Hokr ~ Czech Republic

Starej Hokr Vol. 2. (2023)

Every few years we hear from the Czech Republic's finest prog band Hokr, and here we have a very interesting mix of archival and new material. I'll discuss that further below, but let's tackle the music first. Which I did over five listens on subsequent nights. Hokr has never been an easy listen, and this album is no different. 

For their last album I wrote: "...is a dense Van der Graaf Generator styled prog with the addition of sax and anguished vocals (in their native Czech). ...There are 8 tracks totaling 48 minutes, and everyone of them is challenging and complex. Yet easy on the ears with a certain melodicism. This is not the cold and calculating avant prog classroom exercise. No, this points to the early 70s masters of the style. I listened three times straight last night, and each listen revealed many new twists. Hokr are a full sounding five piece group, whose music will easily transcend time."

I think that covers this as well. That thick organ, tenor sax, complex charting, and impassioned vocals immediately recall the best of VDGG. Just the sound alone is very enticing. It's a varied album, which makes sense when you know how it was compiled, but it still comes across as a cohesive whole. Despite terms like "difficult" and "complex", the album actually flows nicely and is pleasurable throughout. That's a testament to the group's experience.

So what is this album anyway? The title means Old Hokr Vol. 2. Petr Cermak (friend and drummer of the band) tells me this was music they used to play from 1979 to 1985 (newly recorded though). OK, tell me more. Thank goodness for Achim, my long time friend and colleague from Germany, as he saved me time here. He dived deeper and offers this (translated by Google): 

"An email exchange with Petr and Pavel Cermak helped a lot to clear things up, and also helped clarify the band name. 'Hokr' was the band's neighbor's last name, i.e. the neighbor of the Cermak family, in whose house the group had started rehearsing in the fall of 1979. Since he was a bit strange (the neighbor), says Petr Cermak, and the band's music too, they named themselves after him. Back to "Starej Hokr Vol. 2". Starje is called old, so the album is roughly called 'The Old Hokr Part 2'. Here you can find music that Hokr composed, rehearsed and performed at secret concerts back then, especially in the first half of the 80s (they did not have an official performance permit from the Czechoslovak authorities). "Starej Hokr" is the sister album to "Hokrova Vila", which also contains such historical material from the band, but newly recorded in 2003-2004. “Starej Hokr” took a little longer, as the pieces were recorded between 2005 and 2023. This was probably also because Petr Cermak lived in the USA in 1986, while Pavel was active in the Czech Republic with Hokr, with a new drummer. Of course, original drummer Petr Cermak wanted to work on the skins for “Hokrova Vila” and “Starej Hokr”. ...Petr Cermak names Blue Effect (Modrý Efekt), Collegium Musicum, The Plastic People of the Universe, DG 307, Mikoláš Chadimas Extempore (later known as MCH Band), Vladimír Mišíks Etc…, SBB, Budka Suflera, Ossian and Omega as influencers at the time . The group's favorite band was probably King Crimson. From these sources of inspiration and a lot of their own, Hokr then formed their very own style, keyboard-heavy, a bit jazzy, slightly chamber rock and always nice and creaky, with very unique singing in the local language. Aku-Aku's colleagues, Dunaj, Domácí Kapela and Narajama later made similar music."

Thank you, Achim. Had no idea it was their neighbor's last name! And I also need to follow up on some of those reference groups. I know many and have written about them here, but there are some new names to me too.

Ownership: 2023 private (CD). Thick digipak with stapled booklet. 

4/7/24 (review)

Klid v Bezčasí (2017)

One of the better progressive rock discoveries of the last decade was Hokr, a band from Prague who released two albums of great invention. I have notes on each somewhere in this blog, for reference. So when I received notice that a 3rd album had just come out, I was ready to pull the trigger immediately. Ummm... one small problem. No one had it for sale. I mean no one. I put on the Discogs want list immediately, along with an ebay search. And waited. And waited. And waited. And finally that day arrived. Hokr managed to be for sale, even here in the United States. Hooray.

