INNER FLOW

So, this is a collection of previously unissued tracks recorded by IGRA STAKLENIH PERLI in their early years from 1976-79. It was released by German label Kalemegdan Disk in 1991, which specialized in uncovering the old, classic rock period of the former Yugoslavia. These tracks sound amazingly good and they show how awsome and diverse was the Yugoslavian music scene of the 1970s, in spite of shortage in music instruments, discographic resources and state-controlled market. ISP were well-known as the premier psychedelic band, but what is also obvious from this collection is that they equally cherished their love for German Kraut rock scene. Due to droning spacey electronics, strong rhythm section and whispering vocals, they are the closest to CAN in terms of influences. Just listen to "Magic Machine" and "Lake of Lily" and you will notice the spiritual presence of Damo Suzuki, Holger Czukay et al.; the latter being a fine answer to guitar craziness of "Mother Sky" from CAN's "Soundtracks". The lengthy title track is pure acid rock filled with fuzzed guitar, bongo percussions and tribal bass thumping. This is excellent album that any serious psycho/kraut lover should grab. It's a real gem excavated from the Yugoslavian back catalogue that should be treated as a precious jewel. A brilliant and adventurous experimental psychedelic music!

According to the liner notes these tracks were basically demos or recordings of local concerts they did in Belgrade prior to the release of their debut album in 1979. I really didn't find the sound quality too bad at all and while I prefer the self titled studio album more, this is definitely worth getting a hold of if your a fan of Psychedelic music. This was released originally in 1991 by a German label.

"Flow Access" is the short opener as we get abrasive sounds along with this mellow pulsating sound throughout. "Hotel Wave" has what sounds like light keys as the bass joins in. Drums and guitar follow. It picks up after 3 minutes. Vocal melodies before 4 minutes. "Magic Machine" is my favourite. Organ, bass and a beat to start as psychedelic guitar joins in. Nice. Faint vocals after 2 minutes. The vocals stop then the beat stops as it turns spacey before 4 1/2 minutes. It's dark with voices 6 1/2 minutes in. "Lake Of Lily" features a rhythm that picks up speed as the organ joins in. Vocals after 2 minutes but they don't stay around long.

"Dracula's Dance" has this heavy rhythm and abrasive guitar. I like it. Bass comes to the fore after 5 minutes. "Inner Flow" opens with percussion and organ as the guitar comes in and starts to solo. It's intense 4 1/2 minutes in. It turns spacey before 6 1/2 minutes then picks back up before 9 minutes with guitar, organ and drums. They're kicking ass late to end it. "Balkan IV" opens with atmosphere as guitar and other sounds come and go. Vocal sounds and samples come in after 2 1/2 minutes.

The debut album is a must but if you can get your hands on this too I wouldn't hesitate.

Former Yugoslavian act, strictly connected with the Kraut Rock tradition, formed in 1976 in Beograd by old school friends Zoran Lakic (keyboards) Vojkan Rakic (guitar), and Predrag Vukovic (percussion).Named after Hermann Hesse''s novel ''The Glass Bead Game'', the trio was followed soon by bassist Drasko Nikodijevic and, with the addition of Dragan Soc on drums in 1977, they started performing live.Previously unreleased material from these early days of the group was released on vinyl in 1992 as ''Inner flow'' by the German label Kalemegdan Disk, specialized in 60's/70's Psych/Prog from East Europe.Most of the band members used pseudonyms, as shown in the back cover of the LP, and all tracks were studio recordings except the eponymous one, which was captured live in 1978 at SKC in Beograd.

This archival album kick off quite strongly with the rhythmic pair of ''Flow access'' and ''Hotel wave'', heavily based on the dynamic organ and the nice electric guitars, soon the album will adapt a cosmic atmosphere with ''Magic machine'', in the vein of CAN and ASH RA TEMPEL, with long electronic introductions, distorted vocals, throbbing bass and repetitive percussions.''Lake of Lily'' is a long groovy tune with marching bass and drums, supported by psych guitars and Hammond organ, quite interesting to say the least.The second side is definitely weaker with an even rawer sound and a pretty repetitive style.''Drakula's Dance'' is another long improvised piece, completely atonal, with electronic fanfares and abstract guitar lines and the very long live track is rather hypnotic with overstretched themes, lacking variations and energy, strongly led by percussions, organ and synthesizers.The closing part, featuring Rakic'es decent guitar texture, is maybe its best offering, somewhere between early FLOYD and HAWKWIND.The short closer ''Balkan IV'' sounds more than an intro than an outro, wrongly placed at the end of the album, with spacey use of guitars and synths in a piece that sounds incomplete as presented.

This early document of Igra Staklenih Perli's first period is propably a cool purchase for fans of the band and dedicated Kraut/Space/Electronic Rock fans.This is not music for everybody with stretched psychedelic soundscapes and few variations throughout...2.5 stars.