SOFT EXPLOSION LIVE

IGRA STAKLENIH PERLI ("Glass Beads Game") was arguably the best psychedelic rock band in the former Yugoslavia, in the late 1970s. During 1978 they recorded material for their eponymous debut, which was released the next year, and had several notable live performances in Belgrade. In taht period Goran Cvetic was member of the band and he managed and designed their stage lighting effects, video and film projections for live concerts. Without much ambition Cvetic tape-recorded their concert at the Belgrade Dental Medicine College for his private archives, using a simple cassette recorder.

Many years later, these tapes were unearthed by Thomas Werner, so his German label Kalemegdan Disk released an LP record "Soft Explosion Live" in summer 1991. Given the circumstances of its production, this albums sounds amazingly powerful and strong. Compositions from the eponymous debut ("Lyzzard Square", "Mushroom", "Voyage Into Blue") are perhaps even better on this live document than on the proper studio album of 1979 which suffered bad production. But the real gem is the opener title track "Soft Explosion", previously unissued, which is an example of interesting and highly developed concept of "space rock", played with conventional rock instruments, without excessive use of synthesizers. Apart from lighting/visual effects designer Cvetic, the line-up of ISP included Vojkan Rakic-guitars, Predrag Vukovic-percussions, Drasko Nikodijevic-bass and vocals, Zoran Lakic-keyboards and vocals and Dragan Soc-drums.

If you like psychedelia/space rock performed in the vein of 1968-69 PINK FLOYD, mid-1970s HAWKWIND or psych Krautrock a la CAN/AMON DUUL II, then this album is your choice. An excellent record that should be enjoyed by many prog fans.

Without question one of my favourite bands from the former Yugoslavia along with LEB I SOL, TAKO and SMAK. I think we are very fortunate to even be able to hear this music as somehow they managed to get these recordings released by a German label. This particular live album is archival being released in 1991 and I have the re-issue from 1993 with better sound quality and an extra track. This was recorded live at Belgrade University, to be more precise in the Dental section of the Medical College in 1978. They sound like PINK FLOYD on their "Saucerful Of Secrets" album, quite dark and spacey, a lot of soundscape stuff but some structured tunes as well with vocals.

"Soft Explosion" is the one track that is really worth having as I don't have it on the other two recordings I have by this band. A long one that opens with the band being introduced in their own language. Soundscape music that is dark but when the tempo picks up it really does sound amazing. A calm late with vocals crying out is really cool as well.

We get a similar vibe on "Lyzzard Square" but we get vocals in english here and some great sounding bass and guitar. I like the spacey synths as well. "Mushroom" is a CAN cover and one of their favourite bands along with FLOYD but they also mention TANGERiNE DREAM and Holger Czukay so you get the idea where these guys are coming from in the late seventies. This might be a CAN cover but again it sounds like early PINK FLOYD. Vocals too and some organ as well. "Solar Modus" builds with the guitar crying out and I love that rhythm section. Electronics late when it settles down. "Voyage Into Blue" is spacey as an urgent bass line arrives. Drums follow as synths shoot off.

There's a couple of more tracks but you get the drift. A solid 4 stars and man this band is right in my wheelhouse when it comes to dark and spacey music.