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Reviews

The Blue Effect — Meditace
(Bonton 71 0382-2, 1970/1996, CD)

by Mac Beaulieu, Published 2001-12-01

Meditace Cover art

This 1970 release from Czechoslovakia's rocking Blue Effect (later to become Modrý Efekt) wears its date amusingly on its disc sleeve, with the very youthful band draped in comically stereotypical hippie garb. The music follows suit, dated in some positive and negative ways. They hadn't fully reached their voice yet, so what we find is a few attempts at radio-friendly rock songs, sometimes with a production to match replete with the occasional string and horn section. Apparent is a strong influence from the British blues rock of the day (Yardbirds, Animals, Mayall). One thing that is also apparent however is the smoking guitar of Radim Hladík, who doesn't look a day over 17 here. Now that expectations are suitably diminished, I'll have to say that they do a decent job of it. They do the John Mayall thang on "Little Girl," with the vocalist pulling off amazingly convincing transatlantic English. A solid performance is put in by all, including lead and harmony vocals. "Deserted Alley" is kind of a Creedence meets The Animals, while "Blues About Stone" is solid early Led Zeppelin blues: slow, raunchy, white boy blues rock, that doesn't suffer much from the comparison. Includes seven bonus tracks from 1969 which are even more of a mixed bag. Tread carefully.

Filed under: Reissues, Issue 23, 1996 releases, 1970 recordings

Related artist(s): Modrý Efekt (Blue Effect), Radim Hladík

 

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