OMEGA 7 - IDőRABLÓ

The first Omega LP released with identical instrumental tracks but released in two versions one with Hungarian vocals, the other in English. This album arrived when the band was at the pinacle of their career in the mid 1970's ( the English edition was released in 1976) in both the east and west. The album was recorded in Germany and released both on the Bellaphon label in Germany and Decca label in England. This record marked a definite change in the band's musical direction and offered a new kind of spacey, floating approach on the opening title track Idorablo. Keyboardist Laszlo Benko tamed his playing somewhat and shows more control which complements Gyorgy Molnar's guitar in this first piece which is divided into three sections. Once again I refer the listener to the official Omega web-site for literal translations of the Hungarian lyrics as they have as some of the songs have a slightly different meaning to the English edition of the record. There are also shorter more upbeat songs here which were almost a prerequisite on all Omega albums in the 1970's. Ejfeli Koncert (Late Night Show) is one of this reviewers favourite Omega tracks. It features a dramatic ending with searing vocal harmonies and a neat acoustic/electric guitar fill which introduces the grand finale. In either it's English or Hungarian presentation, a good bet for the prog fan who is into Eloy, Genesis, The Strawbs or Marillion. (A bit of trivia for you. The German hard rock band The Scorpions used to be the opening act for Omega in the 1970's!).

The seventh Hungarian release marks the attempt of OMEGA to shift their sound into more space-rock defined style. However, the attempt appears to be only partially successful.

The opening tri-partite title track (Time Robber) only suggests the expansion of their sound, with repetitive guitar chords and synth background, but never really gets anywhere. Add to this Kobor's vocals spoiled with ugly echo effects and you get dissappointed right away. At best it can be described as close to better moments of JANE, URIAH HEEP or Yugoslavian contemporaries DRUGI NACIN.

The following two tracks are even worse, pretty mediocre and dull hard rock, that sound very much like fillers of album space.

What saves Idorablo and actually pushes it into the class of good, decent prog albums, are the next two tracks. They contain valuable elements of space-rock a la FLOYD or ELOY (Nelkuled) and of symphonic rock sound (Ejfeli koncert) that can justify its purchase by prog community.

This by no means should be understood as a praise of the album as a whole. Just, it means it is worthy of a spin or two, especially the phenomenal ballad Nelkuled!

PERSONAL RATING: 3/5

P.A. RATING: 3/5

i really dig eastern European prog from the 1970's and 80's. It holds something very unique and that is saying something, being that the societies the bands lived in certainly wasn't all to comfortable allowing western influnces in music or culture. Depraved and what not. I think that Poland and the former Czech republic is the two countries responsible for the best efforts in eastern Europe and even internationally some of the bands held a very high standard of music. Certainly there are other great bands aswell, coming from other parts, but maybe not to the same degree. Omega is from Hungary and I have been trying to break into their musical realm many times but I can't seem to breach their walls. That makes me sad, actually.

Idörablo is from 1977 and sports a great cover in blue-ish tone, which for some reason makes me think of L'isola di niente by PFM. The music is nothing like it though. Omega sounds in places like Eloy but mostly they have a very orginal approach and identity. You can't, whatever your feelings, accuse them of not sounding like themselves. The problem is rather that it is not that good. The first three tracks (one on my disc) has some moments of greatness with soaring keyboards and spacey motives. For the most part this can not be said of the track as a whole. It is rather lacklustre and I find it even to be sort of substandard.

The only track I really enjoy and keep listening to is Nélküled. That track is fantastic. Spacey, emotive and warm. I really dig that one. Apart from that the remaining tracks fall short. They fail in capturing me.

However, though the music flies over my head for the most part I must give them credit for creating something of their own. It is all very well played and performed but just like the fancy chocolate box bought on the cheap turns out to contain something else than high quality fillings, you feel sort of cheated on the whole thing. (Does that make sense?)

I will reward this album with three stars based on Nélküled, the effort and the fact that there is something here I don't understand.