KUřE V HODINKÁCH

This one-hit prog outfit from the Tech Republic during the age of communism has been enjoyable since the first spin. The 2012 remastered vinyl reprint sounds thick and exciting, actually not much different from King Crimson's '21th Century Shizoid Man' with its heavy psych guitars, pumping bass and brass sections (both some flute leads and heavy VdGG rhythm saxes). Other references that come to mind are Alquin, Soft Machine, Tasavallan Presidentti, Colosseum and perhaps Focus (the flute playing reminds of Thijs van Leer). The vocals are in the Tjech language, which when sung doesn't sound that different from those heavy prog Italians records of the seventies. The lead vocals are intense and work really well on the heavier moments but leave something to be desired on the more subtle moments. Flamengo has a heavy prog fusion style, but this is type of band that finds the right hooks on every tracks. For instance, the main melody of 'Chv'le Chvil' (the choir part) is really something that would make you want to listen to this record again. I also love the fact that this album really rocks with is heavy twin guitars, it surely is as much 'heavy prog' as Captain Beyond is. Flamengo's sole album from 1972 is a great Eastern European record from behind the Iron Curtain and this band deserves to be named alongside groups as SBB, Fermata, Leb I Sol and Modry Effect.