OBESEL JÁ POLÍ PěT (WITH AGON ORCHESTRA)

This compilation contains live recordings from 2003, when Plastic People of The Universe played the show both together with another Czech band - Agon Orchestra, some studio archive recordings and bonus DVD.

Music there is alternative mix of chamber rock, some free jazz (especially sax soloing) and theatrics show. And if quite often live recordings show another, more emotional side of many artists, it happens there for good and for bad.

Biggest problem I have with this album is being not pure concert, but more theatrical show, there are plenty of lyrics (in Czech, and my minimal knowledge of this language doesn't help much) , which is important part and component of all show. While me (as many other listeners) can't understand and possibly enjoy this part, all other recording sound more as bulky collection of not very related between each other pieces with long narrative breaks between them. Such structure hardly destroy impression (at least for non-Czech speaking listener).

Speaking about music itself, most of all I like there some sax free jazz soloing over the chamber string combo playing. Strings sounds quite good as well, but I missed whole musical composition feeling (again, the possible reason is narrative lyrics separating musical compositions to single pieces).

With some great moments on it, this release is hardly representative for band's best musical moments and could be more interesting to fans and collectors.

My rating is 2,5, rounded to 3.