Progresiv TM – Dreptul de a Visa

1973 Romania

Notes originally published in the Outer Music Diary September 2, 2005. Edited on September 17, 2007.

Romanian collective Progresiv TM seem like distant cousins to the Italian scene, which makes sense given the Latin roots of both races. More than I ever realized before, there are parallels to the Italian group Delirium here. Except that Progresiv TM are considerably heavier and less diverse. Progressiv TM are one of the few bands that have that Black Sabbath guitar tone from the early 1970s. They don't play it in a doom-laden riff style ala the Sabs, but the sound is so very thick. The yin yang is the contrast with the heavy flute presence, which generally carries the melody line. Vocals are well done, dramatic and once again seem Italian (no surprise as Romanian is as close to Latin as any active language). There's also a strong post psych element at play here, which can be off-putting to those who aren't psych fans. For me, appreciation of said style may also contribute to my overall appreciation. While I can't say I've heard every album from Romania, I can claim to have heard all the acclaimed ones in the progressive rock field. And as far as I'm concerned, this album is light years better than anything else I've heard from there. I just wonder how much great material could have been released during the progressive rock heyday of the early 1970s, had it not been for the most oppressive dictator of the Eastern Bloc?

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