OLYMPIC - Zelva - CZE Supraphon Remastered Press - LISTEN

"At the same October session the band recorded several rather modern-sounding tracks which, alongside the pieces committed to tape in early spring, ended up on the debut album Želva, released in 1968 - at the same time the first Czech long-player of rock music in history! On this record, released in mono and in stereo and at the same time excellently produced, the band offered, composed for the most part by the duo Janda/Chrastina, a very attractive and non-trivial mixture of British freakbeat from the mid-60s close to The Beatles and The Yardbirds; white rhythm'n'blues in the style of The Rolling Stones and Them and the then ever more popular and practically unheard of in the Eastern Bloc countries early psychedelia in the vein of The Byrds, The Doors and The Who. The 35-minute album opened with Želva, released earlier on a single - a lively number with harmonica, based on a strong, somewhat broken rhythm, decidedly drawing on early Them - Van Morrison. A classic! Second came Vzpomínka Plíživá, based on the interplay of guitars and organ - a piece created during the October session alluding a little to the psychedelic Byrds, but still evoking echoes of the early Animals. The following bawdy Línej Skaut, as if created during a decent drinking session, brought to mind the mood of 'The Good Soldier Švejk', but I confess I could live without this, in all, Dylan-esque number, recorded with the help of an accordion, trombone and simple strikes of the bass drum... Then the band offered two charming, rock ballads: the decidedly Beatles-like Dám Zejtra Zas Flám, sounding almost like an outtake from the album Help!, and Modravé Mámení, strongly reminiscent of The Byrds (and of I Got You Babe by the duo Sonny & Cher) and garnished with nice drumming from the evidently gifted Jan 'Sorry' Pacák and the pleasant sound of a ringing guitar, nicely overdriven during the solo. The first side was closed by the decent Nikdo Neotvírá - a cheerful piece, though adding little to the whole, inspired by I Feel Fine by The Beatles. The second part opened with the decidedly Stones-like Nebezpečná Postava, played at a rather unusually fast rhythm, though too light for me, after which came the very successful, balladic Snad Jsem To Zavinil Já, released earlier on the A-side of a single - a catchy, guitar-driven piece sung by Janda in a gentle voice, at moments reminiscent of The House Of The Rising Sun by The Animals and right at the end also evoking For Your Love by The Yardbirds. There is no need to be ashamed of good models! Recorded in February 1967 and sung in a very relaxed manner, Dědečkův Duch was a much-needed dose of dynamic and catchy pop-rock garnished with neat entries of sharp guitar. By contrast the dreamily sung by the bassist Pavel Chrastina, gently swaying, excellent Jen Bůh Ví was a pleasant, yet at the same time majestic, almost psychedelic ballad, and right after it came Telefon, lasting less than 2 minutes - a rhythm'n'blues number with harmonica and a nice part of jangling guitar, played at a very fast tempo. The record was closed in great style by the genuinely legendary Psychiatrický Prášek, lasting 6 minutes and 20 seconds - a superb, decidedly psychedelic, rock piece, a peculiar melange of She's Not There by The Zombies, I'm Going Home by The Rolling Stones and The End by The Doors - garnished, on top of that, with haunted vocals straight from the titular psychiatric ward! It is only a pity the band did not play for 2-3 minutes longer... It has to be admitted that the LP Želva is listened to almost in one breath and I am truly full of admiration that our southern neighbours were able to produce such an innovative, refreshing and at the same time full of attractive (though sometimes borrowed) melodies, record! At that time the rest of rock Eastern Europe was still staring solely at The Beatles, The Animals or, worse still, at soul music... It is worth knowing that only about 5000 copies came out in the artistic sleeve with the titular tortoise (by the drummer), and since the deadlines at the monopolistic printing house were long and busy, subsequent pressings of the record came out either in hastily made, unattractive sleeves, or in sleeves with the large Supraphon logo on the front and with the track titles and an editorial note on the back. After 1970, meanwhile, the album ceased to be reissued at all and today it is a great rarity, though practically never seen in great condition. Records in 'EX/EX' condition are worth over 150 euros, while 'Near Mint' copies in the tortoise sleeve can easily fetch prices of 250-300 euros! I confess I never had a problem getting hold of the band's albums, because quite by chance in the mid-90s a Czech tourist brought the first three Olympic titles (in almost perfect condition) to my shop (stuffed into a huge backpack) and with undisguised joy exchanged them for CDs that interested him..." A REVIEW BY JACEK LEŚNIEWSKI FROM A BOOK ABOUT ROCK IN THE FORMER EASTERN BLOC, BEGUN BUT ABANDONED HALF A YEAR LATER (2021). 2013 remastered reissue, sealed.