Progressive rock
Latest: Martian Chronicles III (I or A.I.) (2024)
Nostradamus (1999)
For my tastes, Solaris' 1990 is one of the greatest post 70s progressive rock albums there is. There was a magic about it that captured my imagination greatly when first released, and it preceded even Anglagard in that this whole prog rock revival thing might be worth staying around for. Of course the debut Marsbeli Kronikak is table stakes for any 80s progressive rock collection. Then I saw Solaris live in Los Angeles and was mightily impressed.
It is with this background that I came into Nostradamus with. And while the great prognosticator had been played out already, who better than Solaris to elevate it to the highest level of art? For me, this was one of the most anticipated albums I can ever recall.
Hmm. It just didn't happen. I recall vividly my first impression. I was nonplussed. Not disappointed mind you, just not wowed as I expected to be. Of course it's often time nigh impossible to meet such a lofty, perhaps unrealistic, goal. My Gnosis grade in real time was a 10 (a 3.5 here). And into the collection it was filed after a couple of earnest attempts of "feeling it". And now, I finally have brought it back out from the vaults for a revisit. Here's where I'm going to tell you my tastes have changed, and I have a whole new appreciation for it right? Nope. It remains a 3.5.
The odd thing about Nostradamus is it sounds very much like Solaris. I wouldn't chalk it up to the sudden tragic death of guitarist Istvan Cziglan. Even more bizarre is that the opening 3 'Book of Prophecies' tracks are the weakest, which comes completely unexpected. There's a hollowness to the overall sound here. It's big and bright, and very much a product of the 90s. But it isn't exactly like 1990 was an analog dream. In fact quite the opposite. If it not for the brilliant flute work of Attila Kollar, the album wouldn't be as good as it even is. But his brilliant phasing, melodic disposition, and overall tone is hard to beat. At this point, he seems to be Solaris. And it comes as no surprise he later ventured on his own for two more albums that surpassed Nostradamus in quality.
I want to be clear here: This is not a bad album by any stretch. But the Solaris name is highly revered in the ashratom world. And this one came up short. Perhaps I should have predicted it. The protagonist would have. Or would have he?
---5/7/17
Marsbéli Krónikák (1984)
If you ask a hardcore progressive rock fan what the worst decade of music was, "The 80s" is the automated response. And while I'll stand by that same position, a deep dive into the decade gives us another perspective. 1980 was in reality an extension of the 70s artistically speaking. 1981 to 1983 held plenty of wonderful privately released progressive rock gems primarily from France, Scandinavia, USA, and Germany. Not to mention the promise the original New Wave of British Progressive Rock once projected. And then from 1987 onward, we experienced the renaissance that continues to this day. But the real barren years did exist in the middle - 1984 to 1986 was a graveyard for traditional progressive rock. Fans of fringe areas - like avant prog - will counter that it may have been the golden age as bands like Univers Zero and Present were at their peak. And of course other genres, like heavy metal and various forms of electronic, were also experiencing new high water marks. But if you wanted 70's styled symphonic prog, well it was going to be tough sledding for sure.
I bring this point up in a Solaris review, because Marsbeli Kronikak is the gem in the rough - the very best symphonic prog album in that three year time frame. Isolated in still Communist Hungary may have played a role in that - not to mention a relatively more lenient regime in regards to the arts than other Iron Curtain countries at the time.
Recently I had reviewed Tako's second album, and talked about symphonic fusion - a genre that isn't recognized today, but was frequently referred to 25 years ago and beyond. And that's exactly where you'll find the music of Solaris. The primary difference here is the copious use of sequencer based electronics that lay the bedrock for the symphonic progressive music on top. Attila Kollar's flute is magnificent as ever,and he often drives the instantly-recognizable Solaris style melodies. Istvan Cziglan's hard edged guitar, and Robert Erdesz's fine synthesizer work round out the leads.
For us prog fans back in the mid 80's who were desperate for quality 70s styled progressive rock, Solaris was a godsend. In retrospect some 35 years later - they still are.
---5/28/18
Other albums heard: Solaris 1990; Back to the Roots (2000 archival); NOAB (2005 archival); Martian Chronicles II (2014)
11/29/24 (new entry)
