Střela zastavená v jantaru

Střela zastavená v jantaru - Bullet stuck in succinite

„Everything is an inspiration, even the slightest pettiness.“

Květy, the recognizable Czech band, are about to release the new album Střela zastavená v jantaru. The record will be full of colours and emotions. Wild pounding at guitar decorated with pins is mixed with temple chorals, all drawned in pulsating music. The sound of the band remains absolutely unclassifiedable on this record due to its music pioneering and unusual set of instruments.

Year and half has passed since the releasing of Květy´s last album Kocourek a horečka. This record was highly praised by music critical reviewers and wide public, also, and won two Anděl Music Award of Czech Acedamy of Popular Music. Public appreciation contributed to the more frequent touring of the band and on the other hand made no harm to the musicians. As the the leader guitarist, singer and composer of the band, Martin E. Kyšperský, puts it : „ All of us went thought few bands which had sooner or later fallen apart so we appreciate there is no one literally unbereable in the band, right now … it is a gift from the heaven above.“ During live shows the band has prepared and tested material for the new album: „We played some of the songs some time earlier before the recording of the new album, the others were practised only few days before entering the recording studio. This is the way we always used ti do it.“.

The new album, as the previous one, was recorded in almost home environment of the band, Indies Studio, Brno, Czech Repiblic, under the supervision of Broněk Šmíd. „Broněk is a very gifted sensible and kind person. He knows when some critique is needed and after all the years we spent together we all benefit a lot from this relationship, especialy from understanding each other.“. Result of this cooperation is eleven songs, carefuly arranged and performed with extraordinery inner energy. Passionate singing brings the lyrics which could be called the pure and well-tuned poetry which has no reference in Czech music scene for its earnest. Amongst the musician guests singer Marta Svobodobá (Budoár staré dámy) keyboard player Milan Nytru and trumpetist Michal Geru could be found. Květy has not changed their recognizable sound. Therefore, there is a reason to beleive the band leader Michal E. Kyšperský when he talks about the new record: „It is still us. We look for ourselves and we believe our looking could be fascinating for some people around us. Some songs are very raw and striking. The others are melodic, at least I think so, and that excites us, too.“.

Record will be released in cream-coloured digipack which is full of collages. This cover, as well as the new music-video for the track Cirkus directed by Pavla Kačírková, is a part of the album´s artificial concept. As leader of the band, Martin E. Kyšperský, puts it: „My part is to reinforce the staged scenes which has been shooted separetely and put into the music-video, afterwards. Besides the shots of band´s members, there is no other filmic material in the video, all the rest are the photographies from the end of the nineteenth century. The concept of the video evokes the collages from the cover of our previous record and we work with the same principles in the cover of our new album, although the technique and the atmosphere might differ a bit. I myself am excited by the collages for their possibilities of recyclation. Putting the staff into new context, the unuseable material may gain new extensions and unexpectable meanings - sometimes grotesque somethimes sad, but surely surrealistic and witty. To deliver such values is our goal.“.

interview (January 2008) with Martinem E. Kyšperským