KřÍDLENÍ

I don't think this is quite as good as the debut but it's well worth 4 stars.The variety of instruments that were used on the debut aren't on display as much here. Once again we get some killer instrumental work with vocals in their own Czech language. The cd version I have has the original album plus the same record done with English vocals. I am reviewing the original one only.

"Kridleni (Prolog)" is a pastoral intro track with keyboards and vocals as it blends into "Kyvadlos (Pendulum)". I should mention that every track blends into the next making this feel like one long suite.This song turns heavier quickly then the tempo picks up. How good is this ! "Homo Sapiens" settles a minute in with piano and atmosphere. Reserved vocals follow. It picks up 2 1/2 minutes in with some great guitar.Vocals are back then it settles back late. "Krupej (Drop)" kicks in right away and vocals follow.The guitar solo a minute in and later before 2 1/2 minutes are steller. "Krat Kolikrat" is mellow with piano as reserved vocals join in. It kicks in after 1 1/2 minutes with guitar out front. Vocals are back. "Spor" has some heavy guitar early with drums and bass. Keyboards come to the fore late.

"Leco" has strings and atmosphere. "Blues O Vycepu" has some good raw guitar to start then the vocals come in.The guitar takes over again 2 minutes in then the vocals return. "Kytarove Extempore" features the guitar lighting it up. "Mudrinna Soustava" is led by piano and vocals after a minute with strummed guitar.This is excellent.The guitar 4 minutes in is the icing on the cake. "Srdce" opens with vocals and organ before it kicks in with drums. Synths and drums lead later on. "Masox" features floating organ to start before the drums and synths take over. Some vocal melodies too. Great sound. "Souzneni" kicks in right away.This is uptempo as the vocals join in. Guitar after a minute. It turns GENESIS- like before 2 minutes. "Kridleni Epilog" has some outstanding drum and keyboard work early on.It's GENESIS-like 2 1/2 minutes in.Vocals before 3 1/2 minutes.

If you can get your hands on this album or the previous one don't even hesitate, these are two very rewarding albums that were once hidden behind the Iron Curtain.

3.5 stars really

Synkopy was one of the finest prog bands from Czech Republic (back then Czechoslovakia) from late '70s early 80s. They were is same league with great Modry Efekt (aka The Blue Effect) combining intresting keybords parts with inventive guitar passages. The second album they released in 1983 named Křídlení is a winner for sure, but in same time is not a masterpiece or close, at least for me. The album is sung in czech, that means I don't get a dime for what they sing, but the language is fiting very well in the music, giving that special East Europe type of prog very much loved by all of us from these parts. The music is a type of heavy prog combined with symphonic passages, something between Exodus from Poland who were contemporary with them and aswell from their country fellows Modry Efekt. All in all more then pleasent release, who came to late in prog scene, who was by this time in shadow and almost forgotten with some exceptions of course. Pieces like opening Křídlení (Prolog) , Mudrinna Soustava or Souznen are real excellent. So, a good towards great release from one of the finest prog bands from East Europe.