Now that I have secured the CD, which Hokr can I expect? The reality is that their two albums are very different from each other, but both great. The 2004 debut is a keyboard based progressive similar to Collegium Musicum but updated Elephant9 style. The other (Zahřáté Brzdy Optimismu from 2012) is a dense Van der Graaf Generator styled prog with the addition of sax and anguished vocals (in their native Czech). And the answer is? Klid v Bezčasí is very much like the latter. There are eight tracks totaling 48 minutes, and everyone of them is challenging and complex. Yet easy on the ears with a certain melodicism. This is not the cold and calculating avant prog classroom exercise. No, this points to the early 70s masters of the style. I listened three times straight last night, and each listen revealed many new twists. Hokr are a full sounding five piece group, whose music will easily transcend time. They are 3 for 3 in my book. Well worth seeking out.

Ownership: 2017 private (CD). Tri-fold thick digi-pak, with a booklet attached containing lyrics and original photography. 

5/7/21 (review)

Zahřáté Brzdy Optimismu (2012)

It's been eight years since Hokr's last album, and in between they released an album under the name Poco Loco. Zahřáté Brzdy Optimismu is closer in sound to Poco Loco than the last Hokr. The vocals have an anguished guttural quality similar to Peter Hammill (except sung in Czech), and the dense complex compositions recall the early 70s albums by Van der Graaf Generator. Sax, fuzz bass, and amplified organ lead the instrumental side of the band. This a fairly unique album overall. Perhaps only Garden Wall of Italy has a similar compositional style. Remove the metal guitars and add sax, and you have about the closest cousin you can spot. And they are distant cousins. Very distant. Highly recommended for the adventurous progressive rock listener.

Ownership: 2012 Ears & Wind (CD)

5/18/13 (review)

Hokrova Vila (2004)

At its core, Hokr are an organ based trio (whose history goes back as far as 1981) that seems to be the spiritual successor to Collegium Musicum, but put through the Elephant9 hyper amplified grinder. Additional guests on cello, tenor sax, and guitar augment their sound greatly. Though primarily an instrumental album, the Czech vocals are delivered in an impassioned narrative like a cross between Pholas Dactylus, Devil Doll, and Deus Ex Machina (at the higher registers). The cello gives them a slight Anekdoten feel. This is the best album from the Czech Republic since the heyday of The MCH Band, who they share some similarities with especially on the tracks with sax (minus the guitar of MCH of course). 'Mouse in a Trance' is a certified monster quality track! Hokr evolved into the also creative Poco Loco, a group I need to spend more time with obviously. Don't miss this one!

Ownership: 2011 private (CD)

4/28/11 (review)

4/28/11 (new entry) 

Stromboli. 1987 Czech Republic

I've owned this album in continuous fashion for over 30 years, and it's been categorized in just about every genre I collect. Is it prog? psych? jazz fusion? X-wave? The answer is yes. 

There were a lot of unique bands operating in the Czech Republic prior to - and after - the fall of Communism. By the late 80s the Authorities had pretty much given up, and then the Velvet Revolution finished them off. And this unusual sociological blend lead to a music scene that had no peer before or since. Other groups such as The MCH Band, Prazsky Vyber, Dunaj, Aku Aku, and Uz Jsme Doma were trailblazing a path that defies typecasting. I'm not sure how one can copy music like this. It's its own thing as they say. Of these, Stromboli's sprawling double album may be the best representative, even though the competition is fierce. There are heavy psych guitar solos juxtaposed against female New Wave styled vocals. Complex proggy structures sits inside jazz fusion numbers. Vocals are in Czech, and I wouldn't want it any other way. This is the next generation of the greats like Flamengo and Jazz Q. Curious? Listen for yourself. You'll be surprised at how fast the hour and a half goes by.

