Rodion G.a.

Belatedly, one of the most innovative Eastern European bands make their debut. They’re lead by a true musical maverick, Rodion Rosca. He’s more than a musician though. Much more. He’s an inventor, philosopher, poet and dreamer. He invented many of the instruments that feature on Behind The Curtain-The Lost Album. Other instruments he rescued and modified. His genius extends to transforming everyday devices into musical instruments. Using these musical instruments, Rodion Rosca’s talents as a composer, philosopher, poet and writer shine through. The result was an album of innovative and groundbreaking music, Behind The Curtain. It was intended to be Rodion G.A’s debut album. Sadly, fate intervened and the album was never released.

During the Communist era, there was only one Romanian record label. This was the state-owned Electrecord label. Releasing an album on the Electrecord label wasn’t exactly going to be a profitable enterprise. Rodion wasn’t going to become a rich man. Then fate robbed Rodion of the opportunity of releasing his debut album. 

The tapes of Rodion G.A’s debut album went missing. Nobody knew where they were. Rumours surrounded their whereabouts. Had they fallen into the hands of the state censor? Other rumours were that the music had been stolen by a jealous rival musician and that he’d burnt the tapes. There was even the rumour that Rodion G.A’s debut album had been smuggled out of Romania. Over the years, rumours grew surrounding the mystery over what many people referred to as The Lost Album. Then last year, the mystery was solved.

Rodion found himself living in a cottage in rural Romania. Apart from the occasional concert, Rodion was no longer involved in music. His musical career was another country. He still had the remnants of his makeshift studio. They were now akin to museum pieces. They were a connection to his past. So were the pile of boxes and packing cases. One day, Rodion decided to start sorting through their contents. This was no easy task. It took several weeks. Towards the end of this journey through Rodion’s past, Rodion found some old reel-to-reel tapes in amongst some old photos. 

He had no idea what was on them. Fortunately, Rodion still had his beloved reel-to-reel tape recorder. With some TLC, he had the reel-to-reel tape recorder up and running. He started spending time listening to the old tapes. Some were just ideas for tracks, other recordings of rehearsals. Then Rodion hit the jackpot. 

He found the long lost album. The album that had long been lost, was now found. It had never left Rodion’s possession. All the time, it had been amongst the photos that will feature in  the sleeve-notes to Behind The Curtain-The Lost Album. However, that wasn’t the end of Rodion’s discoveries. He should be commended for his foresight in signing such an innovative and groundbreaking musician, and releasing this long lost, groundbreaking album, Behind The Curtain-The Lost Album.

This should be a joyous time, and a cause for celebration. The music that was for so long lost, has been found and will be issued as Behind The Curtain-The Lost Album on BBE Music. Sadly, my joy is tempered, given that my good friend Rodion Ladislau Rosca is dying. Tragically, Rodion Ladislau Rosca is dying from liver cancer and Hepatitis B and C. This means that music on Behind The Curtain-The Lost Album, could be the last Rodion G.A. album released during Rodion’s lifetime. That will not be the end of Rodion G.A. 

Rodion G.A’s music will forever live on, in the memories of music lovers everywhere. They will continue to cherish the music of a mercurial and enigmatic musical genius, Rodion Ladislau Rosca who I have been fortunate to call my friend. His parting gift to music lovers everywhere is Behind The Curtain-The Lost Album, which features Rodion G.A. doing what they do best, creating innovative and groundbreaking music. That’s almost an understatement.

Describing the music on Behind The Curtain-The Lost Album as innovative is just the start. It’s so much more that. The music is ambitious, brave, inventive, dramatic, experimental, futuristic, melancholy, groundbreaking and way ahead of its time. That’s the case from the opening bars of the genre-melting musical journey that’s Behind The Curtain-The Lost Album.

Literally, musical genres melt into one. Behind The Curtain-The Lost Album isn’t an album of one type of music. Far from it. It’s a journey through musical genres and influences. Everything from rock, Krautrock, electronica, psychedelia, prog rock, avant-garde, experimental and indie rock shine through. So does post punk.