ZDENEK VALECKO

Artist's Website
Contact Artist
Czech Republic

Warranties and Disclaimers

"Even in our country there are already maniacs, who have decided to create burdensome conceptional rock or metal megaopus such as AYREON. Conceptional albums were popular here couple more years ago (PROGRES 2 etc.), but I haven´t noticed any in last few years... Right now I have got the CD "Chart of Yore" by Zdenek Valecko. And to tell you the truth, there is why to be amazed by some aspects of his work. He had been composing his music between 1987 and 1998 and recording and mastering from 1996 to 2000!!! To keep a purpose in your head for thirteen years, to keep following it, to persevere and to achieve, it is an exploit and only this fact pays a tribute. You must have an enthusiasm or even madness. Eventhough the final quality is reasonable according to the time Zdenek spent on it. It is quite unique in Czech conditions. I cannot say I like all notes in whole project, some parts are not that strong, but some are considered as almost genial. Whole CD is impressive, especially by the instrumentation, where the guitar and keys work dominates. Some play ups, effects and sounds, digital voice bustering as well as keyboard solo are real peaks. It is not worth to describe "Chart of Yore", it is more than necessary to listen to it. It is a piece of mood-making music and first of all one of realized musical dreams. Musical project and progressive rock fans should find it and above all realize that such works are not created only outside of our border." - SPARK

"Chart of Yore is a progressive rock/metal album composed and played entirely by Zdenek Valecko. Instrumentally, the album is driven by electric guitars and synthesizers, while the rhythm section is either absent or made up of some simple drum programming. To give you an idea of Valecko's sound, the music reminded me of a mix between Pink Floyd and Yngwie Malmsteen (and perhaps a bit of Queensryche).

Synthesizers are featured quite heavily in "Chart of Yore," both to create ambient textures that are interwoven throughout the album and to add orchestration to the tracks. Valecko uses simple ideas and plays them out in a cool way. On "Day of St. Eveline," the album kicks off with very dark and very gothic sounding organ effects. Elsewhere, the synthesizers add ambience that complements the guitar playing nicely.

The guitar playing itself is consistently tasteful. Valecko cites David Gilmour and Yngwie Malmsteen as influences (rather, he thanks them, which seems to imply that they are influences). Accordingly, Valecko's guitar playing mixes a shreddy, neo-classical technique with a touch of a soulful blues style. This might sound chimerical, but it is pulled off nicely. Occasional acoustic and classical guitar pieces add to the overall diversity of the instrumentation. On track six, "Fire and Water," the listener is treated to a short but compelling guitar and violin duet. It is a very pretty moment indeed.

While I have praised Chart of Yore, I should note a few points that I found to be rather weak. My reservations mostly involve the lyrical rather than the musical content. Near the beginning of the album, someone who best could be described as Arnold Schwarzenegger delivers a monologue intended to fill the listener in on the story. Yes, you will inevitably laugh an embarrassed laugh if you hear it, and I for one, could have done without it. Furthermore, various parts of the songs have these "robot noises" which I found ridiculous, even if they were thematically related to the story (I won't get into that). Valecko's lyrics are often silly themselves, but I won't get into that either. On the other hand, his delivery of the lyrics, while mostly nondescript, is in earnest.

All told, Valecko has some clear talent when it comes to composing and guitar playing. This combination makes for a one man band capable of producing some great music. In fact, if Valecko traded Schwarzenegger and the robots in for a talented bassist, a drummer, and someone else to write the lyrics then he would have a potent prog-metal outfit on his hands." - Left of the Dial