COLOR

Color one of the progressive hungarian bands from late '70 formed by brothers Bokor in 1976 released two albums and then gone into oblivion. Their first album from 1978 self titled is a great example of symphonic prog from Hungary, it was even considered the first symphonic rock album ever released until that year being a very good recived both by the public and critics aswell. I was very pleasent surprised by this album, great arrangements, quite complex, more then ok use of mellotron, enjoyble vocal parts, and overall a really solid progressive rock album. Color was influenced by british prog school like Barclay James Harvest their smoth symphonic grandeur, Genesis complicated symphonic prog twists the result is Color. All pieces stands as great no weak moments here, H'rommilli'rd 'v (Three Billion Years) or Panoptikum are great exmples how inventive was the hungarian scene in those times, really spectacular moments specially on the longest 15 min tune Panoptikon, rich instrumental sections and good vocal lines. Definetly one of the best albums ever come from easter Europe in late '70 in prog rock realm, this first release of Color needs attention. 4 stars for sure. They released a couple of years a second offer but this time thy change the direction opteining for a more commercial path almost AOR, in the end they disbanded in 1984.

�j szinek (New colours) it's not progressive rock. The times changed, the band felt it, they turned on their own decision. Mellotron and cello gone, ugly 80's synth came. This is Aor music in vein of Styx or Saga. The music is good his own right, for example F�ltelek a beautiful love song. Arr�l j�ttem �n and Mes�lt�l have good guitar playing from Mikl�s Felkai. Ugy kell begins with use of the two-handed tapping technique, it's very promising, but the song is average aor. Best track is the Ny�r (Summer) with optimistic lyrics, which a littleYes-ish. This record has big succes in Hungary, it sold more than 100000 copy. The bonus songs, on the cd issue are the third album, which made in 1984, but it didn't released at the time. The three Bokor brothers immigrated in the Usa and this record was forbidden by Hungaroton.

This album is very sophisticated, the tracks have melancholy mood. The lyrics is very poetic, star-gazing. First song "Álmatlanul" has a strong symphonic feel with rich mellotron and cello. The vocal shared by the bassist Tibor Bokor and the high pitched voice of the younger brother, drummer Attila Bokor. "Harom milliard esztendő" is four minute short but complex song, cello and harpiscord add slighty baroque feel. "A nap siet" is very sad song for the end of the summer, with Emil Lamer's floydian guitar solo. The next track "Kolcson" a little poppish song with sarcastic lyrics, i feel slighty Yes feel, especilally the bass playing. "Ikaruszi zuhanas" closes the first side of the original vinyl. This is a short, but mighty, dramatic composi­tion, with leading role of the cello. The vocal shared between by Tibor and Attila. The lyrics based the old greek mythology, of course. Start of the second side the lp,"Elkepzelt vilag"is vocal oriented, with mellotron's cascade. "Jo lenne azt tudni" a little BHJ-ish, with soprano saxophone solo. "Panoptikum", their magnum opus closes the album. It's a quarter hour journey into the history of the mankind, from the neanderthal man's cave to moon landing. The music: typical epic progressive suite in seven movement. It begins with classic piano and cello, and spoken intro. After this, wild and soft moods rotate each other. We can listen floydian, gregorian, baroque and floating themes. Wild section is remind me the fury of Gates of the Delirium, but its runs only 'til one minute. The outro is spoken, with solo of cello. Bonus tracks on the cd issue: Vallom�?¡s: very nice poppish love song from a single. Fenyes kovek... well listen after the Barclay James Harvest's Galadriel, the sameliness is too obvious. A bohoc is close to the new wave, from 1980.