Browse by Artist: OMEGA

Artist:	OMEGA
Title:	Trombitás Frédi És A Rettenetes Emberek
Label:	HUNGAROTON
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	HUNG 17390CD

The first Omega CD, 2003 edition. "Formed in 1962, Omega began releasing singles in 1966 which featured covers of The Rolling Stones, The Hollies and Herman's Hermits as well as their own original material which reflected these and other Western influences. By 1968, they had briefly toured England and released an album on the UK Decca label under the title Omega Red Star From Hungary, which included some of these singles as well as other tracks which were to appear on Trombidas Fredi es Rettenetes Emberek, their first Hungarian release on the government-owned label, Hungaroton. The themes and messages in the songs were typically '60s, about love & peace and had various approaches to the contemporary '60s rock composition, some sounding like Peter, Paul & Mary ('If I Were The Wind') others like early Rolling Stones ('A Girl Hasn't Gone Home') with trippy guitars and the title track even having a ragtime feel with a honky-tonk sounding piano and a horn section. For the most part though, the album is drenched in psychedelia." --Ian Gledhill, Prog Archives

Artist:	OMEGA
Title:	10000 Lepes
Label:	HUNGAROTON
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	HUNG 17400CD

2003 reissue of the second album from Omega. "Classic album from this legendary Hungarian band. In order to understand and appreciate what a remarkable achievement this work was when it was recorded in 1968, it is perhaps necessary to briefly examine the constraints and restrictions faced by aspiring pop bands behind the veil of The Iron Curtain during the 1960s. Despite the fact that Hungary was one of the first breakaway satellite countries both socially and economically under Josef Kadar's New Economic Mechanism implemented in 1966, a censorship board known as The Song Committee had been established in order to syphon out any sensitive material which it deemed harmful to or which seeked to undermine the idealogical agenda of the state. This was a good thing and a bad thing for the bands. They could play their rock n'roll music, which in itself was considered to be symbolic of Western capitalistic endeavors, but the lyrical contents were not to cross any fine lines politically. One has to bear in mind that this was the time when The Beatles were singing about a revolution, Bob Dylan was speaking his mind through the rock medium and closer to home in Western Europe, bands like Amon Düül and Floh de Cologne were making political musical statements. It was the '60s man! The themes throughout the album are mostly mystical and full of legend and even if the listener is not familiar with the unique Hungarian language, the music is very moody and appropriate to the individual song concepts. Omega evolved into the biggest rock act to emerge from Eastern Europe ever, recording in English and German, touring Western Europe as well as Japan. Omega broke down barriers long before the Berlin Wall was broken down and for those who want a taste of what was going on behind The Iron Curtain rock-wise, in the 1960s, 10000 Lepes is an interesting and important audio document which reveals the early Omega East meets West rock formula. Vintage Eastern European prog which rocked against the odds that takes the listener into a forbidden place in a dangerous time. Highly recommended for serious students of the prog rock genre." -- Ian Gledhill, Prog Archives

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