RZEKA DAM

APPLE BELLS is such a lame name for a band but maybe in Poland it means something other than what someone might be selling at a craft show. The music here is anything but lame though. KING CRIMSON is who came to mind the most by far. I was reminded as well of fellow Poles LIZARD. The vocals are in Polish and it clocks in at a tidy 43 minutes.

"Swit" is the spacey and dreamy intro for "Lan". Soft vocals come in with bass, drums and sparse guitar sounds. This is relaxing until a raw guitar solo comes in before 3 1/2 minutes. The vocals are back a minute after that in a heavier soundscape. Back to that relaxed sound with vocals before 6 minutes. It's heavier again late. "Wik Link" has percussion sounds and atmosphere to open then frogs and rain can be heard after 2 minutes, thunder too. It blends into "Bosa W Deszczu" where a beat with strummed guitar comes in. Violin and reserved vocals too. "Damy Rade Dojsc W Tym Stanie ?" is a short piece where the guys are talking and laughing and it's contageous. It's hard not to laugh along even though I have no idea what they are saying.

"Taki Jest Swiat" is nice and heavy with vocals. The sax rips it up a minute in. The vocals are back with the heavines as the organ floats in the background. They do a vocal tribute to KING CRIMSON copying Wetton's part off of "Red". Cool. "Sen" has birds chirping with atmosphere as bass and a beat help out. Reserved vocals join in then it picks up before 2 1/2 minutes. Sax before 4 minutes. Great sound reminding me of the "Islands" album by KC. A calm ends it as it blends into "Pamietnik". Reserved vocals join in as we get a Rap section (they are Eminem fans) then it turns dark and eerie before the vocals return. Themes are repeated. "Rzeka Dam" sounds amazing. Love the atmosphere. Some KC-like heaviness after 1 1/2 minutes as the vocals join in. Killer guitar in the Fripp mode as well. "Kamienie Solne" is a vocal track with sax. Love this stuff. It's heavier late as it blends into "Demon". Vocals join in as the sound of drinks being poured can be heard.

A very solid 4 stars for this one. I really enjoyed this record.