Ownership: CD: 1995 Bonton. 2xCD with photos and notes in Czech. It's a straight reissue as all of these features were part of the LP. I'm glad they stuck with a double CD rather than try to trim off 10 minutes here and there. As noted above, the first copy I owned was sent to me in 1990 - along with many other Eastern European albums - by a long time friend in Florida who I still keep up with on occasion. As I will often state, albums from that part of the world were meant to be on CD. No matter what version you would like, the album remains easily obtainable in both formats, as it was repressed many times.

12//14; 8/19/22 (new entry)

Mahagon - Mahagon / Slunečnice Pro Vincenta Van Gogha. 1978 Czech Republic

I've said this before, but some of the best albums I've yet to appreciate, already sit in my collection. I've had Mahagon's debut for many years, going back to finding an original LP in Denver in the 90s. While I've always enjoyed the contents, I'm not sure I could offer up much more than it's a fine fusion album. But this +2 listen confirmed that it belongs in the brilliant column. This is exactly the kind of jazz fusion I really enjoy. There's a funk factor, a bit of horn rock, and some sultry female vocals - in Czech of course, adding that much more of an exotic flair. 

The CD is the way to go here, as it starts out with 2 pre-album 45s from 1976. Both of these are very obscure - expensive / not for sale on Discogs and not listed in RYM - and demonstrate a harder rocking brassier version of Mahagon. This is followed by one more obscure track before launching into the album proper. As with most Eastern European albums, the CD demonstrates a quality production that was diminished by the poor Supraphon pressing.

Then another single is presented along with a solo effort from singer Zdema Adamova. One can tell the band is moving into commercial rock waters, but it's still quite good. The second full album from 1980 is titled Slunečnice Pro Vincenta Van Gogha, and they really lost the plot here. The music is mostly vapid pop and they've completely lost their edge. Fine for bonus material though, as the CD affords.

Ownership: CD: 2009 Indies Happy Trails. Contains many liner notes (in Czech) and photos. Purchased new online upon release.

Modry Efekt & Radim Hladik. 1975 Czech Republic

I wrote an expose on most of the Blue Effect / Modry Efekt catalog when I obtained the box set 3+ years ago. I purposely left this out, as I already had it separately on CD, and decided to listen to it when its day arrived. And that day has occurred. In my mind, this has been my favorite Modry Efekt album since the beginning of discovering the group. That conclusion remains the same, though maybe not at the margin I originally thought. Some of this is sublime when the compositions and melodies are strong. But there is some typical jazz fusion noodling that I conveniently forgot about, taking it down a notch. But Hladik is certainly one of the era's finest guitarists, despite being stranded behind the Iron Curtain.

Ownership: CD: 2000 Bonton. Purchased online new upon release. Even though I have the box set, I'm keeping this CD primarily for the 2 entirely unique and excellent bonus tracks that were taken from East German compilation LPs. There are liner notes, but in Czech. I originally owned the LP, but as is the case with most Eastern European albums, I ditched it in favor of the CD when it came out. No regrets there.

Jazz Q ~ Czech Republic

Symbiosis (1974)

Symbiosis from 1974 is one of the most unusual albums coming from behind the Iron Curtain. The singer is actually an Englishwoman, that in itself an anomaly - and because of that, the album is sung in English, despite all the songs being titled in Czech. This isn't a jazz album at all, and in fact the music belongs closest to my proto progressive with female vocals list, even though it's not psychedelic in the slightest. If they had swapped out the Fender Rhodes for a Hammond organ, then it would have solidified its place on the list that much more. An excellent album overall, and for certain one to investigate.

There is one significant bonus track on the CD that only appears otherwise on a couple of comps.

Ownership: 1998 Bonton (CD). Liner notes (in Czech) that appear to date back to 1972. Acquired in 2000.

2000; 3/5/15; 5/26/20 (review)

5/26/20 (new entry)

Aku Aku ~ Czech Republic

Humanquake (1991)

Like the Saisei Koubou album from Japan, Bohemia's Aku Aku seem to have digested King Crimson's darkest period, that of Larks Tongues in Aspic through to Red. The heavy guitar, bass, and violin are obvious earmarks of the Wetton years. Of course the Czech vocals give it a local flair. There's also a distinct punkish feel in a couple of places. In this way, they remind me of another sentimental favorite Czech 90s group - Dunaj.

