SLUNEčNÍ HODINY

SYNKOPY is another excellent band from the Czech Republic. This album was released in 1981 and while this is a five piece band at times it feels like there are many more musicians involved. There are a lot of instruments in play as two of the members play clavinet besides their usual instruments plus we get violin, cello and a variety of keyboards as there are two keyboardists. All of this besides the usual guitar and drums.The vocals are pretty good and quite passionate at times.

"Introdukce" features synths and keyboards with lots of atmosphere. Just a great way to start the album. "Hul V Slunecnich Hodinach" opens with drums and keyboards standing out as guitar then vocals join in. This is catchy and uptempo.The guitar leads before 4 minutes then we get a calm with vocals 5 minutes in before it kicks back in. "Jsi Nadherna Praveka" opens with atmosphere galore then it kicks in suddenly at 1 1/2 minutes. Lots of intricate sounds here including clavinet. Vocals 3 minutes in. Check out the instrumental section after 5 1/2 minutes.Vocals are back 7 1/2 minutes in. "Intermezzo" is a short piece with spacey sounds that wash in and out.

"Cerny Racek" is my favourite. Strummed guitar and synths to start as vocals join in. Drums 1 1/2 minutes in come to the fore. Some passionate vocals here at times. Just a great sounding tune. "Klavesove Extempore" opens with atmosphere as cello and violin join in. It starts to pick up. Here we go ! It settles back around 2 1/2 minutes with keyboards then builds. Nice. "Vodopad" has such a good sound to it,very intense.The tempo picks up after a minute and vocals join in. Excellent tune. "Toulka Je Obla" opens with lots of keyboards then vocals come in before 1 1/2 minutes.This is really good. Vocal melodies 3 minutes in then the vocals return as it settles. It's building again before 4 1/2 minutes as the drums pound. It settles back with vocals. We get a reprise of a vocal section from the second track to end the song. Cool.

Well worth 4 stars, these guys impress instrumentally no doubt about that.