Progresiv TM

The '70s were the decade of progressive rock music of all calibers. And it seems not one country of this world was spared when the new kind of sound spilled over like a giant wave of inspiration. Even the European Eastern Bloc countries, where rock music was regarded as subversive by the authorities, had their share of rock bands with a hippie, heavy, or freaked-out direction. These include Omega from Hungary, SBB from Poland, Modry Efekt from the Czech Republic, and, of course, Phoenix from Romania. The latter were the biggest rock music export of their home country, but there were others with them, building a solid spine for the still young and expanding rock scene. One of these unknown forces was the Romanian band Progresiv TM, a band not easily categorized. They loved big melodies with yearning vocals, and mixed blues, folk, jazz, and playfully twisted rock patterns. The guitar had a scratchy and fuzzy distortion that came close to what Tony Iommi ripped off his fretboard on the very early Sabbath albums, even when the composition itself rather felt like a relaxed and jazzy ballad. What you get here on this debut album released in 1976 is a captivating, well produced, and even better played piece of rock music combining influences from everything that was cool at the time the band was formed, around 1972. Folky and catchy heavy rock like Golden Earring or Jethro Tull, dreamy Eastern rock like Omega and Phoenix, utterly grinding guitar power like early Black Sabbath, and some wicked progressive freak-outs along with jazzy breaks. If you are looking for a hot-blooded and steaming yet relaxed unique rock album from the '70s and can get along well with a band singing in its native tongue rather than English, grab this masterpiece.