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SYNKOPY

Eclectic Prog • Czech Republic


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Synkopy biography
SYNKOPY (or SYNKOPY 61), translated as Syncopations, were born in 1960 in Brno, Moravia. The first line-up consisted of Jiri Rybar (drums, vocals), Pavel Pokorny (violin, vocals), Petr Smeja (guitar, vocals), Milos Orsag (accordion) and Petr Fischer (clarinet), a while later joined by Jiri Rybar on double bass and vocals. This early acoustic incarnation was geared towards dance halls, but in 1963 Smeja and Carvas started playing electric instruments and the sound become more rocking. Their name changed every year, ie. Synkopy 63, 64... until they finally settled on SYNKOPY 61.
The band took advantage of the fact that every member was a singer, and developed into a west-coast style outfit, similar to the Beach Boys, who they would open for in 1969. In 1966 a lead vocalist Michal Polak of Shakers joined them, and with his high falsetto voice brought them even closer to the west-coast aesthetic. Also around that same time they started collaborating with a talented keyboardist, singer and composer, Oldrich Vesely, though he didn't become a full-fledged member until 1974. The late 60s were especially fruitful for the band, as in general those few years are considered to be the creative genesis and the zenith of Czechoslovak big beat. In 1968 they released their first singles on Panton, of which "Valka je vul" (War is a bull) was the most memorable, and is now considered one of the classic songs of that era. They also had success as a live act, winning many prizes at beat festivals.
Come the early 70's, the era of lush harmony vocals is over and we enter an era of deep normalization. Synkopy 61 was now entering its second distinct phase, during which they looked up to Uriah Heep, of all bands, for inspiration, recording czech-language versions of some of their songs, ie. "Park" (The Park), "Bily Vrany" (Easy Livin'), and "Hrej se mnou fair" (Look at Yourself), and numerous original compositions. They released three mini albums during this time, Festival (1972), Xantipa (1973) and Formule 1 (1975), each more progressive than the last, culminating with the 13 minute epic "Touhy" (Desires). In 1975, Oldrich Vesely, the main composer, left to join MODRY EFEKT, and the band spent the late 70s in dance halls doing covers.
Vesely returned in 1980 and after his experience with MODRY EFEKT he decided to turn the band (now simply Synkopy) into a bona-fide progressive rock group, and thus begins the third phase. Most of the veterans (ie., Polak, Carvas, Smeji) tha...
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SYNKOPY discography


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SYNKOPY top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.21 | 60 ratings
Sluneční Hodiny
1981
3.71 | 34 ratings
Křídlení
1983
2.14 | 9 ratings
Zrcadla
1987

SYNKOPY Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

SYNKOPY Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

SYNKOPY Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.77 | 3 ratings
Válka je vul (The Best of)
1995
3.90 | 2 ratings
Válka je vul (The Best of) - vol. 2
1996
4.86 | 2 ratings
Válka je vul (The Best of) - vol. 3
1996
3.91 | 4 ratings
Festival - Xantipa - Formule 1
2008

SYNKOPY Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

3.05 | 2 ratings
Suita pro J.S.Bacha
1968
3.86 | 6 ratings
Festival
1972
3.51 | 9 ratings
Xantipa
1974
3.91 | 8 ratings
Formule 1
1975

SYNKOPY Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Křídlení by SYNKOPY album cover Studio Album, 1983
3.71 | 34 ratings

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Křídlení
Synkopy Eclectic Prog

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

3 stars 3.5 stars really

Synkopy was one of the finest prog bands from Czech Republic (back then Czechoslovakia) from late '70s early 80s. They were is same league with great Modry Efekt (aka The Blue Effect) combining intresting keybords parts with inventive guitar passages. The second album they released in 1983 named Křídlení is a winner for sure, but in same time is not a masterpiece or close, at least for me. The album is sung in czech, that means I don't get a dime for what they sing, but the language is fiting very well in the music, giving that special East Europe type of prog very much loved by all of us from these parts. The music is a type of heavy prog combined with symphonic passages, something between Exodus from Poland who were contemporary with them and aswell from their country fellows Modry Efekt. All in all more then pleasent release, who came to late in prog scene, who was by this time in shadow and almost forgotten with some exceptions of course. Pieces like opening Křídlení (Prolog) , Mudrinna Soustava or Souznen are real excellent. So, a good towards great release from one of the finest prog bands from East Europe.

