DUNAJSKÁ LEGENDA

After a break of two years, when Fermáta 's members played with Collegium Musicum and following that period, CM's bassist Fedor Freso would follow them here, the line-up would remain stable for three albums. Fermáta's fourth album is another thematic album and sets out to tell us about the legends surrounding the Danube River to which is related the abstract but suggestive artwork gracing the cover. One of the characteristics of this album is the

Oddly building on a re-work of Perpetuum III from their debut album, and its really smokes, even if there are added keyboards using sounds from the later 70's (never a good thing for this writer), but apart for this sonic remark, overall the general musical direction is generally more pop, keyboard-oriented than their previous full-out JR/F. The short acoustic guitar intro of Chotemir leads us in a quiet slow evolving piano-dominated crescendo until Griglak's superb Gilmour-esque solo and much more happening. One of the album's highlights. Witemir is a jazzy guitar track laced with some nice scat chants and Fender Rhodes. The same instrument starts the Unzat track, but in a more intriguing manner, but the track evolves symphonic.

The second-half tracks (most likely most of the vinyl's side B) of the album are sounding to clinically clean, without much inspiration or soul, this being most evident with Trebiz, completely over-dominated by Berka's keyboards, obviously getting a hand from Griglak's paws on other keys. Zilic is a cross of mid-70's Camel with Saga's pop with some mild funky jazz-rock, sounding like some Happy The Man; Zuemin not changing much and ending in slow wind noises. Ditto for the album closer in terms of little interest.

The bonus tracks are also rather ill-advised addition, with both Program Zacina and Tvar being a full-out "song" format with vocals, not only clashing with the first progressive jazz-rock part of the album, but even with the second synth-indulgent pop-jazz part. Not exactly their best work, this album is almost making first hour fans regrettingb that they ever came back from their break. Best avoided if you ask me, even if there are some good tracks early on.

If you can get your hands on any of FERMATA's first four albums don't even hesitate. This is probably the less favoured of the four but man is it ever good. As Sean Trane mentions, the theme running throughout the album is about the legends surrounding the Danube River.

"Wikina" is uptempo and jazzy with lots of keyboards.The guitar starts to light it up before 2 1/2 minutes then trades solos with the keyboards. "Chotemir" opens with intricate acoustic guitar then it stops as we get some atmosphere before a minute. Drums after 1 1/2 minutes then what sounds like violin a minute later. It then kicks in with some emotional guitar. So moving. I like the synths too. Orchestration 4 1/2 minutes in then it changes. A nice guitar / drum section ends it. "Witemir" opens with gentle guitar and we get some vocals too. Great sound here, I like the vocals too. It's so soothing and relaxing.

"Unzat" opens with keys as the sound builds. The guitar leads 2 minutes in. Nice bass too. "Trebiz" opens with piano before it settles down. Drums and bass come in as keyboards and synths continue. A change after 3 minutes. It's spacey after 4 1/2 minutes then it kicks back in. The drumming is great to end it. "Zilic" has this funky groove to it and vocals too. Cool tune. "Zuemin" starts off quietly but it's fuller a minute in with bass and drums out front.It ends in a spacey manner. "Kocel" sounds so good with those keyboards and guitar melodies to open. Drums come in softly as it builds. The guitar gets aggressive after 1 1/2 minutes and the bass becomes prominant. Synths after 4 minutes.

A very enjoyable album that has a few weak spots on the second half, but that's a minor complaint. A solid 4 stars.