OHOÁÉIB

4.5 stars. KADA are one of many excellent bands that have come from Hungary over the years. These guys might be my favourite though. Jazz for sure but think KING CRIMSON with the way this band like to improvise plus they have that heavy sound with plenty and I mean plenty of atmosphere. The guitarist uses effects plus we get three horn players adding sax, trombone and trumpet. Two percussionists plus a drummer and bass player. What no keyboards? And this one is a live recording of tracks from between 2001 and 2003 and none from the same concert.

Take away that opener and I'm giving this 5 stars. "Tokan" the first song is so different from the rest. It's more normal and it's relaxed and at a slow pace. Just not what you would expect to start off a live album or a concert for that matter if this had been one. "Ambientry" is the longest track at over 12 minutes and it has it's moments but honestly it's the final five tunes that I just can't believe were played in a live setting. I could just imagine some poor soul on LSD running for the exit. "Jam In The Droid Coffee" turns quite powerful 2 minutes in after drowning us in atmosphere. An unreal sound here with the horns and everything else.

"GOD, Devil And Superman" again begins with atmosphere and picked guitar this time with some percussion and horns. Bass and drums as it builds and the tempo picks up. Just killing it after 4 minutes. I like the guitar around 5 minutes and it's crying out around 7 minutes. An experimental ending. "Dragon Skeleton" opens with what sounds like electronics and atmosphere as drums kick in with some punch then guitar. Just so inventive and a horn joins in as the electronics and beats continue.

"Folk Song" opens with spacey atmosphere and distant sounds coming and going and soon the atmosphere is howling but then it fades as drums and alto sax take over but it's surprisingly brief as the heavy atmosphere returns. Two horns and drums after 3 minutes before the soprano sax leads around 5 1/2 minutes in. "Blues For Gabor" might be my favourite for how intense and insane it gets after 6 minutes. Just so much going on and even more so 7 minutes in before it winds down to the end.

Great headphone album as well on those final five tracks. What a band!