BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN

The title pretty much says it all, doesn't it? I picked this up at Phantom City in Olympia a couple of months ago, and it was a most excellent purchase.  There was a massive series to choose from, all with similarly descriptive titles and, based on the quality of this mix tape, I probably should have picked up things like German Funk and Booty House 1972-74 cause I bet the shit rules.  Apparently a certain K Records maestro is the master behind these eclectic mixes, and all I can say to my first installment is: nice work. From the opening of GENERAL's "I'm So Lazy" and it's distinct RUSH influence, we are taken on a journey of hard rock, psych, surf and boogie that lasts just under an hour.  There is a pretty heavy BEATLES undertone to a lot of these tunes, which is not surprising considering what Eastern music folks might have had access to (very little).  Highlights for me include THE OLYMPICS ("Black Mass For The Nuclear God?" Yes please!), PUHDYS, ZODIC, CERWONE GITARY and TEAM 4.

SOVIET-ERA ROCK AND POP

SIDE 1

1. GENERAL (Hungary)

2. ILLES (East Germany)

3. NIEMEN (Poland)

4. THE OLYMPICS (Czechoslovakia)

5. GRUPPE ABC (East Germany)

6. ----

7. LOCOMOTIVE G.T. (Hungary)

8. ENSEMBLE SINCRON (Romania)
9. PUHDYS (Soviet Union)

10. M. TARNOWSKI/U. PADZIAK (Poland)

SIDE 2

1. ZODIC (Latvia)

2. THE OLYMPICS (Czechoslovakia)

3. INDEXI (Yugoslavia)

4. BAYON (East Germany)

5. CZERWONE GITARY (Poland)

6. THE MATADORS (Czechoslovakia)

7. CENTRIC (East Germany)

8. NIEBIESKD-CZARNI (Poland)

8. TEAM 4 (East Germany)