VRT SVETLOSTI

At more decent running time of almost 36 minutes (!), the second album of ISP carries on in the same vein like its predecessor, falling into the predictible "second-album trap". Production is still weak and this LP was even bigger rarity than the debut. The formula was repeated but to a lesser final result. "Igrac" is ambitious and pretentious 10-minute composition with not very good vocals. Much better singing in style of folk/rennaissance is in the title track which is easily the best moment on the album. The remaining instrumentals are nothing exceptional, more like fillers albeit nicely done, with some fusion moments and female vocals. Not essential stuff, but worth hearing in any case! I think that both "Vrt svetlosti" and eponymous debut were reissued in the 1990s on vinyl again (not on CD) by German label Kalemegdan Disk, with allegedly better sound but I could not confirm this. Slightly less than ***, approaching the territory of the "collectors only"!

THE GAME OF THE GLASSBEADS ( Igra Staklenih Perli ) History

The Band was created in Belgrade,Serbia EU, in the atticks of the mystic Cubura, when Goran Lakic - Svaba came from Germany with impressions of the Secrets of the Oriental Pillgrims (from Herman Hesse : " Glasperlenspiel " ) . He met the guitar player Vojkan Rakic and the percussionist Predrag Vukovic, and so, the first recordings of the Game of the Glassbeads were made. The Band cultivated the music style of the Can and Pink Floyd, but also of the Tangerine Dream and Holgar Czukay. The first public success was on the concerts in the Belgrade Student Center and soon became very popular throughout cultural centers of then former Yugoslavia. Promoting an esoteric musical expression, the ISP (as many called the Game) was strikingly not fitting into the idea of the "show-business " and the entertainers of the local musical business. This resulted in a pioneer outbreak and a battle on the music scene. Only two albums were published by this Belgrade Band. The firstborn "ISP" and "The Garden of Light", as the second. Both were very well accepted, noticed both by the public and the critics, with solid number of prints at the time, in view of the type of the music this band played. Their last public concert was in 1985, in the well-known Concert Hall of the Belgrade Sava Center, on the occasion of the group concert dedicated to the anniversary of the music magazine ITD. Members of the Band continued their careers in other bands or music solo projects. By the beginnning of the 90's, Thomas Werner came to the city with an interest to publish the old material of the ISP from the end of the 70's. The old demo materials and recorded local concerts fill in the music image of the first Game on three CDs, printed for the German Record House kalemegdan disk, acquiring thus the status of a bootleg albuma for their non-studio sound quality. Many Belgrade musicians of the time played the "game" in this band. Out of the regular team, the following took part in this Game: guitar players such as Goran Vejvoda (now in Paris), Ivan Pajevic (presently in Brussels), Aleksandar Zikic (well-known Yugoslav rock critic), then the guitar player and poet Boyan Kveder (at the present in London), bass players Drasko Nikodijevic (now in New York), and Slobodan Trbojevic (presently in LA), and the late keybord player Zoran Zagorcic (El.orgazam), or the drummer Ivica Vdovic Vd (Charlo the Acrobat) both of them tragicaly past away during the 90's. One should certainly highlight the only female vocal as guest on the second album "The Garden of Light" ( RTB 1979) , vocal artist Dragana Saric, later known as Baby Doll. It was her firs recorded vinyl records and beginning of her vocal career. There is also many other who directly suported the band , like Goran Cvetic with his famous 70's laser show , or the fotographers Goran Grbic ( later well known TV lighting designer ) and rock artist Gordan Skondric.Support come also from rock reporters from Belgrade music magazine " Dzuboks" ( Jukebox) such as Radovan Vujovic , Momcilo Rain ( also editor in SC culture Belgrade) and many others. The Game of the Glass beads attracted all those defiant, brave and real players of the music expressions of the time in Belgrade, the end of 70's and the beginning of 80's. They left a deep music trace of their love towards music and life, and the free expression of their personal attitude in the visions of the future that awaits us, the one worth fighting for. The sunny Belgrade Cubura waits today for some new brave kids.

Captain Boban LA.CA 90265

Igra Staklenih Perli's debut had that secret ingredient that makes space-rock tick. This is largely absent here and while the sound doesn't differ all too much, the songs never grab the attention like they did on the previous album.

The songwriting is more Hawkwind oriented, comparable to their 'new-wave' albums such as 'Quark Strangeness and Charm' and 'PXR5', but there's also a hint of the more rocking 'Levitation' album. Anyway, the reliance on just one source of inspiration makes the band less diverse and experimental then on the early-Floyd meets Gong blend of the debut. But the main problem is the songwriting, which rarely reaches anything resembling a hook or decent groove, both quite important for a space-rock album.

As others have concluded before me, this is still an enjoyable listen, but it is too safe and formulaic to rate any better then just ok.