SHUTDOWN

As the name does not indicate, this is a Czech group that recorded a few albums around the turn of the 80's into the 90's. Apparently they were quite disparate in their musical styles and varied a lot from one album (their earlier being reputed jazz-rock) to another. However, on this album, which is the most easily found, they remain quite even throughout the album, doing some kind of Gothic rock that can be placed between those progmetal groups like After Forever and an alternative rock with gothic-folk influences like Miranda Sex Garden. Nothing really thrilling and unfortunately the album is plagued by the awful late-80's drum sounds (often programmed) and an electro-pop feel is certainly not helping. Certainly not much jazz-rock in this album, even if Miroslav Vitous guests on the seventh track. Not worth the progheads' investigation, unless enjoying the pop music of the era.

Despite their italian name Stromboli, they were and czech art rock - art pop (on their second album) band from mid to late'80s. Conducted by excellent guitarist Michal Pavlicek, a well known name aswell in jazz rock realm, he was part of Bohemia in late '70s, a top band from this country and from eastern Europe. Well, Stromboli on their second release from 1989 named Shutdown change the direction from previous album (was a prog jazz rock album) selftitled issued two years prior into more art rock, art pop elctro prog stuff, not bad at all, despite some negative reviews I saw here and there. I like it, is diverse but in same time compact, even suffers from that late '80s plastic production. A plus for me is the excellent voice of Bára Basiková, really great voice, a special track is the opening Abacus, - absolutly killer tune with a gothic atmosphere, one of my fav songs ever any genre, her voice shine all through. , the guitar parts are aswell top , Michal Pavlicek handle the guitar with an exemplary ease on every piece. Another highlights are Sandonorico and the title track. As I said I like this album quite much, is experimental is almost pop in places but without being comercial, is art prog and has all the elements for a good album. Considered their worse from the two, I think Shutdown desearves attention, even for prog listners. So, easely 3.5 stars for me,