 Xantipa by SYNKOPY album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 1974
3.51 | 9 ratings

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Xantipa
Synkopy Eclectic Prog

Review by apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars One of the earlier, if not the earliest, rock bands from Czech Republic, formed as Synkopy 61 in 1960 in Brno by Petr Smeja (guitars), Jiri Rybar (drums), Pavel Pokorny (violin, guitar, vocals), Petr Fischer (clarinet), Milos Orsag (accordion), joined a year later by Jan Canvas (bass) and Pavel Smilek (keyboards).However it wasn't until 1969 and after some line-up changes when the band appeared in discography with several singles to follow.A short LP was recorded in 1974 for the Panton label under the title ''Xantipa''.

By the time Smeja, Rybar, Pokorny and Canvas were joined by Michal Polak on acoustic guitars and tambourine with some guest musician on wind instruments.As Synkopy 61 had already incorporated a Western style of rock music since late-60's their sound was heavily based on organs and strong guitars along with some West-Coast alike vocal lines and their style was very unoriginal with heavy DEEP PURPLE and URIAH HEEP leanings.They even covered the ''Easy livin'' track of the later with Czech lyrics, while the original material had strong elements from both these bands.Groovy organ parts and some jamming sections, melodic singing, a powerful rhythm section and hard guitar riffs.Some tracks offer also orchestral string arrangements, flute drives and brass sections, rather dated for today's standards but nevertheless nicely arranged.

''Xantipa'' remains a collectable LP in its original form, fortunately a CD reissue along with two more Synkopy albums appeared recently from FT Records, making this album recommended, especially if you are a fan of organ-driven Heavy Rock of the 70's.

 Formule 1 by SYNKOPY album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 1975
3.91 | 8 ratings

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Formule 1
Synkopy Eclectic Prog

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Another excellent EP from SYNKOPY. This one is similar to the previous EP "Xantipa" released a year earlier but maybe not quite as heavy. Still it's organ dominated with the vocals again in their native Czech language.

"Formule 1" has some nice bass as the vocals and organ join in. Guitar after 1 1/2 minutes. Cars can be heard whipping by later. "To Se Stava" opens with strummed guitar as organ, percussion and vocals come in. A nice relaxed sound here. The organ is great after 2 minutes on this my favourite track of the bunch. "Poselstva Detem" features organ and drums early before strings, vocals and piano take over. The organ is back 1 1/2 minutes in. "Kamen Mudrcu" opens with piano and a beat as the vocals join in. Catchy stuff. The organ rips it up late. "Touhy" is the over 13 minute closer. It opens with the sounds of wind and dogs barking before drums, guitar and keyboards take over around a minute. Vocal melodies then vocals follow. It settles 4 1/2 minutes in but the tempo continues to change.

Well I must admit that all three EPs I have from SYNKOPY do have a commercial flavour to them, but they are all just so darn good. Buyer beware though. As for me i'll treasure these as much as I do the two full length albums I have by them.

 Xantipa by SYNKOPY album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 1974
3.51 | 9 ratings

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Xantipa
Synkopy Eclectic Prog

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars It's almost shocking the change in styles between this EP from 1974 and the EP from 2 years earlier. They've gone from a sixties singles mode to a heavy organ led seventies sound. The vocals are more intense as well but still in that Czech language.

"Xantipa" opens with organ as a heavy sound kicks in. Vocals are powerful and we get a guitar solo before 2 minutes. The organ dominates though throughout. "Zeleny Lucisnik" opens with organ as well as it builds. I really like this one, especially the guitar. Vocals join in and some harmonies later. Great tune and a top three. "Brouk" opens with strummed guitar as vocals join in. A catchy but straightforward song. "Easy Livin" is of course a cover of the URIAH HEEP track and they do a good job. "Balon" is such a great track with the huge bass lines, organ, flute and guitar. A top three. "Ptaci Sonata" is the other top three for me. Organ, drums and strings to start then it settles beautifully reminding me of RPI for some reason as the vocals come in. It does pick up at times. "Look At Yourself" is the closer and the other URIAH HEEP cover. Again a good job by the boys and the organ runs are killer.

