Radim Hladík - Má Hra 1969-2018 Album

Supraphon Release Information

An extraordinary album to commemorate an extraordinary musician

Less than two years following the passing of Radim Hladík, Supraphon has prepared a great selection from his work. Best-known as a brilliant electric and acoustic guitarist, Hladík was also a composer, arranger, producer and bandmaster. He was an artist relentlessly keen on collaborating on intriguing projects, a number of which have been captured on this extensive compilation, containing recordings made between 1969 and 2018, starting with those of Blue Effect to newly discovered tracks.

The extraordinary task would not have been accomplished without Zlata Hladíková, who organised everything, and Radim Hladík, Jr., who sought out and remastered the sound of dozens, perhaps even hundreds of hours of music. The content of one of the CDs was selected by Pavel Víšek, who is also responsible for the sleeve notes, while the graphic designer Lukáš Fišárek was advised by his uncle Petr Sís. Many of Radim Hladík’s former colleagues and friends made it possible to include on the CDs lesser-known recordings or recordings that have not previously been made public. All those who worked on the project did so with great zeal and with all their heart.

The result of the joint endeavour is four cohesive CDs, which are, however, not entirely differentiated by style and particular artists, with the music and the people behind it now and then blending: 1. Blue Effect, 2. Collaboration, 3. Films and 4. Projects. They concern examples of pieces as typologically different as are essential rock, occasionally influenced by jazz, high-quality pop rock, surprising folk, scores for both famous and forgotten films, incidental music, ambient and other special projects. The scope of Radim’s work was admirable, with his performance style being immediately recognisable. By right has the 4CD set been named after one of the artist’s best-known compositions. The compilation began to be prepared back in 2016 with a view to marking Hladík’s 70th birthday, yet he suspended the work at the moment when he felt he would not be able to finish it.

It is sad that the project has been completed without the artist himself. Yet it is great that the project at least serves to showcase Radim Hladík’s versatile talent.