THE LOST TAPES, 2LP+CD by RODION

Strut, in conjunction with Ambassador’s Reception and Future Nuggets, presents the first ever retrospective of fabled band Rodion G.A., one of Romania’s best kept musical secrets of the last 30 years !As a band, Rodion G.A. were a unique phenomenon in their homeland at the time,operating in their own universe during a prolific period of recording from 1978 to 1984 at a time of significant political repression under the Ceausescu regime. Bandleader, Rodion Ladislau Rosca, was an enigma. As half-Hungarian, half-Romanian, he lived near the border in Cluj, a city with a healthy music culture which had spawned important prog rock bands incuding Cromatic, Experimental Quintet and Semnal M. Here, Rodion managed to find vinyl, becoming known amongst friends as “King Of Records”. As such, he became equally as steeped in the major Western rock artists of the era – Hendrix, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin – as he was many of the electronic pioneers. He met Kraftwerk during their early days. From the start, Rodion was concerned with his own style of composition and set himself apart from the predominant rock sounds that dominated Romanian music during the late ‘60s. Technically and in his compositions, he was obsessed with every detail. His first sessions were recorded during 1969-1972 - simple, sparse and haunting pieces using reel to reel recorders, based around vocals, guitars and improvised drums. In 1975-6, Rosca formed Rodion G.A., the ‘G.A.’ comprising band members Gicu Fãrca. and Adrian Cãpraru. Rosca had amassed equipment and became a DIY tech wizard, improvising his own techniques of composing using reel to reels. Surrounded by three or four Tesla tape machines.