A BENEFIT OF RADIM HLADÍK [AKA: MODRÝ EFEKT & RADIM HLADÍK]

Dense but carefully constructed instrumental heaviness from the Czech heroes where the riff is king and, except superficially, very little jazz (or "jazz rock" for that matter) can be heard. The loosely sketched self-harmonies of master guitarist Radim Hladik led a crack outfit who made the most of less-than-ideal circumstances, and punch out no bullsh*t guitar rock that moves between inspired chopping and lighter parts featuring Jiri Stivin's flute & Hladik's acoustic.

Insistent 'Boty' sets the large and layered tone, Hladik an original voice who, though perhaps influenced by the likes of Clapton and others, really sets his own pace here, and Blue Effect was influencing Central & Eastern European players as much as they were taking from Western ones. At ten minutes it's satisfying heavy progrock with enough grit to remind you where it came from. 'Skladanka' treats with lots of quirks and contradictions, a crazed blitherer, Radim's post-Hendrix yelps and some mad funky rhythms. Great track, matched by the tone-web of 'Ztraty a Nalezy' and its faint Procol Harum-isms, and they finally breakout the jazz for 12-minute vamp 'Hypertenze'. 'Armageddon' and 'Clara' are two good bonuses on the Sony/Bonton remaster from 2000.

A real performance from one of the best central European rock bands ever-- a reminder that there was prog out there that rocked, and that intricate music could be made without an abundance of synths, effects, masters degrees or compartmentalized recording techniques.