OMEGA 8 - CSILLAGOK ÚTJÁN

The second Omega LP to be issued simultanuously in the English (as Skyrover) and Hungarian languages with identical instrumental tracks. It was available in English on the Bellaphon label in Germany as well as the Passport label in North America. The photograph of the band as well as the covers on the Hungarian Pepita and English Bellaphon albums are quite similar however there is a real cool painting which appears on the North American English Passport version IF you can find one.

On to the music. The album as a whole has a very traditional Eastern European sound with the utilization of tradiotional techniques and the archaic Balalaika string instrument by guitarist Gyorgy Molnar. Listen to Lena and The Hope,The Bread and the Wine to get a taste of this. Like all other Omega albums from the 1970's they had always been able to do something essenstially different with each succeeding recording and this one is no exception. But as always there are rockers and romantic ballads on this one. Interesting effects such as a police siren can be heard throughout. Of particular note are the graceful guitar lines on The Lost Prophet and a cool bass riff which introduces the title track Csillagok Utjan.

A suggestion is to visit Omega's official web-site to get literal English translations to the songs before listening. These are perfect translations but only apply to the HUNGARIAN versions. The Hungarian version of this record over the English one is recommended. The beauty and intonation of the Hungarian language adds to the spacey theme. Csillagok Utjan is comparable to their previous offering which resulted in a massive tour , Idorablo (Time Robber). Eloy fans might also find something redeeming in this offering from these legendary Magyar Rockers who overcame tremendous political and linguistic odds by the time of this 1978 release.

Finally, with their eighth Hungarian album OMEGA reached the peak of their space/prog achievements. Forget about the cover image where the band members wear horrible glittering garment in the vein of ABBA or BEE GEES! Just listen to the music.

Production is very good and probably for the first time OMEGA knew how to make a strong album without often poor heavy rock fillers. The opening notes of Nytany with Beethoven's 5th suggests more symphonic influences than on earlier albums. Benko's keyboards are excellent and provide rich sound palette and space/psychedelic sensation, while Molnar shows that he knows how to add tasty and effective guitar solo spices.

The album is rich with ideas and almost every composition is different from another one, but all together they make a fine and coherent work. If there is need to single out better moments, let's point out a beautifully performed Lena with its Russian winter themes and lovely balalaika strings. Legy eros is another fine and melodic prog ballad with wonderful guitar solo resembling David Gilmour influences. In the similar manner continues another FLOYD-esque space ballad Bibor holgy with excellent drums and weeping guitar.

Instead of bad habit of including rather poor heavy rock songs as fillers in almost all previous albums, the title song Csillagok utjan is excellent hard rocker almost close to metal, with irresistable power riff. It reminds me of the later well known hit of Yugoslav/Croatian heavy rock giants ATOMSKO SKLONISTE. Along with classic Tuzvihar from the second album, it is the best heavy rock moment of OMEGA.

Csillagok utjan or Omega 8 is in my opinion the best OMEGA album in every sense and, although it is hard to pronounce it a masterpiece right away, it is well recommended to people who don't mind listening and exploring non-English progresive rock of the 1970s!

PERSONAL RATING: 4,5/5

P.A. RATING: 4/5