CZECH Alternative Folk part 1 : Indies Rec.

* Panton Rec.Fajt & Bittová (CZ,rec.1987,is.1991)***°°

Tr.2, "Cas a misto" 1 min, Tr.3, "Za nasim" 1 min, Tr.9, "Francouska" 4 min, Tr.10, "Smuénka" 3 min, Tr.13, "Periny" 3 min, Tr.14, "Psi" 4 min 16 29

Bittová with her husband multi-percussionist in a cooperation. Pavl Fajt had its own projects (like Pluto,..). On a few tracks other musicians participated. At track 9-11 for instance, Stanislav Filip (acoustic guitar) made the music richer in sound. Very special and beautiful (and unique) is "Periny", that starts with an alarm-clock that goes of, with Fajt playing acoustic guitar on it.

* Wolf Rec. Rale : Rale (CZ, 1994)*****

Tr.2, "Your white palms" 4 min, Tr.3, "Daremo Inakata" 4 min, Tr.4, "I who can't see" 5 min,

Tr.5, "To je muj návrat" 5 min, Tr.10, "Hourglass" 4 min, Tr.12, "My heart" 5 min 29 -85-

With Josef Ostransky and two eastern vocalists (one of both is a Japanese violinist). Very beautiful songs, with guitar, violin, vocals. A favourite if mine. Difficult for me to leave out any tracks. A must. One of those albums that each time inspires me to write during the music.

I find it a real shame I didn't find the second Rale item. If anyone can still help me tracing this second Rale cd, please e-mail me. The third Rale album has a full review at the third Czech folk page ->

Info on http://vaclavek.host.sk/ Audio on http://www.vaclaveks.cz/.. Info Ostransky : http://www.boo.cz/..

* Indies Rec. Vladimír Václavek : Písne Nepísne (CZ,2003)***°

Tr.3, "Dragon's Flight" 8 min, Tr.4, "Madman" 4 min 12 102

later at end of show : (Tr.7, "Song" 6 min 18 ), (Tr.8, "Shinanai" 11 min)

The composition techniques are different compared to the first V.V. & the Rale releases which build up ideas with more experimenting and other ideas. This is a bit more with the guitar improvising in one line, accompanying songs. This guitar technique might have developed here. This is very good as well, but for various songs the words carry the composition as well. "Shinanai" is a nice (rather proggy) improvisation with other musicians participating.

Info : http://www.indiesrec.cz/Album.asp?ID=240&lang=EN

& with audio : http://www.indies.eu/us/alba/72/pisne-nepisne/?idn=1 Description here

* B+N

Jablkon : Baba Aga (CZ,1992)***°

Tr.2, "Baba Aga" 3 min, Tr.3, "Kolícek" (the peg) 4 min, Tr.5, "Popí Rondo" (orthodox priests' pop rondo) 3 min

With more humour the group at this point seem to have developed their humoristic performance with fitting inspired and skilfully played music for it. Beside the powerfully played acoustic guitar pickings, we also hear

funny voice sounds & complex multi-coloured percussion.

Audio : http://jablkon.com/view.php?cisloclanku=2005051312

* Fysion Jablkon & Chech Symphony Orchestra (with Sveceny) : live in Prague (CZ,1995)***°°

Tr.2, "Smutecni tanec" (dance macabre) 9 min, Tr.6, "Padani" (falling) 5 min, Tr.7, "Popi Rondo" 3 min,

Tr.11, "Baba Aga" 4 min 21 -150-

One of the best orchestrated releases of contemporary folk. I don't know much orchestrated rock, folk & pop releases who were succesful, but this surely is. (other good example I think was Renaissance live art Carnegie Hall,1976). The interpretations in combination with orchestra are done well ; -with Leos Svarovsky, as conductor- they might mostly even have enriched the original songs.

