PROVISORIUM

Christmas time 5 Ursiny´s first suite, a moody piece, where he is backed (as on the whole record), by the flawless bass/drums tandem of the Czech group Flamengo. A dark number, the track begins with a Hammond organ, although overall, Ursiny´s guitar is the dominating. His voice is very melodramtic,with a jazzy flavour. fiting for the overal mood of the track. One of the best moments is the first appearance of the dark riff (right after the lines because of understanding nothing, he cried). The rhytm section is great as well, with pulsating bass lines and fine, minimalistic drumming. Ursiny´s first guitar solo is very well constructed, beginning with an acoustic guitar and following with electric. Jaroslav Filip gets a fine solo as well, using both the piano as wellas Hammond organ. One of the other most beatuful themes is the jazziest one, that appears for the first time around the fiftth minute and it gets played throughout the song by various instruments taking lead (guitar, oboe...). Looking for the place to spend next summer 3 The track sounds very close (both in melody and atmosphere) to the slower parts of Christmas time. Ursiny´s singing is very jazzy, and he pulls a great subtle jazziesque guitar solo as well, but overall the melody is rather weak and the song does not sound all that inspired, but rather monotonous in places, with a rather patchy chorus, especially when compared to Christmas time. Apple tree in winter 5 A perfect ballad, based on the piano playing of Filip and Ursiny´s singing. His performance is very captivating, especially the contrast between the soft, chansonesque verses and the dramatic chorus, augmented by the presence of brass. I have found 2.5 A jazzy track, beeing mostly the showcase for the tightness of the band and the drumming of Jaroslav Šedivý, who even gets a good, but non -efective drum solo, ass it does not add nothing to the mood of the track. The chorus is quieter and slower than the rest of the track, and overall the weakest passage, with a weak melody and sappy backing vocals.

Overal: 4 STARS

EXCELLENT ADDITION TO ANY PROG MUSIC COLLECTION.

A fine record, but the Slovak albums are much more unique in sound and approach, as this one sounds very much like prog by an English band, with similarities to early King Crimson.