MEMENTO Z BANALNYM TRYPTYKIEM

Review Nº 902

SBB is a Polish progressive rock band that was formed in 1971 in Siemianowice, Upper Silesia, in Poland under the soviet occupation. The band's name SBB was initially an abbreviation of Silesian Blues Band, but a little later they changed to Polish, Szukaj Burz Buduj, in English, Search Break Build up. Still it can also be a provocation, reminding the SB the hated polish-soviet secret security service, Słuzba Bezpieczebstwa. SBB was one of the most important Polish prog rock bands of the 70's and against all odds, SBB performed behind the "Iron Curtain" in several Western countries and performed with many western prog acts. For instance, the band opened the show for the Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, where they shared the stage with John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra and Charles Mingus.

Although basically a rock band, SBB was one of the front runners in the development of, what was later called, jazz rock or fusion along with Weather Report, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin and Miles Davis. But, despite that, we may say the jazz elements aren't strongly present in the band's sound. Personally I classify them as symphonic progressive rock with some light hints of fusion, which makes the band's sound so unique. For those who don't know them, I would say that they sound like a less virtuous version of the Dutch group Focus, a lighter Focus version.

"Memento Z Banalnym Tryptykiem" is the tenth studio album of SBB and was released in 1981. The lineup on the album is Apostolis Antymos (electric and acoustic guitars), Slawomir Piwowar (acoustic and electric guitars, bass, Hohner clavinet and fender piano), Josef Skrzek (vocals, bass, Mini-Moog synth, Micro-Moog synth, Poly-Moog synth, Sonic-six-Moog synth, Davolisint synth, Concert Spectrum synth, Hohner clavinet D6, Fender piano, Mellotron, Hammond organ, grand piano, church organ, harmonica, marimba, Japanese banjo and percussion) and Jerzy Piotrowski (drums and percussion). The album also had the participation of Jan Skrzek (harmonica and hand clapping), Alicja Piwowar (hand clapping) and Renata Szybka (hand clapping), as guests.

"Memento Z Banalnym Tryptykiem" became the last album of the original SBB before a long hiatus. It became a kind of summary of a decade full of events and achievements, a kind of summary in which the band searched, demolished, built and conquered all of Europe with its view of the progressive rock. It represents a kind of staple where, on one hand, it showed the new fascinations of the musicians by the fusion elements and, on the other hand, it summed up the search for the more classic progressive rock music with even elements of country. So, we can say that on "Memento Z Banalnym Tryptykiem", the band plays a blend of jazz and prog in a very clever way. The material is mostly instrumental and is performed in a stellar way. The singing is solid as well and is performed in their native language.

"Moja Ziemio Wysniona (My Land Of Dreams)" is a sublime piece very wide, varied lulling the audience with an orchestral prelude in a classical style. The music drives us to the progressive fusion rock demonstrating a technical and melodic expressive game imbued with surprisingly young energy. "Trojkąt Radosci (The Triangle Of Joy)" is a very beautiful piece that sounds great thanks to the great playing on the classical guitar. The composition is announced in the format of a duet. It's a guitar show of the band with the new addition of the second guitarist. It's a great patchwork. "Strategia Pulsu (Strategy Of Pulse)" is a small piece that is sustained in a purely jazz rock vein with no great frills or excessive lacy. We have only clarity and delineation of texture, multiplied by a great professionalism of the performers. The title track "Memento Z Banalnym Tryptykiem (Memento With A Banal Triptych)" fills the entire side two of the vinyl. It cannot be compared with anything from previous SBB work. It's full of contrasts and surprising fragments in the form of a collage, which is actually a characteristic of the entire album. It continues SBB's tradition of extended epics. This is a complex construction that serves as a benchmark for a perfectly balanced rock fantasy. The entire number seems surprisingly relaxed. In general, this is a piece with an absolutely amazing fresco and that despite the time that has passed not one drop has lost its relevance. The piece ends with the same symphony on the beginning of the album.

Conclusion: In contrast to their other Eastern bloc colleagues, like Omega, SBB showed a sophisticated way out of the New Wave dilemma with this album. Unfortunately, this was also their only 80's release, which was followed by the breakup of the band. Only after the fall of communism did they reappear at some festivals and it was only in this century that they returned with studio releases. This last official studio album is worth listening to because it's different from its predecessors. Still, SBB began the 80's still clinging to the ideals of the 70's music. There's something heroic in that. "Memento Z Banalnym Tryptykiem" is a great album, probably the best work of the entire SBB discography. It's an imperishable classic of Eastern European progressive rock. It's notably indicated to the adventurous prog fans.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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