Like the previous EP I just get way too much joy out of this not to give up four stars.

 Festival by SYNKOPY album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 1972
3.86 | 6 ratings

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Festival
Synkopy Eclectic Prog

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars I'm not sure how many Prog fans would actually like this EP. SYNKOPY released this back in 1972 and there is a real sixties Pop flavour to the music throughout. Vocals are in their Czech language. I love this stuff.

"Festival" opens with strummed guitar as electric guitar leads jump in then vocals. This is a top three for me. Just so catchy and I like the depth of the music. "Par Tydnu" is another catchy 60's sounding vocal led tune. Harmonies help out and we get a raw guitar solo after 1 1/2 minutes. Another top three. This music just makes me feel sooo good. "Chci Devce Staly" opens with harmonica and a beat. Vocals and guitar follow. Good song. "Dablova Znama" is led by guitar and multi-vocals. Very BEATLES-like. I'm not a big fan of the way "Lady Godiva" starts but man when it kicks in i'm singing along with the chorus and vocal melodies. So uplifting and the final top three for me. "Bytost Podvina" is killer stuff with the abrasive guitar almost in the Neil Young style. Vocals and harmonies too. Good track. "Zarliva Divka" is another good 60's sounding Pop tune with vocals. This is really good.

You've been warned but man this comes across like a greatest hit album because all the songs are so good.

 Křídlení by SYNKOPY album cover Studio Album, 1983
3.71 | 34 ratings

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Křídlení
Synkopy Eclectic Prog

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars I don't think this is quite as good as the debut but it's well worth 4 stars.The variety of instruments that were used on the debut aren't on display as much here. Once again we get some killer instrumental work with vocals in their own Czech language. The cd version I have has the original album plus the same record done with English vocals. I am reviewing the original one only.

"Kridleni (Prolog)" is a pastoral intro track with keyboards and vocals as it blends into "Kyvadlos (Pendulum)". I should mention that every track blends into the next making this feel like one long suite.This song turns heavier quickly then the tempo picks up. How good is this ! "Homo Sapiens" settles a minute in with piano and atmosphere. Reserved vocals follow. It picks up 2 1/2 minutes in with some great guitar.Vocals are back then it settles back late. "Krupej (Drop)" kicks in right away and vocals follow.The guitar solo a minute in and later before 2 1/2 minutes are steller. "Krat Kolikrat" is mellow with piano as reserved vocals join in. It kicks in after 1 1/2 minutes with guitar out front. Vocals are back. "Spor" has some heavy guitar early with drums and bass. Keyboards come to the fore late.

"Leco" has strings and atmosphere. "Blues O Vycepu" has some good raw guitar to start then the vocals come in.The guitar takes over again 2 minutes in then the vocals return. "Kytarove Extempore" features the guitar lighting it up. "Mudrinna Soustava" is led by piano and vocals after a minute with strummed guitar.This is excellent.The guitar 4 minutes in is the icing on the cake. "Srdce" opens with vocals and organ before it kicks in with drums. Synths and drums lead later on. "Masox" features floating organ to start before the drums and synths take over. Some vocal melodies too. Great sound. "Souzneni" kicks in right away.This is uptempo as the vocals join in. Guitar after a minute. It turns GENESIS- like before 2 minutes. "Kridleni Epilog" has some outstanding drum and keyboard work early on.It's GENESIS-like 2 1/2 minutes in.Vocals before 3 1/2 minutes.

If you can get your hands on this album or the previous one don't even hesitate, these are two very rewarding albums that were once hidden behind the Iron Curtain.

 Sluneční Hodiny by SYNKOPY album cover Studio Album, 1981
4.21 | 60 ratings

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Sluneční Hodiny
Synkopy Eclectic Prog

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars SYNKOPY is another excellent band from the Czech Republic. This album was released in 1981 and while this is a five piece band at times it feels like there are many more musicians involved. There are a lot of instruments in play as two of the members play clavinet besides their usual instruments plus we get violin, cello and a variety of keyboards as there are two keyboardists. All of this besides the usual guitar and drums.The vocals are pretty good and quite passionate at times.