As an aside, the Czech scene of the early 90s was an exciting time (MCH Band, Stromboli, Dunaj, Iva Bittova, Uz Jsme Doma, etc..), and I was privileged to experience a lot of these bands from 1990-1994, as I spent a good percentage of my backpacking years in post Communist-Eastern Europe. I didn't discover Aku Aku until after that, though.

Ownership: 1991 Pro Art (LP). Gatefold

1//97 (acquired); 2/16/11 (review); 4/14/20 (update / new entry)

Jeseter - Slavnost Pro Jednoho! 2008 Czech Republic

In the last decade or so, there have been a couple of excellent Czech groups performing music in the retro progressive rock genre: Hokr and Cuprum. Unbeknownst to me there was a 3rd band also hiding under the cover of darkness. And that would be our subject today. Jeseter (translates to Sturgeon) are a band from Ostrava, located on the eastern part of what is now known as Czechia, bordering Poland.

Apparently Jeseter began their career as a Yes cover band. There are worse ways to build out one's prog chops than studying at the hallowed halls of Yes. So when it was time to branch out into original material, most assuredly Close to the Edge and Relayer would be the sound path they followed right? Wrong. Instead, Jeseter looked inward (similar to the above two groups) and researched their own country's respectable past. Czech is the language of choice, and the influences come from the late 70s and early 80s Czech progressive scene. You won't hear Modry Efekt or Flamengo here, but rather more Synkopy and Progres 2. There's also a strain of neo prog blending throughout - similar to IQ maybe. At times the music here is brilliant. Jeseter does continue to circle greatness but doesn't quite achieve it - at least here on their debut (the only one of three albums I've heard to date). The vocals can be a bit stiff, which was a problem for the communist era bands as well. Sometimes the music can be a bit too straightforward, but make no mistake, this is still certainly progressive rock for fans of the style. Compared to Hokr and Cuprum, Jeseter finds themselves behind the curve. But the potential is certainly there, and I'm most interested in hearing their later works. High side of the RYM 3.5 rating.

Personal collection
CD: 2008 private

The CD is obscure as all get out. I had to add it to Discogs and it appears I'm the only one to own it on RYM as well. Comes in a very fine tri-fold professional digi-pak.

Modry Efekt - 33. 1981 Czech Republic

33 is Modry Efekt's final studio album, and they exited in fine fashion. Musically, Modry Efekt continues along from their earlier efforts, with blistering guitar leads, and fine synthesizer soloing. The 4 long tracks give the band plenty of space to try many ideas within a composition. Unfortunately the vocals are getting to be too obtrusive at this point, and the term "over dramatic" does begin to leap into one's mind. Though the album is mostly instrumental, the finale of each track tends to drag with unnecessary crooning, which drops this album down a half star from the others.

Is it just me or does the album cover overtly celebrate individual achievement and comfort? Seems they missed a key point of the Revolution... Well, the Czechs always had the best beer, so perhaps the Authorities were a bit preoccupied (hmm-hmmmm...)

Personal collection
CD: 2009 Supraphon (as The Blue Effect 1969-1989 9 CD compilation)

This is our last entry for the 9 CD box set, though I did leave out a couple of albums, which I probably will report on at a later time (including my favorite A Benefit of Radim Hladik).

Just a few words about the box itself: If you don't own any Modry Efekt, then this box set will take care of everything you need. It includes all their albums except the English language version of Meditace (Kingdom of Life). They each come in a nice slip cover resembling the original LP design. It also comes with a fine booklet, all written in Czech, but with some neat photos and you can generally figure out what the text is.

