KUřE V HODINKÁCH

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This is a compilation CD by the Chech Republic formation Flamengo, it contains material between 1972 (LP Kure V Hodinkach) and '68-'71 (bonustracks). I was pleasantly surprised by both the level of the musicians as the recording quality. If you like brass, you will be delighted by Flamengo their music. It has obvious hints from Colosseum and some Alquin and King Crimson, mainly because of the omnipresent brass instruments (saxophones and clarinet). But the organ work and the dynamic rhythm-section are also great assets from this band. The vocals are in the native language, this gives a charming extra dimension to the music. A bit of a maverick is the track Me And The Smoke delivering a dreamy atmosphere with Spanish guitar and flute. The bonustracks contain the covers Summertime (Gershwin) and Get Off Of My Life Woman (Otis Redding, Peter Gabriel his hero). A dynamic album with lots of musical variety.

Sole album from this Prague band that had started as far back as the mid-60's and had released seven singles between 67 and 69. Their sole album came in the second part of their career in 72, once woodwind player Kubik and vocalist Misik arrived and changed the group's sound to a sort of hard-driving brass-jazz-rock. By this time Flamengo was a sextet, and until then, they had been fairly well tolerated by the communist regime after the crush of the Spring Of Prague. And for some strange reasons, the regime will ban the album, most likely on the account of the lyric content, which had been written by Josef Kainar and Hynek Zalcyk, both non-members of the group, although the latter was the album's producer and doing a fairly good job sound-wise.

This album has now reissued in 98 with a superb reworked booklet including the Czech lyrics and lavish time-themed (or mechanical clock pieces) illustrations and two bonus tracks. If previously fuzzed-out guitarist Frantisek Francl had been the focus of the band, he was gone from the line-up, here Kubik's wind instruments dominate the album (he gets help from two other sax players Kral and Hruska) from the short title track intro with its footstep intro, until the last brass grumbles the second part of the title track closing the album, notwithstanding the two bonus tracks of this Cd reissue. The album's name Kure V Hodinkach means "chicken in the clock".

Songwriting-wise the chores are roughly spread out between windplayer Kubik, guitarist Fort and vocalist/percussionist Misik, with keyboard man Khunt also contributing a track, but it would be pretty hard to tell which one would have written which track, because the album stands as a very tight collection of track. This was "released" even if later banned by the second (behind Opus) label of the country: Supraphon. Standing out a bit is the flute-laden acoustic guitar Ja A Dym track slowly evolving into a nice sax-dominated groove, one of the album's highlights. Roughly the other tracks sound much like an Italian Colosseum (Italian due to the singing, mostly) and at times Traffic. The centerpiece (and longest track) Par Stoleti is another superb moment with its outstanding interplay between keys, winds and guitar. The bonus tracks are obviously strongly related to the album (slightly funkier and extra female backing vocals) and are pure added value to the album.

Flamengo's sole album stands as one of the best album to have come out of communist Czechoslovakia. Outside the almost legendary Misik (and to a lesset extant Fort and Kubik that crossded his path regularly), so far I have not encountered the musicians of this group in others albums, especially inn the very next year following this album's "release" until 76. But this is only the start of my Czech and Slovak ventures, and believe me, outside the poor Collegium Musicum album I reviewed three weeks ago, it starts out under the best of omens. Jump for it!!! (Fremata and Modry Effekt coming up)

Reminding me "In the Court of Crimson King" a lot, which is good thing. I was waiting for album that can take something as big as this and rumors were true, Flamengo accomplished it. So bad that they released just one album (even their members were/are in countless other groups, it was normal in these times).

The title, Kuře v hodinkách means "Chicken in watches" and is very unique album. Something so precisely made was utopia in these dark times of communism (you can't talk about music from Czech Republic of year 1972, without mentioning situation then normal, that most of musicians were forced to make pop music, because people [people republic, what a crap] wanted to. Still, some gems [and in this case, not forgotten, but more like complicated child-birth] made it and were created.

Strong sax "riffs", very dominating instrument here, dueling with flute (such soft in volume and yet so strong in emotions), muted bass and vocals capable of everything you can imagine in rock music. Fortunately, I have one, big advantage, which in many other ways can be disadvantage. I live in Czech Republic, from where this record came and that means: Easy accessibility, every record shop have it, because it's legend. Big understanding of them-times, because I like 20th history of my nation (full of terrible things) and of course, understanding lyrics completely (or at least to extent of my recognize of metaphors, which this music if full of), very poetic ones, philosophical topics, about life +time.

5(-) for something so close to me, that it's instant hit.

A legendary release from the Czech Republic back in 1972. How about clarinet / flute / sax player Jan Kubik not only playing on this record but also on JAZZ Q's "Symbiosis". I wonder if he knew he was making history twice ! Well this isn't the Jazzy offering that JAZZ Q would release in 1974 but there's lots of horns, chunky bass, guitars and vocals in their native language. This may have got past the Communist regime at first but they promptly banned it apparently because of the lyrics.

"Kure V Hodinkach (Introdukce)" opens with the sound of someone walking then horns and a full sound kick in. The organ replaces the horns before 1 1/2 minutes but it's brief as the horns return blasting. It blends into "Ram Pristich Obrazu" and it's a horn-fest. Vocals before a minute, guitar too. When the vocals stop the horns lead. Nice scream to end it. "Jenom Laska Vi Kam" is a great track. We get more of the same really along with some passionate vocals and prominant guitar. Nice guitar solo 1 1/2 minutes in. "Ja A Dym" opens with flute and acoustic guitar as reserved vocals join in. Love when it picks up and turns fuller later as they jam. "Chvile Chvil" starts with horns and drums then it settles a minute in with vocal melodies and a pleasant sound. Reserved vocals join in. It kicks in before 2 minutes with more passionate vocals. Organ and vocal melodies 3 1/2 minutes in to the end.

"Par Stoleti" is mellow with flute then the drums and laid back vocals join in. It's still relaxed until after 2 minutes when it picks up with horns. A change before 4 1/2 minutes as a beat with flute takes over. This is catchy and upbeat. Horns come and go. "Doky, Vlasky, Hlad A Boty" features a beat and horns standing out then vocals and chunky bass join in, guitar follows. A sax solo with percussion after 2 minutes. Vocal melodies a minute later. "Stale Dal" is uptempo with flute, vocals and more. A rocker folks. Lots of vocal melodies too. A guitar solo after 1 1/2 minutes as the horns help out. "Kure V Hodinkach" opens with drums, bass and flute as the guitar joins in. Great sound ! Vocals follow. So good. The bass is huge here. We even get a flute solo after 4 minutes.

Easily 4 stars for this amazing album.