Home » Full Catalogue » CHADIMA, M. & The Ex Extempore Members: The City/Velkomesto
CHADIMA, M. & The Ex Extempore Members: The City/Velkomesto
Of all the bands and musicians to emerge in Czechoslovakia
back in the ‘70s Mikolas was one of the most radical and has certainly been the
most productive, still releasing one fine album after another. This has a
special resonance for me because, back in the early ‘80s when, by sheer luck
Mikolas managed to get to London for a few days, I put together a band for an
impromptu concert with him consisting of Charles Bullen, Tim Hodgkinson, Mick
Hobbes and myself - and the piece we played was The City. Mikolas recorded it himself, officially, after the system change in 1989, and now he has revisited it with a hybrid band of old
and new associates. It not only stands the test of time, but reveals itself as
a classic; seemingly simple - all the elements are in the right place - it
never tries too hard, and it never does the obvious; it’s Czech rock distilled
to an essence and it sounds like nothing else. Extremely well recorded and
beautifully played (the drums are Starr-like in their steady surefooted drive).
Mikolas would have been a legend by now had he been a Brit or American.
L
Code: GR139-2
Price: £14.50