BLUE TRANCE (E)

SBB are the godfathers of Polish progressive rock music and most prog heads know this band at least by name. Almost forty years in the business, bass player, keyboardist and singer Józef Skrzek and guitarist-keyboardist Apostolis Anthimos are still from the original line-up. Between the two of them all keyboard duties are divided. Drummer Gabor Nemeth completes the current line-up. Although the band reached out for Western Europe and beyond, many years ago, they always stuck to singing in Polish with some occasional English lyrics. SBB have produced many live albums, but Blue Trance is already their fifteenth studio album and the successor to Iron Curtain (2009). The first track is an instrumental gem with lush keyboards with beautiful melodies and intelligent driving drumming. The next track is quite different: Skrzek's vocals are more like proclaiming a poem than really singing. The music is rather slow, a mix between pop, rock, blues and folk, but with a nice sing-a-long chorus. Red Joe is a slow blues song with English lyrics. The lyrical content is not too far-fetched and Skrzek sings with a distinct accent. The melodies are rather simple. In the next song Skrzek only hums. It's again a keyboard-driven tune featuring piano, Moog and electric guitar. The music reminds me of some of the works by Kit Watkins (ex-Happy The Man, ex-Camel). The opening notes of the next track almost tend to be a cover of In The Court Of The Crimson King by King Crimson, but although the tempo and atmosphere are similar, the melodies and interludes are different with some jazzy influences. Beautifully orchestrated and nice piano playing make this track to one the band could be really proud of. Doliny Strumieni is a mid-tempo tune with a very catchy melody played in different keys with varied and good soloing by Anthimos. Karida Beach is a gentle song with influences from the sunny Mediterranean. A delightful instrumental tune featuring heavenly sounds of the Moog synth. The title track is a straightforward rock song, nothing spectacular and the challenge here for us Western Europeans is to get used to the singing in Polish! The solos by Anthimos should lead to a climax, but his strength lies more in playing very melodic solos than in his attempt to be a shredder. Happy The Man and Kit Watkins can again be recognized in Musniecie Kalimby, the third instrumental song of the album. The mighty Moog will appeal to any prog head while the shuffling rhythm prevents you from sitting in your chair without moving at least one part of your extremities. The delightful ballad with classically influenced piano playing is called Pamiecy Czaz. This is SBB at their best, although the instrumentals still are my personal favourites. The last track is the most bombastic and symphonic one, a state of the art mid-tempo progressive instrumental piece with good drumming, lush keyboards and high-lighted through solos by Anthimos on guitar and Skrzek on the Moog. At some point memories of Eloy crossed my mind.

Blue Trance is a worthy addition to the SBB discography and a fine moment for prog fans, who are not familiar with the band, to check out the music of these Polish veterans. Not a classic, but a very enjoyable album full of surprises and musical craftsmanship.