PROVISORIUM

An important part of the ex-Czechoslovak rock scene,Dezo Ursiny was born in Bratislava in 1947.He was a member of the Beatles-esque beat group The Beatmen in mid-60's,but refused to follow the band in West Germany,when the rest of the members were after some more commercial success.He was also to be found on the Cream-influenced The Soulmen,who had only an EP released back in 1968.He then collaborated with keyboardist Jaro Filip on the group Provisorium in 1970,but the band performed only a few shows.However they managed to sign a recording contract before this and the album was evetually recorded with the help of Flamengo members Vladimír Kulhánek and Jaroslav Sedivy,released in 1973 on Supraphon as ''Dezo Ursiny and Provisorium''.

Surprisingly for a Slovak album,''Provisorium'' was entirely sung in English,containing only four tracks.Side A is dedicated to the sidelong 19-min. epic ''Christmas time'',a complicated track with evident Jazz and Blues influences all the way,even with a touch of Avant-Garde music, characterized by the distinctive voice of Ursiny.The complex passages with the psychedelic interplays and the individual soloing indicate the straight links with the progressive movement.Piano,organ and jazzy guitars are always on the front with the Flamengo rhythm section supporting well,while the track requires plenty of listenings to be fully appreciated.

Side B opens with ''Looking for the place to spend next summer'',again influenced by British Psych/Jazz-Rock with complicated breaks throughout and some flutes to be heard wrapped under Filip's light piano and organ and Ursiny's smooth jazzy playing.On ''Apple tree in winter'' it is hard to recognize this is a Slovak musician performing.Very smooth straight Blues with Filip's piano on the front and Ursiny's non-accented clear vocals,the track also features an orchestrated section with strings,but sounds rather dated for today's standards.''I have found'' is more on the straight rock side of Prog music with hard guitar soloing,fast piano passages and great vocals by Ursiny,but the needless ending drum solo marks a black hole for the track.

Noone denies this album was quite a daring step for a communist society back then.''Provisorium'' has its moments,especially on the sidelong track,it has a great historical importance,but no more than that.Recommended warmly to fans of Progressive Rock,who don't mind some Jazz and Blues references thrown in.

Dezo was an influencial musician back in the early days of Czech Rock music. This is his first solo album released in 1973 and he has the FLAMENGO rhythm section playing on it which is a big plus. Vocals are in English surprisingly and are okay. For me they aren't good or bad although I know if this was an all instrumental album i'd like it better.

"Christmas Time" is the side long opening track. It's fairly laid back early on with chunky bass. Vocals a minute in. It picks up before 2 1/2 minutes but it's brief as the tempo continues to shift throughout. Vocals to the fore around 9 minutes in but again they're brief. Organ after 10 1/2 minutes then it settles back. It picks back up with guitar then the vocals take over and they are hit and miss for me.

"Looking For The Place To Spend Next Summer" opens with the sound of cars whizzing by as acoustic guitar and piano take over. Vocals then lead as the organ joins in, then it settles again. "Apple Tree In Winter" opens with piano and vocals. This sounds like MUSE doing a ballad. "I Have Found" is another vocal track. Drums lead after 4 minutes when the vocals stop but they are back late.

This didn't do a lot for me but it is proggy and an important part of the Czech music scene.