Blue Effect: 52 Years Since the New Synthesis

Fifty-two years have passed since the release of the first New Synthesis, which Blue Effect recorded together with the Jazz Orchestra of the Czechoslovak Radio with conductor Kamil Hácha. At that time, due to the political situation, the Panton company had to release it under the honored name of the M. Efekt group.

When the albums were released in 2009 as part of the box set 1969-1989 Albums & singles & bonuses, the guitarist Radim Hladík, the main persona of the band, already had around him members who were more than a generation younger. He jokingly said that they were the most perfect revival in the world. Singer Viktor Sodoma also accompanied them on the tour. They played together in The Matadors. And he will start the concert on Monday.

The pure soul of Radim Hladík

“The Matadors originated in the German Democratic Republic and initially played only there. They emerged from the Pra-Be group, like Prague–Berlin. When they had a concert in Czechoslovakia, I was excited. It was an excellent group with the best vocals and the best guitarist. And with great equipment, arranged in Germany by manager Wilfried Jelinek,” says Sodoma.

When asked how he got into the band, he answers: “I got an offer in 1966 and something like that is not rejected. It was an absolute bomb. We went on tour and tore it down here. But unfortunately, at that time, no one else recognized this music, except for the fans who came to see us.”

Since the band only received sixty crowns gross per head for playing, they accepted an offer to play in Switzerland in the summer of 1967. In Czechoslovakia, she played in stadiums, there in bars.

Foto: Brainzone

Radim Hladík

“It was hard work. I always sang all 120 songs we had. It was more than six hours of playing with two breaks in between. The benefit was that we played together perfectly and our repertoire also gained ground,” recalls Sodoma.

At that time, before August 1968, there was still a relaxed atmosphere. Sodoma went to private English lessons because we could sing in English, artists could create freely, people had fun. “But the tanks arrived on August 21 and nothing could be done,” he adds.

“Then I was with Petr Spálený for a while and then I went to František Ringo Čech, which was completely different from what I had done before. Then I was in the Semafor theater, where they told me not to go there with Czech songs. Now I’m a veteran, an advanced retiree, but all the things I sang are still heard.”

On Monday at Lucerna Music Bar, Hladík’s time with The Matadors will be remembered. The compositions of the group Blue Effect are sung by guests Iva Marešová, Pavel Bohatý, Tomáš Fröde and Yannick Tevi from the group Vanua2.

Radim Hladík will be reminded of Festiwall with Michal Pavlíček

Singer Lešek Semelka: Today is full of monstrous songs

2023-12-08 18:10:22
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