BARNODAJ: MAUGLÍ

This was PROGRES 2's second album although this would be the first under this band name. It was released in 1978 and is a concept album based on Rudyard Kipling's novel "Jungle Book". There's lots I like and dislike about this recording. This four piece Czech band has lots of vocal harmonies (each is credited with vocals here) along with some funk, sax and even sitar.

"Dzungle" opens with sitar and is therefore quite exotic sounding. Drums come and go in the background then they eventually lead the way. Sitar is back then the sound gets a little heavier. "Strach" is catchy with vocals for the first time.Too commercial sounding for my tastes though. Not really into the vocals and backing vocals either. Catchy though. "Kamarad Gramofon" has a different singer with a rougher voice as piano plays solo. It's fuller a minute in with backing vocals. Some tasteful guitar after 3 minutes and orchestral sounds. Very epic sounding here. "Stesti" is interesting with the dominant synths and drums leading early. Vocal melodies join in. Vocals before 1 1/2 minutes. Guitar solo after 2 minutes. "Bezedna Tun" has the guy with rougher vocals singing in it. I don't like when the tempo picks up at all.Yikes.

"Dopis V Lahvi" has some funky bass as other intricate sounds including sax come and go. It kicks in with vocals.This is good. My favourite track. "Pram Z Tramu" is ballad-like with vocals and piano. It does pick up some and get fuller with synths and drums. It's okay. "Tutovy Typ" opens with pulsating organ as synths join in. A calm then vocals and piano lead in this mellow section. Guitar,synths and drums lead before 2 minutes then the vocals and harmonies come in. "Maugli" opens with strummed guitar as what sounds like accordion joins in. Vocals follow with a beat as strummed guitar continues. Good sound. "Osud" is more serious sounding with piano and reserved vocals. It does kick in though with drums and a full sound which is better. Contrasts continue.The best part of the album for me is from before 2 1/2 minutes to almost 4 minutes,great instrumental section.

A good album that certainly has it's moments. Worth checking out for sure.

Late-60's in Brno, Czech Republic, and drummer Zdenek Kluka along with guitarist/singer Pavel Vane establish one of the most famous rock groups of ex-Czechoslovakia, The Progress Organization.After a Psych/Folk/Rock album in 1971 (''Barnodaj'') the band was condemned to play live in just a few occasions in a country where Totalitarianism had flooded all free expressions.However Vane and Kluka moved on to a second album in 1978, this time under the name Barnodaj.''Maugli'' was released in 1978 on Supraphone with permanent members being also keyboardist Jan Sochor and bassist Pavel Pec.

The album finds the band in a transitional period from the easy-listening Psych/Folk sound of their debut to a more adventurous Art-Rock style, where the psychedelic elements are again present.These make ''Maugli'' an uneven effort, split between demanding and more easy-listening but definitely dated tracks of little interest.About half of them have simple song structures, where Psychedlic Rock meets Blues, Jazz and Folk , and these sound a bit amateur nowadays with mediocre vocal work and dull multi-vocal parts.The rest of the album though holds plenty of challenging material.This is driven by complex synth workouts, orchestral parts, organ leads and great guitar work by Vane, not that complicated but certainly of great prog value.Jan Sochor also offers also plenty of dramatic piano passages along with a few harpsichord beats to make the album sound even more diverse.I am reminded at moments of OTA PETRINA's albums: Progressive Rock mixed with various influences like Psychedelic Pop, Symphonic Rock and Folk, and the result is an album with a deep romanticism to be found throughout.

Under some very hard political circumstances the duo of Vane and Kluka created a work, containing ground-breaking music around the time for the country and, despite some dated stuff to be met as well, ''Maugli'' has lots of intricate moments to offer to the listener.Recommended.