PIESEň Z HÔľ

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Second album from this Slovak combo that experienced their first line-up changed with Zelenak taking over the drum stool and an added violinist named Milan Tedla but as a guest musician only. These changes would not affect the group's sound much, even if Berka's presence is better felt and sounding a tad more symphonic, but still remaining franticly jazz-rock/fusion.

The opening title track, Song From Bridges, is giving right off the starting block the colours that will dominate the album, especially the McLaughlin-like lightning-fast guitar playing from Griglak, but Berka's synth sometimes sounds like a moog. In this album, you can start telling who is the songwriter, especially on the closing track, where Berka's keyboards are all over (a bit unfortunately) the 10- min epic that had started so well. Sadly, this last track lowers, IMHO, the general level of the album, but it still remains extremely excellent, but I prefer their debut.

Although the 2-album-on-1 Cd doesn't hold the fifth track (Perpetuum III) of their debut album, you can safely jump on that release as this first album is at least as good as their sophomore effort, this particular release even getting an extra half star, making it 5 in all.

For their second album the band has added some violin, not a lot though. Also the synths take a more prominant role. In fact I agree with Sean Trane that the 10 minute final track brings this recording down a level because of the dominant synths.The rest is so good though that this deserves 4.5 stars.

"Piesen Z Hoi" is the 11 minute opener and it's a beauty. It opens with bass as drums and guitar join in. Incredible sound ! The guitar is just screaming. Keyboards 2 minutes in and the drumming is so good. It settles after 5 1/2 minutes then the bass and drumming are back. Violin is brief.The guitar is on fire 8 minutes in and the bass and drums are relentless. "Svadba Na Medvedej Luke" has this killer drum intro before it settles with keys around a minute. The drums continue. Great sound ! "Posledny Jarmok V Radvani" opens with some huge bass lines with drums, keys and guitar.The guitar comes to the fore after a minute. Keyboards then lead before the guitar returns.

"Priadky" starts quietly with keys and other sounds. It kicks in after 1 1/2 minutes. A fantastic sound follows. The drums and bass sound so good. Electric piano too. Guitar 4 minutes in makes some noise. A calm 5 1/2 minutes in then the bass and drums return 6 minutes in. Keys too. This is incredible ! "Dolu Vahom" is a short tune with keyboards, bass and drums. I like it. "Vo Zvolene Zvony Zvonia" opens with liquid piano melodies as bass, cymbals and bells create some atmosphere. It's building after a minute. Violin follows. Synths lead after 5 minutes then the violin returns a minute later. Synths are back to the end. Too many synths on this one is my lone complaint.

Jazz / Fusion fans really need to check this band out.

As with the previous album, Fermata's Piesen Z Hol presents a strongly Mahavishnu Orchestra-influenced brand of fusion based around the furious guitar work of Frantisek Griglák. With both Griglák and Tomás Berka contributing keyboard work to the mix, the album shows a somewhat greater synthesiser presence than the debut - or, for that matter, the original Mahavishnu Orchestra's albums, making Piesen's sound rather more unique. If you want to imagine what the Orchestra might have sounded like if the original lineup had stayed together and Jan Hammer had gotten some top-flight synthesisers, you should definitely consider giving this album a try.