In 2004 there was made another symphonic Jablkon recording which was very different from this one. Small review at the third (radioshow)à page of Czech Folk ->

* Indies Rec.Vladimír Václavek : I'm the soil, I'm the tree, I'm the machine (CZ, rec.1991-1993)****°

Tr.1, "And days like falling angels" 5 min, Tr.2, "I've come" (Chinese traditional) 4 min, Tr.3, "To Bara" 3 min, Tr.6, "And the heaven is on your lips" 5 min, Tr.10, "Follow my steps" 3 min 20 -56-

Very inspired (dual) guitar accompanied songs and instrumentals, with powerful whispery bass voice, inspired arrangements. First track is with Marie Huvarová. Very talented musician and composer. Unique in its kind. Vaclavek's music also always inspires me to write inspirational words. Highly recommended.

Info : http://www.indiesrec.cz/Album.asp?ID=125

& with audio : http://www.indies.eu/us/alba/64/jsem-hlina-jsem-strom-jsem-stroj/?idn=1

* B+N Jablkon & Sveceny (CZ,1991)*****

Tr.4, "Lidová" (folk tune) 5 min, Tr.5, "Sazava River" 8 min, Tr.9, "Inkvizicni" (Inquisition Song) 4 min 17 -120-

I saw this group live a couple of times, with wonderful performances for not too big halls. This is a very original acoustic music with talented multi-coloured percussion, skilful acoustic guitars, funny voice as

instrument contributions, very good violin improvisations. At track 5 shaking a water bottle is part of the composition. Another item almost impossible to leave out tracks. Another must have. One of the better folk related releases on the 90's.

Audio on homepage : http://jablkon.com/view.php?cisloclanku=2005051110

* Pavian Rec.

Iva Bittová (CZ,rec.1990,is.1991)***°°

Tr.1, "Hobj" (oboe) 4 min, Tr.2, "Divna slecinka" (funny miss) 6 min, Tr.9, "China" 3 min 13

Iva's first album has many inspired moments and is more than once outstanding. Compositions with violin & voice only. From very good until completely unique. Still my favourite Bittova album.

Info on Bittova : http://www.musica.cz/bittova/ & http://www.nejnejnej.cz/cikoriENGL.htm & http://www.outersound.com/bigshot/inkblot/rev-archive/iva.htm

* Indies Rec.Iva Bittová & Václavek : bílé (inferno) (CZ,1997)***°?

Tr.1, "Home" 7 min 36

A cooperation of Bittová with guitarist, here multi-instrumentalist Vladimír Václavek, with many more guests (like Tom Cora on cello). Here has been worked on a more complete sound, with experimental contemporary elements.

Info : http://www.etherdrag.com/articles/bittova.html & http://guysavio.chez.tiscali.fr/bil.htm

Label listing with soundfiles : http://www.indiesrec.cz/Album.asp?ID=51

* Indies Rec.Iva Bittová & Netherlands Wind Ensemble ( & Leos Janacek) :

Ples Upíru (dance of the vampires) (CZ,2000)**

The Ensemble cooperated with many other musicians and projects, with arrangements of Bittová's work & work of Leos Janacek. Technically it's good, but that's not the same as real/pure inspiration. Also Bittova's style becomes a bit a habitual, looses some of it subtle inspiration balancing. I preferred no to play any track of it.

Info : http://ectoguide.org/artists/bittova.iva#ples

Label listing with soundfiles : http://www.indiesrec.cz/Album.asp?ID=184

* Indies Rec.Václavek, Ostransky & Jelinková : Domácí Lékar (CZ,1996)**° ?

Tr.9, "Nemam Jen Oci Krasné" 2 min 87

Based upon texts from Marie Huvarová and these three musians/composers. A bit more experimental sometimes in melodic field, not making it always easy listen for someone who does not understand the words either. Also some Yiddish songs are included. Maybe the performances are OK but I cannot find

myself easily in the content, mood, melodic foundation, ..

Info : http://www.indiesrec.cz/Album.asp?ID=57

& with audio : http://www.indies.eu/us/alba/123/domaci-lekar/?idn=3

* Indies Rec.V.A. : Czech Alternative Music, vol VII (CZ,2000)**

Tr.3, Rale : Soumrak/Twilight : "V Plameni" 7 min 90

While this CD of Rale was sold out I was lucky to have at least this track from this compilation album.