MEMENTO Z BANALNYM TRYPTYKIEM

• Blysk Nowy Horyzont, 1975
• Born To Die Karlstad Live, 2001
• Skala The Rock, 2007
• Deszcz Kroplisty, Deszcz Ulewny (incl. drums solo) Roskilde 1978, 2008

Banal in name but not by nature....!

I have had something of a sheltered life regarding Jazz/Fusion, I am not an expert but know a bloody good album when I hear it - they say if you look hard enough you never know what may bite you - an obscure (to me) Polish Jazz Rock/Fusion band with an abbreviated name, an unpronounceable album title but with some very enthusiastic reviews, I had heard and been impressed by some other notable Polish bands and classical composers, so I looked for this particular album and lo and behold found a vinyl copy in Poland so duly thought despite the tacky "home made" appearance of the black and white photo on the cover and obscure record label I'd give it a whirl, and wow! what a fabulous album it has revealed itself to be - it has hardly been off my turntable since I received it, and here's why....

The first side is like a mini symphony, awash with synthesised orchestra, Dave Gilmour style guitar solos and electrifying keyboard passages, every second is a joy to listen to packed with so many ideas, hooks, twists and flourishes, the musicianship is excellent, the sound quality is rich and clear. The first sound before "My Land of Dreams" tricks you into thinking you may have bought a classical music LP by mistake - indeed a trick! The song kicks into a fast Jazz/Rock instrumental as sophisticated as any top class Jazz Rock you are ever likely to hear - it has a gloriously catchy theme, the song slows into the vocal section sung in Polish with another catchy hook line in the backing, then leads into a Genesis style build up, then another twist - a Funk style groove leading into another devilishly catchy hook line arrangement using lead guitar and piano, rousing to and a very fast guitar solo with orchestrated backing. The next song is the haunting "The Triangle of Joy", a slow magical instrumental which begins with a watery sounding effect on polymoog I would guess, backing a beautiful acoustic Spanish - style solo, then continues with a wash of synthesised keyboard overlaid with a complicated slightly distorted electric guitar solo, leading to the bluesy ending to the track. The third track "The Strategy of Pulse", is another tricky, catchy slab of Jazz/Funk overlaid with heavy distorted lead guitar - this style of this track is very reminiscent of early seventies Rock/Fusion bands such as Herbie Hancock and would stand up in comparison of quality very well indeed, it is that good!

Side 2 is taken up with the sprawling "Memento with a banal tryptych" - which is how it comes out in translation, but there is nothing banal about this music at all. This amazing piece begins with a grand introduction to a catchy melody, some very memorable hook lines. It includes some Polish language vocals which many may not understand but the language of this beautiful music will be understood by all. The music follows many interesting twists, moods and changes but follows through very smoothly to my ears - some American style folk and Slavonic influences here mixed in with some great Art rock themes, grand Floydian crescendos and melodies makes for a very engaging listen indeed....ooops....another trick ending...naughty boys!

I would recommend this brilliant album to all fans of Jazz/Rock as an excellent addition, which draws from some big name influences but the quality of the music stands up well alongside them, so a well earned 4.5 stars!

Send comments to mystic fred (BETA) | Report this review (#137335) | Review Permalink
Posted Sunday, September 09, 2007

Well SBB, not an album that is kick in the face i might say, to me. This is not of those albums that i urge to listen, but is not bad. I'm not agree with adamB who said that this album must be placed along with Sellind England by the pound, Close to the edge or Dark side of the moon, really, is not that exceptional like is praised here. Now the best track here to me is the shortest one Strategia pulsu, the others are not bad but less enjoyble. So my rate is 3 stars, if you want some eastern Europe jazz this is the answear, it may be for you a masterpiece but for me is only good, but non-essential. I have hundreds of bands who sounds more intresting to me then this one, but after all the diffrents of opinions between reviewers made this music to go on forever. Just what i think. And do not forget, this is not only jazz, their is in a little portion some symphonic moments.