The only unique material here is the 9th disc titled Singly & Bonusy. I don't speak Czech, but I think I can figure this one out... In any case, it's a fine addition, though it's not something you'd want to purchase the box set for if you're already in possession of their other discs. The best material is taken from their Snakes EP from 1969, and is similar to Meditace. They also include both sides of another single from 1969 that is quite good. Interestingly, the band only recorded one single in their 1970s heyday (from 1973), and it's pretty good, though not really resembling their move to progressive / jazz rock. After that it's... the 80s. Yea... that's a problem. And it sounds every bit of it too. So that by 1989, one is inclined to shoot the horse just to put it out of its misery. It's interesting all the same, and you can see the band is desperately trying to stay relevant, but it's clearly not their strong suit. The bonus section includes one rough demo of a 1969 track, and then 2 live extended pieces from the band's best period of the late 1970s. The recording is bootleg standard, but is enjoyable from an historical perspective.

Modry Efekt - Svet Hledacu. 1979 Czech Republic

Svět Hledačů is the 6th album from Modry Efekt (not counting split and English language re-recordings). The band continues their journey down the symphonic fusion path, both looking forward and backward. On the forward side, and I mean that historically not artistically, the group displays more of a late 70s funky feel into the music. On the backward side, or what we would now call "retro", Modry Efekt peppers in some early 70s progressive rock themes. There's a couple of places I recognized the type of composition Genesis might come up with in 1972 - sung in Czech mind you. Through it all, Hladik continues to demonstrate his supreme guitar acumen. And the production is outstanding with a particularly fat sound that is highly appealing to the modern ear I would like to think. Not their best album, but certainly in the conversation.

Personal collection
CD: 2009 Supraphon (part of The Blue Effect 1969-1989 9 CD compilation)

Modry Efekt - Svitanie. 1977 Czech Republic

Svitanie is the 5th studio album from Modry Efekt, and is one of their finer outings. Instrumental rock/jazz fusion is the music of choice, though there's still a small hint of their big band Nova Synteza days that creep in (especially on the title track). Guidepost sounds include nearby comrades Fermata, the Dutch groups Focus and Finch, and even Sunburst-era SFF, when one considers the synthesizer work. Have to agree with others here regarding the synth tones, which are definitely pleasing. Radim Hladik continues to light each of his recordings on fire with his exemplary guitar work. An excellent album.

Ownership:

2009 Supraphon (CD). Part of The Blue Effect 1969-1989 9xCD compilation.

1980 Opus (LP). 2/80 pressing.

11/8/16 (CD acquired / review)

Blue Effect - Meditace. 1970 Czech Republic

To alleviate any confusion from other reviews you may read, Side 1 is the Czech vocal pop session, whereas Side 2 is the Blues rock portion in English. Despite Side 2 having the better rep, arguably the first track on the album is the clear winner (sounding more like Os Mundi's Latin Mass). Just the fact that The Blue Effect were allowed to sing in English is quite the extraordinary accomplishment for a band behind the Iron Curtain in 1970. A fine album given the time and place, but far different than the jazzier efforts to come, and one could easily make the case this is Blue Effect/Modry Efekt's weakest album.

Personal collection
CD: 2009 Supraphon (as The Blue Effect 1969-1989 9 CD compilation)

Modry Efekt - Nova Synteza. 1971 Czech Republic

Nova Synteza is Modry Efekt's second album (not counting the co-release with Jazz Q Praha), and quite a departure from the blues rock/Czech pop oriented Meditace. I think the first thing one will pick up on this album is just how BIG it sounds. The Czechoslovak Radio Jazz Orchestra (or its indigenous name Jazzový orchestr Československého rozhlasu) proved to be quite the rockin' bunch, and Modry Efekt does a great job integrating with the difficult charts. For 1971 Czechoslovakia, this album is quite an extraordinary accomplishment. It is here that Radim Hladik begins to demonstrate his immense chops on the electric guitar. There's really no album quite like this one. It's not a rock meets orchestra type release, as many a UK band did back then (Deep Purple, Caravan, etc...). Nor is it a large scale horn rock band like Chicago on steroids. The album is all instrumental, and maintains a healthy tempo throughout. Blue Effect Blues is a bit typical of the medium, until the second half when Hladik feels the need to polish off a few licks. And 'Clinging Ivy' (3rd track) sounds a bit too familiar at times with some of its cliched orchestra type melodies. Otherwise, this is an album not to be missed, both from a modern aesthetic perspective, as well as an historical one.

