Věci / Things

The mysterious name Combo FH may not mean much to many listeners, but rest assured – it is definitely a group worth discovering. Formed in 1974 and led by keyboard player Daniel Fikejz, the band developed a highly original style that could be described as a fusion of jazz, rock, fusion, avant-garde and contemporary classical music. It was a twisted, highly unclassifiable blend recalling the work of Frank Zappa, Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Gryphon, and, finally, the Dutch band Supersister. The group’s debut album, presented here, was released in 1981 and consisted entirely of instrumental music. It featured 14 tracks forming what are essentially two suites of around twenty minutes each, positively bursting with unconventional melodic ideas, rich harmonic solutions, intricate rhythmic structures, unexpected stylistic turns, and imaginative, surprise-filled arrangements. The album’s release date should not discourage fans of classic rock, as much of it sounds as though it had been recorded a good five or six years earlier. This album is now being released for the first time as a standalone CD with its original cover artwork. To complement the original LP, we have added three tracks from Combo’s debut EP, released in 1977 as part of the Mini Jazz Club series. These highly improvisational pieces are much more firmly rooted in jazz-rock and fusion aesthetics. This edition comes in a classic jewel case with a 16-page full-colour booklet featuring, among other things, an essay on the group and its music in both Polish and English. The entire material has been remastered directly from Supraphon’s original master tapes. Fans of original, uncompromising, non-commercial music immersed in jazz and rock will not be disappointed! We encourage you to listen to the audio samples. AND HERE IS A SHORT VIDEO PRESENTING THE RELEASE: