Test – Płyń pod prąd / Gdy gaśnie w nas płomień
The images used in this video are photos and scans taken from my original Polish vinyl pressing of “Test” (1974) on the “Pronit” label SXL1082, and my CD reissue on the “Polskie Nagrania Muza” label (1992) PNCD184.
The band lineup consisted of; Wojciech Gassowski (voc, perc), Dariusz Kozakiewicz (g), Tadeusz Kloczewiak (bg), Henryk Tomala (dr). They were born out of the ashes of another Polish band, ‘ABC’, and formed in 1971.
It’s really amazing when you think of the era of which this music was recorded, and how difficult it must have been to be playing this kind of heavy rock in early 70’s Poland. For starters, how many Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple albums did Wojciech and co. have to smuggle into Poland during the late 60’s early 70’s to hone their chops!
This album is a really nice example of loud heavy rock/metal, with some nice acoustic stuff thrown into the mix. Solid playing throughout. Nice heavy Led Zeppelin/Uriah Heep/Lucifer’s Friend type instrumental passages. The Polish lyrics really add to the charm of this album, even if you don’t know what the hell they’re singing about.
Dariusz Kozakiewicz is an outstanding guitarist, and if he had left the confines of Eastern Europe, I’m sure he would have made a much bigger name for himself outside of Poland. His playing sort of reminds me of Mick Box, or even Peter Hesslein’s of Lucifer’s Friend.
I love my original vinyl pressing on the Pronit label, SXL 1082. Not the best quality vinyl, but it still sounds fabulous all things considered. ‘Polskie Nagrania Muza’ reissued the album in 1992 on CD, and the original album tracks don’t even begin until track 6. Don’t these CD compilers have any common sense? I love the idea of bonus tracks, but come on Poland, save those for the end of the album!
The five bonus cuts are from sessions recorded in ’72 & ’73. Two of these songs are covers. One, a very well played, though sort of cheesy version of ‘Smoke on the Water’. They come across sounding like a skilled cover band at some ‘Warsaw’ night club on a Saturday night. There’s also a version of Skin Alley’s ‘Livin in Sin’ which is quite good, but I think ‘Test’ does a much better job with their own original material. At present, I think I enjoy this album even more not having heard it in so long.
What’s become of Wojciech Gassowski you ask? Well for several years now he’s been crooning to little old ladies, much like Bobby Vinton or Wayne Newton! He’s also touted as being Poland’s #1 Elvis Presley impersonator… Seriously! Hey, if Robert Plant can goof around in the ‘Honey Drippers’, then it’s only fair that Wojciech make a few old Polish chicks wet too!
Google his name if you don’t believe me!
