Well, if you want to hear the Estonian version of Frank Zappa, here it is. This project, lead by the enigmatic Peeter Volkonski, is, for the lack of a better word, unique. He has been known for years as "out of this world" or just plain old mad, but this project is among his most unique. Though he is only the singer, he composed all of the music -- which is Zappa-ish in its unpredictability and oddity, while Floyd-like in its atmospherics and mood. But there is no word, in any language, to describe his material. His voice is also unique, with a strong sense of traditional Russian singers like Vissotsky, but also something strangely Roger Waters-like.

This Rosna Aknad CD, which was originally recorded in 1987 but re-released on CD in 1997, is in two parts. The first part is called "Majakonski", as the lyrics for the six songs are poems written by famous Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovskii. The music is esoteric and is quite adventurous at points. For example, the middle section of "A vsje taki" (Nevertheless) shifts the song dramatically away from the heavy, late 1970s Rush-style sound. Some of the other material brings to mind Pink Floyd from the days of "The Final Cut" with its moody vocals accompanied by piano.

One of the oddest tracks on the album is "Marusya otravilas" (Marus Spoiled), which if you have never heard Russian singer Vissotsky, you'll have a good shock. Almost makes you want to grab a bottle of vodka to enjoy this. The next track "Bumazhnye uzhasy" (Paper Horrors) has some of his best Zappa-esque weirdness come out -- check out the chorus. Odd is the only word to describe this.

The last track of the first part is "Poslushayte" (Listen), which is a good moody track. Again it hints of Waters, but there are also a beautiful acoustic section that hearkens back to the fateful b-side of Rush's "Caress of Steel". It is a hoot when he sings the final verses in several languages, ranging from Estonian to English, as well as French and Latvian.

The second section is exactly that: "Hommage a Salvador Dali". Instead of lyrics, the paintings are shown in the sleeves. The first track, "Le Premiers Jours du Printemps" is by far the oddest thing you'll hear this year. It starts out as a sick Scottish folk song, with bagpipe over the oddest key. Fish would get a kick out of the singing and music, which segues into a weird Finnish Tango-like thing in the same odd key. Then it goes into a traditional jazz sound, in that odd key as well, before reversing, eventually going back to Scotland. My goodness is this weird, showing his sanity at the level of Zappa -- not that it's a bad thing.

The final track, "La Madone de port Lligat" is a beautiful and soft atmospheric song, sung in Estonian. It shows off Volkonski's vocals, as it can be awesome without all the antics. The music is also surprisingly soothing, tracing a bit of Floyd but is again unique.

Volkonski is known for his eccentricity to a point, but his voice is also very highly regarded. Some of his other projects are on the top of the progressive area. Even the mixture of prog and folk in the short-lived supergroup Hõim worked in a very unique way. Perhaps Rosta Aknad is not the best representation of Estonian prog, but nevertheless a fun recording. If you like oddity like Zappa, this should be right up your alley. Even if you're not, it is a hoot to listen to.

Mel Huang
Tallinn, Estonia
5 August 1999

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