PEčET

Iván already did hell of a job in his review (positive meaning). Indeed, really indeed. Even that conditions were getting a little bit better in 80s, this oppressive government felt that it's losing power, so certain albums took few years to get through censorship (and be released) and you couldn't even think about writing music about a lot of topics that were considered as "harmful" to communistic (socialistic) feeling.

Therefore, this album continues dark mood of previous album. Hemingway is about depression (I suppose, I understand lyrics, it's my native language, but I'm not exactly the best person to determine the meaning of poems. And what else than poems are such beautiful lyrics. Sadly, only small percentage of people will be able to enjoy them. Nevermind, we still have music. It's a long piece and I would almost say that it's epic consisting of few different parts that flows easily and fits without moment of hesitation into each other. Beautiful backing vocals here (but rare, very rare).

This album is again melancholic. I would call it Czechoslovakia depression - we were under occupation by Soviet armies and even conditions weren't like when we were occupied by Nazi regime in 1939-1945, we already were under socialistic principles for about 35 years in 1983. People lost their optimism long time ago and so they lost their hope that far left wing is the right way. I think it's important to understand that this was land of weird things, mysterious disappearing during nights, sudden arrests (because this singer sang about freedom, because this guitarist play in this band where singer sings about freedom) and the worst of it all - people knew it very well. But what could they do. I wonder if common Western guy/girl is able to understand it, but we are Progsters, we should be able.

This is why Pečeť (The Seal) sounds like it sounds, this is why themes here are dark ones. There was dark atmosphere, most of musicians here grew in these conditions (be it Nazi/ Soviet reign), so this was their life. Threfore, the best they could do was to explore them as best as possible. Fortunately, there is essence of beautifulness again.

Čas (Time) is some kind of homage to Ota Petřina's main body of work, pop songs. They were the most common form of music in this country. Not because it was the easiest to make, or that people wanted them, but because nobody would object. Rock was often banned (because it has been seen as capitalistic decadence, oh my dear), because it has been seen as some kind of rebbelion. This song isn't bad, is quite strong (I see, this is what Iván meant by "Power", hehe). There are Prog elements added (but not that many).

Odchod (Departure) suddenly changes entire mood (and tone) of this album. Dark, very dark work that deals with topic of leaving something that you called your home, but unfortunately, you can't stay there anymore. Should be interesting, it provides variety and isn't bad at all. It's short, but when you are leaving someone, it should be short. Some kind of metaphore.

Phalaenopsis shows Petřina's guitar work. He's quite good guitarist, even by my opinion not so well known (this is because he was mostly in shadows instead of going in the front). I welcome this kind of variety.

Kopřiva (Nettle) is about this plant and a girl that uses shampoo from them. I suppose it's metaphore about love.

Obálka (Envelope, it's actually connected with album's name, because envelope is sealed by seal), strong, but subtle song about solving life troubles. It's a long song and actually story of how to continue living, being happy, solving problems, about cowardness. Symphonic arrangments are absolutely stunning (when they are here). Flute joins and even it's nothing wild as Ian Anderson (it wouldn't fit here), it's perfectly fitting into mood this album so carefully created over the course of these almost 40 minutes, rather subtle and gentle than something wild and unleashed.

So powerful in a way that it strikes the very depths of my soul, less dark and even I at first thought I will give this only 4 stars, I somehow am not able to do such a thing.

And Syn (Son) is somewhat of a philosophical ending about topic of guilt. As usual, done in so beautiful way that even I'm Czech, I sometimes forgot that these lyrics are actually sad. Or aren't they ? Lyrics are always tough and I can be wrong.

5(-), for me, these two albums are even.

NOTE: Iván, let's make it public too. Your understanding of my country is remarkable, this for sure has something to do with you living in similar conditions, right ?