almost taking on a nursery rhyme melody, then followed by group jamming with lots of effective builds where the band work up a nicely simmering jazzy storm.

There would be no follow up album for Gattch, and we only have this sole work left to listen to. Not entirely satisfying due to not much in the way of complexity, depth or more truly ambitious arrangements, but definitely full of pleasing moments to enjoy on the surface, and it's probably mostly appreciated as a nicely performed undistracting background listen. It's also now available in a limited edition double CD set along with Modry Efekt's symphonic near-classic `Svitanie', so together the two albums make a fine package.

Three stars.