LOST TAPES VOL. 1 (STUDIO & LIVE RECORDINGS 1974-1978)

"Lost Tapes"? They certainly are!

A keen collector of SBB's works, I've never been able to obtain this set of 9 CDs as a whole package. I have four individual CD's only that form part of this release. (Chances are that Periferic Records in Hungary may have the odd copy left.)

Anyway, what I have on hand warrants a comment and a very positive one, too! These tracks are not leftovers, filler material pieces, but a combination great tunes. Either performed in concert, or broadcast on Polish Radio only without being released on vinyl back then. This is not a compilation, but individual performances in their own right.

Holidaying in Poland in my youth I've heard SBB for the first time on Polish Radio. The band has raised my interest immediately as the music was bursting with energy and a progressive quality that wasn't common in Eastern Europe then. Suffice to say, some of those tracks are featured here, while others were made available on different releases.

Here we find the band in full flight, eager to impress - as the title of CD 1 "Impresja" implies. They were already seasoned performers by this time that only recently became a band on their own. If you know their early live performances then you know what to expect here. Brilliant fireworks, guitar, keyboard duels, practically squeezing out every possible sound of their limited gear.

Some of the tunes may sound familiar as they formed the foundation of future releases, but the band are not known about playing a tune twice in an identical way, Those pieces still come across with freshness, along with never before released material.

The four CDs I have showcase SBB at their best and on that basis I have to give this release the highest mark. Worth tracking down.

I think maybe SBB could have learned something from CAN who released a recording called "The Lost Tapes" but limited it to three discs. We get nine discs here! I'm going to focus on what I consider to be the best disc of the lot called "Impresje" which is disc one. This would be close to 5 stars on it's own, maybe 4.5 stars but overall 4 stars seems fair for this mammoth box set. I have to say that this power trio might be the best I've ever heard. Jerzy on drums, Apostolis on guitar and Jozef on keys, bass, harmonica and vocals.

"Dla Egona" features some amazing drum work and check out the rhythm section when this gets cooking with harmonica over top. Heavy stuff. "Impresje" sounds incredible with the guitar soling over top of the dark soundscape. This is a mid-paced slow burner. "Pamietnik Rudigera" is more uptempo than the previous track but the guitar solos over the soundscape like on that one. A calm a minute in. Great sound! It kicks back in at 3 1/2 minutes. Nice. "Kala" is a short piece with intricate guitar but not much more. "Dziwne Zwierze" is a rare vocal track that is catchy and kicks ass. Some monster bass and ripping guitar as well. Love it! "Szalony Grzes" has some great atmosphere to it early on. It's picking up before 3 minutes but then before 5 minutes it's heating up big time. The next two songs are both18 minutes long.

"Wyjatek Z Wolnosci" open with sounds that come and go including cymbals and piano then we get a change after 2 1/2 minutes then the drums kick in. Synths join in after 6 minutes. Drums only after 9 minutes but then the synths return. It slows down but turns heavier late to end it. "360 Do Tylu" opens with a guitar solo that lasts 2 1/2 minutes then the drums take over and eventually the guitar returns soloing once again. Drums only after 6 1/2 minutes then it picks up after 8 1/2 minutes. Synths after 11 minutes then the guitar starts to solo late once again. "Motyw Popoludnlowy" opens with chimes and piano as other sounds help out. Synths eventually come to the fore in this laid back number. "Zwiastun Dobrej Nocy" reminds me of the vocal track but without the vocals although it's not as good instrumentally either in my opinion. "Obciety" has heavy guitar and drums in this slow to mid- paced slow burner.

Hard to believe but there's another big box set that has been released by this band. If you can get the "Impresje" disc seperately don't even hesitate.