Send comments to b_olariu (BETA) | Report this review (#138452) | Review Permalink
Posted Saturday, September 15, 2007

This is one of SBB's highest rated albums and i can certainly understand why.There's a bit of a symphonic flavour to this one with some nice guitar solos thrown in.It's an enjoyable listen but there's something about it that is for lack of a better word "bland".It's not nearly as good or as dynamic as some of their earlier albums in my opinion.It's pleasant.The musicianship is of the highest level as usual it just seems that they don't try to be adventerous,it's all about being comfortable. I'm going to use the English titles to save time and space(haha). "My Land Of Dreams" opens with some brief classical music before the drums come in like a stampede.They settle as the main melody arrives before a minute.Some excellent guitar here and then it settles right down before 3 minutes as vocals come in.It kicks back in around 5 1/2 minutes with some nice bass.Great sound 7 minutes in. "The Triangle Of Joy" is laid back with some Spanish sounding guitar.it stops after 4 1/2 minutes as synths start to dominate and electric guitar comes in. "Strategy Of Pulse" has this good heavy sound and a Fusion flavour to it. "Memento With A Banal Tryptych" is the 21 minute closing track.Guitar eventually takes the lead then it settles after 2 minutes with vocals.A change after 7 minutes as vocal melodies and clapping take over.A symphonic flavour 13 minutes in.It settles again with vocals 14 1/2 minutes in,the vocals get passionate at times.It kicks back in before 17 1/2 minutes.The guitar is outstanding! Great finish then it ends with a brief classical interlude like at the start of the album. An enjoyable listen that the majority seem to be really taken with.

Send comments to sinkadotentree (BETA) | Report this review (#214349) | Review Permalink
Posted Friday, May 08, 2009

SBB is an excellent Polish band that makes engaging mostly instrumental music- it's not particularly strange, there aren't any weird synthy effects and there aren't any extremely complex guitar or keyboard solos that exist to show you how good the players are, and there aren't any overly concept- ... (read more)

Report this review (#262030) | Posted by Neurotarkus | Friday, January 22, 2010 | Review Permanlink

This 1980's SBB concept album is probably their finest work. I met Józef Skrzek in 1997 in radio station where I was working. He just released his solo album Pokój Saren. I asked him about SBB but he was so excited about his new solo release I began to doubt SBB would do a come back album. BTW S ... (read more)

Report this review (#214164) | Posted by LSDisease | Thursday, May 07, 2009 | Review Permanlink

A true masterpiece of symphonic progressive music! Everything SBB have produced has been worth listening to, but this is a breath taking piece of work from begininning to end! Sweeping grandiose compositions and also delicate moments of acoustic intimacy....a hard album not to wax lyrical about ... (read more)

Report this review (#159201) | Posted by barp | Saturday, January 19, 2008 | Review Permanlink

It did not impact me as much as "Wolanie O Brzek Skla" (Slovenian Girls) or SBB 3. I still have a difficult time to listen to the entire album as one piece, even though SBB has been one of my dearest bands ever. But even as much as I love them, I think their creative peak was reached with the tw ... (read more)

Report this review (#134328) | Posted by andympick | Wednesday, August 22, 2007 | Review Permanlink

Well... What can I say? The best Polish prog album ever! And, there is no doubt, one of the best of all prog albums. This one should stand togheter with "Close To The Edge", "Selling England By The Pound", "In The Court Of The ..", "Thick As A Brick", "Dark Side of the moon" and others. There ... (read more)

Report this review (#126998) | Posted by adamB | Thursday, June 28, 2007 | Review Permanlink

"Memento" is one of the best music ever recorded. I can't find similar and so good record. If you like climate of early Mahavishnu Orchestra, sound of "Making Movies" and beautiful (but not trivial sometimes called progressive) melodies, here you have everything. SBB leader Józef Skrzek says t ... (read more)

Report this review (#126448) | Posted by MSKrzys | Thursday, June 21, 2007 | Review Permanlink

This one is definitely the best from SBB. Incredible jazz-rock with slavonic soul. Memento z banalnym tryptykiem contain 4 compositions. Nnew edition posess also alternate version of "Z Których krwi krew moja" recorded in 1980 with the same line-up as "Memento z banalnym tryptykiem". What i ... (read more)

Report this review (#125146) | Posted by signify | Friday, June 08, 2007 | Review Permanlink

I have just recently rediscovered SBB, and WOW!!! is the only thing that describes the feeling of exubulation as I listen to their music. But, although all the music is great, Memento Z Banalnym Tryptykiem is one of the great prog/classical rock/jazz rock albums of all time. Escpeically the ... (read more)

Report this review (#113251) | Posted by tmay102436 | Friday, February 23, 2007 | Review Permanlink

Last before SBB break-up, this is definitive SBB album, and some says it may be definitive even for whole prog-rock. Talking about style, it may be compared with UK/Danger Money, but in my. opinion this one is much more fascinating and original. This album has incredible diverse sound, broading ... (read more)

Report this review (#37996) | Posted by | Wednesday, June 29, 2005 | Review Permanlink

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