ODE TO VENUS

Czesław Niemen was one of the most important rock musicians in Poland. He had a huge influence on other artists even from younger generations. He was famous for his great voice and original approach to music.

I have to admit that for years, when I was at school, I associated this musician only with nice, easy listening, short songs which you can still hear on the Polish radio. I was really surprised when I got his ambitious album 'Enigmatic'. It was a beginning of my journey through his discography. I had already known some of SBB albums (legendary prog-rock Polish trio) and I thought that it would be great if Niemen could make an album with the musicians from SBB. And then one day my friend gave me 'Ode to Venus' album, indeed recorded by these musicians together in 1973! I was stunned! To me it soon became one of the best albums of the seventies released in this part of Europe. Unfortunately, 'Ode to Venus' remained unknown even in Poland. The Iron Curtain effectively made promotion and export of central and eastern European works almost impossible. I believe that if this album had been recorded in the UK, it would have been as well-known as the albums of the best prog-rock groups.

I highly recommend 'Ode to Venus' as well as other marvellous albums by Niemen: 'Enigmatic' and 'Strange is this world'.

4 and a half star.