"Introdukce" features synths and keyboards with lots of atmosphere. Just a great way to start the album. "Hul V Slunecnich Hodinach" opens with drums and keyboards standing out as guitar then vocals join in. This is catchy and uptempo.The guitar leads before 4 minutes then we get a calm with vocals 5 minutes in before it kicks back in. "Jsi Nadherna Praveka" opens with atmosphere galore then it kicks in suddenly at 1 1/2 minutes. Lots of intricate sounds here including clavinet. Vocals 3 minutes in. Check out the instrumental section after 5 1/2 minutes.Vocals are back 7 1/2 minutes in. "Intermezzo" is a short piece with spacey sounds that wash in and out.

"Cerny Racek" is my favourite. Strummed guitar and synths to start as vocals join in. Drums 1 1/2 minutes in come to the fore. Some passionate vocals here at times. Just a great sounding tune. "Klavesove Extempore" opens with atmosphere as cello and violin join in. It starts to pick up. Here we go ! It settles back around 2 1/2 minutes with keyboards then builds. Nice. "Vodopad" has such a good sound to it,very intense.The tempo picks up after a minute and vocals join in. Excellent tune. "Toulka Je Obla" opens with lots of keyboards then vocals come in before 1 1/2 minutes.This is really good. Vocal melodies 3 minutes in then the vocals return as it settles. It's building again before 4 1/2 minutes as the drums pound. It settles back with vocals. We get a reprise of a vocal section from the second track to end the song. Cool.

Well worth 4 stars, these guys impress instrumentally no doubt about that.

 Suita pro J.S.Bacha by SYNKOPY album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 1968
3.05 | 2 ratings

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Suita pro J.S.Bacha
Synkopy Eclectic Prog

Review by Marty McFly
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars Indeed, final part of our quadrology. Newcomer indeed, because we all though it to be trilogy. Nevermind, this can stand. Not so strong, but it can. Because it's just 11 minutes long, evaluating of this will be much easier than I though. Basically, this album is not worth having, as it have just four, minor and short songs that you can find elsewhere. Nice thing here is probably cover, but even it is mere nothing that you can find everywhere.

3(-), because it offers nothing that you saw before. From 2-star rating it's saved by simple fact, there's nothing bad except its shortness. Songs are nice, but there almost aren't any.

 Festival by SYNKOPY album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 1972
3.86 | 6 ratings

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Festival
Synkopy Eclectic Prog

Review by Marty McFly
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars Ask me if I like this record and I'll give you firm reply. Yes, but there's one problem. There's magical enchanted circle of about 20 songs that keeps being trapped in this supposedly endless circle. Festival, Xantypa and Formule. These songs are connected also with album Válka je vůl, mostly part 1 (not so much in part 2 and 3 is completely clean).

All these are supposed to be redundant and influencing each other. It's matter for completionist only to have all of them, but what if you're happy and have exactly this one. It may happen of course. Review of these songs you'll find in other Synkopy's pages, but my opinion stands.

4(+) if you don't have compilation.

 Válka je vul (The Best of) by SYNKOPY album cover Boxset/Compilation, 1995
4.77 | 3 ratings

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Válka je vul (The Best of)
Synkopy Eclectic Prog

Review by Marty McFly
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

5 stars Different version of Válka je vůl (free translation like "War sucks") that I'm used to (from different best of version - the only source of some of their songs by the way, which makes them much more important), but also good. Variation, that's what one need with some familiar tunes (same song, different performance, only vocals remains the same).

We're done with first track, so let's move to others. Synkopy possess one big advantage. Even these average ones sounds very great due to interesting guitar playing style and most importantly - vocals. Harmony, synchronized, greatly mastered vocals (even in these proto- times). That pushes the limits and also ratings quite high. I'm glad for it, it really helps to enjoy this music. And collection of tracks here looks like something from first two EP's (they're 24 minutes long, it has to be EP). Get used to one thing, everything is melodic here. I'm glad for it, as it's not some cheap melody, but rather this music on the verge of 60's and 70's.

5(-) - here, again five stars rating, it good enough, full of many, many things (you know what, elements). And words are so pleasant to hear here, rhymes are perfectly fitting.

Thanks to clarke2001 for the artist addition. and to Magor for the last updates

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