Personal collection
CD: 2009 Supraphon (as The Blue Effect 1969-1989 9 CD compilation)

Cuprum - Brahma Višnu Šiva. 2014 Czech Republic

The sophomore effort Brahma Višnu Šiva shows Cuprum upping their game a bit. The flute is more present, the guitars have a louder psychedelic tone, the 70s keyboard set is full blare (Hammond, Rhodes, Moog, Mellotron). All still sung in their native, and wonderful, Czech language (can I please ask for those wishing for English to stop? My goodness, is there really no one else singing in English now?). The songwriting has seen a bump up as well, and the album engages the listener that much more. It's telling that I've seen videos of Cuprum covering Flamengo. There cannot be a better band from the old Czechoslovakia to emulate. And there's still room for improvement, as they have yet to explore the more kinetic aspects of progressive rock. For those who can't seem to get out of the 8th decade of the 20th Century (like me par example), then Cuprum is your dream band. Ground zero of the Retro Prog movement is right here. Wonderful stuff. Keep it going my friends from the East!

Ownership: CD: 2014 private

7/11/14 (new entry)

Cuprum - Musica Deposita. 2011 Czech Republic

With Cuprum what you get is good old fashioned hard rock meets progressive with loads of fuzzy guitar, Hammond organ and a little flute. Sure, it's retro 1971 England or Germany, and a sound you've heard from other modern bands like Wicked Minds (Italy), Seid (Norway), Siena Root (Sweden), Blood Ceremony (Canada), Hypnos 69 (Belgium) and a few others. But the Czech Republic has no such tradition, and hearing this style performed with the Czech language is quite interesting indeed. About the only band from 1970's Czechoslovakia that even came close to this sound was Flamengo and maybe Modry Efekt - both groups only at their most hard rocking selves. The songs for the most part are quite compelling, even though it does possess that been-there-done-that feeling. I think if Cuprum expands their instrumental palette, adds a few more ideas per composition, navigates the twisty road and turns on a dime capriciously and truly does "go for the gusto", then they will hit Masterpiece status. Even as it stands, I'm quite happy with what they accomplished on this most extraordinary debut.

Ownership: CD: 2011 private

6/11/12 (new entry)

Flamengo - Kuře v Hodinkách. 1972 Czech Republic

This is an extraordinary album given the time and place. Flamengo's music is similar to some early 70's UK underground bands such as Raw Material, Tonton Macoute, Web's I Spider, and especially Diabolus. It would be hard to imagine that Flamengo would know any of these albums, and thus came to a similar musical conclusion through a completely different lens. Sax, flute, guitar and organ are the primary solo instruments. Incredible songwriting with memorable melodies, that does remind the listener of the early 70s Italian scene (PFM, Celeste, QVL). Passionately sung in Czech, and I wouldn't want to hear it any other way. Also worth noting is the awesome production, which sounds like it was recorded in Germany or England. Too bad the oppressive governments of Eastern Europe didn't allow more artistic freedom in the early 70s. Flamengo's sole album gives us perhaps the best example of what could have been.

Ownership: CD: 2012 Supraphon; Of all their reissues, this CD trumps them all. What a magnificent package. It comes in a tri-fold digipak (with original album cover art) that fits comfortably into a cardboard sleeve. This version features 3 bonus tracks and all the Czech lyrics. The sound of the album itself is even better than the 1990 disc. I cannot stress enough how great the original production was for this album. It is truly up to Western European standards.

LP: 1972 Supraphon. Recent online acquisition (2019), and comes in a flimsy single sleeve. It's simply a trophy for me. The CD remains the primary.

6/3/12 (review / new entry); 4/7/14 (update);