Omega Time Robber & Skyrover (2-CD)

(MIG Records) 14 tracks, digipack

Part 3 of the re-releases from the successful years of Omega on the Bacillus - label of producer Peter Hauke, this time with the albums Time Robber and Skyrover:
After four studio albums and one compilation the Hungarian top stars Omega were still only an insider tip in the West. However, an upward trend in sales figures could be seen, even if sales were far from going through the roof. In addition, the band had developed, had become more professional live and in their appearance. The Bacillus / Bellaphon managers therefore wanted to keep Omega in any case and extended the contract with the quintet in 1976 until 1980.

And the latter moved with Peter Hauke to the Europasound studios in Offenbach and recorded Time Robber there. The LP became Omega's breakthrough in the West. Until today, the album is said to have sold about two million copies. And this success was no coincidence, as the Hungarians delivered a complex, self-contained work for the first time. On "Skyrover" great pieces were set. Again Omega moved to Offenbach and produced an exquisite Time Robber follow-up in solo direction, which was in no way inferior to its so immensely successful predecessor. Quite a few Omega fans even considered "Skyrover" to be the better record, as it elegantly merged the styles that were sometimes still somewhat stiffly juxtaposed on Time Robber.

Russian Winter - titled "Lena" on the Hungarian LP version - became a live classic. The song stood out from the musical concept with its Eastern European folk references and probably became a fan favorite for that very reason.