Solaris (band)
Solaris (band) is a progressive rock band from Hungary. Established in 1978, then band went through several formations. Their music has a strong melodic content, often laced with Eastern European themes, and is highlighted by the use of dynamics and extended thematic development. There is a great deal of interplay among the lead instruments of flute, guitar and keys which is used to good effect in developing their themes. The emphasis is not on providing solo spots for the various instruments, but rather in employing those instruments within the context of the development of the individual piece.
The band's name is a reference to the Stanisław Lem sci-fi novel, Solaris. The first album's title is a reference to The Martian Chronicles. The members said that they were influenced by these - and other - sci-fi books.
99% of Solaris' songs have no lyrics - just the music. The first track on their first LP, Martial Chronicles however is an exception. There are a few lines spoken over the music. Some critics have described this as Alvin and the Chipmunks imitating martian language. Actually, it's the band members' native tongue, Hungarian. And yes, it's human speech with the picth shifted up a few notes (octaves), but remember, this was made at the beginning of the 80's, so it was supposed to be cool. The lines are: "Megrepedt tükrök (Broken mirrors) / Kormos acélfalak (Sooty steel walls) / Halott szeméthegyek (Dead piles of garbage) / És szennyes tavak (And polluted lakes) / Azt mondod, itt élt valaha az ember? (You say mankind used to live here?)".
The band had an official website until about 2002 (www.solarismusic.com), but unfortunately it no longer exists. In June 2003, Attila Kollár (the flutist) said in an interview that the band is still alive, and they will start working on a new studio album that year.
Members
- Erdész, Róbert - keyboards
- Kisszabó, Gábor - bass
- Tóth, Vilmos - drums
- Kollár, Attila - flute
- Cziglán, István (deceased) - guitars
Past Members
- Seres, Attila - bass (1979-80)
- Bogdán, Csaba - guitars (1981)
- Rauschenberger, Ferenc - drums (1981)
Discography
- Solaris (SP), 1980
- Counterpoint (SP), 1981
- Marsbéli Krónikák (Martian Chronicles) (LP), 1983
- 1990 (double LP), 1990
- Live in Los Angeles (double LP), 1996
- Nostradamus - Book of Prophecies (LP), 1999