Search - Solaris :: Rock: 1990

Amazing, lush symphonic progressive rock from Hungary

01/18/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the second (and unfortunately, final) studio record from this great instrumental band. The music is square in the symphonic progressive rock genre, excellent instrumentation throughout. This is a double CD which contains a 20+ minute long track (Los Angeles 2026) and shorter titles, that are partly from the earlier recordings (pre-Martian Chronicles) of the band, but contain new material as well. Look for their first record that is considered as an absolute masterpiece among symph prog rockers (Martian Chronicles). They also have a double album (Live in Los Angeles), released in 1996."

Strictly From Hungary

El Kabong | 10/28/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"1990 is excellent instrumental rock, incorporating elements of symphonic progressive and hard rock with touches of spacerock, fusion & even a moment of pastoral folk now and again. Over the 2 CD set, the compositions stay one step ahead of the listener; just when you think you've got Solaris pinned down, they back you off the plate with inside heat or fool you with a slow curve deep in the count. (Is everyone sick of these baseball analogies? I know I am.) I was actually expecting something more in a Eloyish vein (mainly on account of the name of the band), but this is more energetic and exhilirating than Eloy by a good measure - no vocals, for one thing, and these guys are all ace players with plenty chops...whereas Eloy is a one or two-man show who kinda trance you out with slow-building themes. Unfortunately, ALL of this cd's liner notes/credits are in Hungarian, a language I can't decipher to save my life, but it makes little difference once you hit 'play'. Also I was under the mistaken impression 1990 was a live album, when in actuality it's a mix of new studio tracks and reworked, re-recorded early material predating their first, landmark, release, MARSBELI KRONIKAK. The highlights here are many, foremost being the epic "Los Angeles 2026"; an extended-play tour de force that covers much stylistic territory and never once grows tiresome. I may as well warn you now that the very last track on Disc 2 is, hopefully, some sort of joke...it begins with the "Star Wars"' theme before devolving into the cheesiest disco I've endured in quite some time. It's crap, but it's one 4-minute track stacked against 90+ minutes of high-quality symphonic rock and it at least wraps up the proceedings on a humorous note. Like most former Soviet-satellite states, Hungary continues to produce an impressive torrent of splendid progressive rock that's worth the effort of tracking down and sampling."