Klan ~ Poland

Mrowisko (1971)

Klan, like Czechoslovakia's Flamengo, were one of the pioneers of the exploratory progressive movement beginning to emerge in the Eastern Bloc, before the authorities declared this kind of music too subversive for a healthy State. I hear music like this with a bit of sadness, always wondering what could have been for those countries left to suffer behind the Iron Curtain while the rest of Europe was being "turned on". Klan's effort is a mix of psychedelic, radical progressive, horn rock, jazz, orchestral rock, and emotional vocal pop. Fuzz bass, crazy drumming, impassioned vocals, flute, and some killer swirling organ define this amazingly mature work for the time and place. An album that should be held up as a national treasure, recorded at a time of despair and little hope.

The CD adds the 1970 EP known simply as Klan. It's a fine early rock n' roll album with some nice acid guitar sounds, though it does not foreshadow the excellence of Mrowisko.

Ownership: 2008 Metal Mind (2xCD). Tri-fold digipak. Booklet with lyrics and a lengthy history, all in Polish. The second disc is their 1970 EP. Both would have fit on one CD. Also be sure to read the comments where UMR friend Bas offers up even more CD info regarding this landmark album.

1988 (LP reissue acquired); 1997; 9/20/14 (review); 9/29/25