Александр ДОЛЬСКИЙ  Goodbye, XX century

There are very few people who are able to say 'goodbye' to the XX century almost 20 years before it really ends. Alexander Dolsky has recorded his album 'Goodbye XX century' in 1986, and this is probably one of his best releases. Here one can find anything - sentimental romance, hot flamenco rhythms, jazz tunes and simple melodies of amateur songs. Reminiscences of the past go together with memoirs of something that has never happened, Poland landscapes come along with views of Germany during the World War II. Soul and body, love and hate - everything is mixed here, all countries, all times, all feelings. There are only two songs that break the atmosphere of the album: "Money, money, things, things" and "Pessimist song". They are too ironical, too sardonic, but still they let Dolsky show his artistic abilities. Sometimes (and rather often) Dolsky replaces sincerity with pathos, and this pathos seems to be his only aim. This release is a happy exception from this rule. Here sincerity is genuine and pathos is not annoying.