A new group is taking Latvia by storm. The group’s name is H20 and with its smash hit single “Uzmini nu” achieving frequent airplay during 2006, it seems poised to be one of the dominant groups of the Latvian music scene in the near future. In fact, “Uzmini nu” was awarded the Latvian Music Award for Best Pop Song in 2006, not to mention being No. 1 in the Radio SWH 2006 Top 40, and No. 2 in the Radio SWH 2006 Latvian music Top 15. Quite the impressive feat for these young musicians!

Of course, those awards were for one song . As we’ve seen in the past, a group can write a hit single, but when time comes to write a complete album, it turns out the group was only briefly able to capture lightning in a bottle. H20 released its debut album, also called Uzmini nu, in May and did manage to extend its winning streak beyond one song.

The primary members of the group are Jānis Strapcāns on vocals and Staņislavs Judins on bass and keyboards. The other instruments on the album, such as drums and guitars, are performed by a number of different musicians. The group’s profile on the Web site draugiem.lv notes that the group came into being on March 3, 2003, with its first public performance of the song “Kā klusums kliedz.” H2O has performed a number of times at the Bildes music festival, as well as many other venues this year. Also, currently rounding out the group are Edgars Ansons-Tomsons (drums) and Juris Kalnišs (guitar). The band’s style is melodic rock and reminds me quite a bit of Tumsa, another Latvian group.

While there are a number of songs I like on this album, overall my impression of this album is that it is very… safe, I suppose. No major surprises, just inoffensive pop songs, generally easy listening, but nothing that makes you pause to take a closer look. Notable songs include the aforementioned “Uzmini nu” (for which, deservedly, the band won many laurels), as well as songs like “Cik daudz” and “Kā klusums kliedz,” all very pretty, not to mention catchy. The rest of the songs on the album do sort of blend into each other after a while, making them hard to recall individually.

The album of course has the obligatory song in English, “Gorgeous” with lyrics like “She was shiny and me too,” whatever that might mean.

While certainly a well-crafted recording with a few standout songs, overall it is a very lightweight album, containing very few surprises. Perhaps that is for the best, as nothing here is too jarring or out of place, just simply crafted and harmless pop songs. The production might be a bit too slick for my tastes. Some of the songs could use a bit of an edge to them, but the album does sound good and all the performances are solid. Certainly this is a solid base upon which to build. As these guys mature perhaps they will try to stretch their boundaries and try something a bit more ambitious to differentiate themselves from the similar crop of groups (not just in Latvia but worldwide). I await H2O’s next album, where hopefully the band will flex its muscles a bit more.

One has to admire the palm tree. Even in the most oppressively hot and dry desert weather, it is able to stay green. In Latvian, this concept is expressed as “palmas zaļo vienmēr” (palms are always green), a phrase that is an expression of hope in the face of adversity. This phrase was most likely coined by playwright Venta Vīgante, who wrote a play with the same title. Late last yar, veteran Latvian group bet bet borrowed the title for its latest compact disc.

bet bet, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2006, formed in 1991. Violinist and singer Zigfrīds Muktupāvels came over from the defunct Zodiaks. Well-known Latvian lyricist, drummer, music industry executive and occasional vocalist Guntars Račs came from a short stint in Jauns mēness. Rounding out the group at its founding were Uģis Tirzītis on guitar and Aivis Kalvāns on bass, both also formerly of Jauns mēness. Former Zodiaks guitarist Aivars Gudrais also joined the band briefly in the early days. Bassist Kalvāns departed the group in 2006 and was replaced by Andris Alviķis. The group’s lineup as of the recording of Palmas zaļo vienmēr was Muktupāvels, Račs, Tirzītis and Alviķis.

Six years passed since the release of the band’s previous album, 2000’s criminally underrated Ceļš, kuru iet. Though the group was sporadically working on songs, and a few singles did appear over that time, Palmas zaļo vienmēr finally appeared in October 2006. And it was worth the wait—bet bet has once again released a great collection of songs in the group’s own unique style.

One might think that with the musical pedigree that these guys have, they would create epic and complex works, but their work is of a quite different style. From their earliest work—popular songs like “Man vienalga viss” and “Diena”—their songs were simple, catchy and with a touch of humor that is often lacking in Latvian music. One might compare them to the American group the Traveling Wilburys, also made up of respected musicians and performers who recorded music that was deceptively simple with a touch of humor.

One of the songs on Palmas zaļo vienmēr is the tongue-in-cheek “Nekādu problēmu” (No Problems), with music and words by Račs. The song first appeared on the 100% svaigs Nr. 7 collection, released in 2004. A slow and leisurely song about not having any problems and “es nēesmu nevienam sunim parādā” (I am in debt to no dog), it became very popular. Interestingly, the version on Palmas zaļo vienmēr has been completely redone from a musical perspective. It now is much more up-tempo and Muktupāvels adopts a much rougher sounding voice when singing. To be honest, I prefer the original, slower version.

Another plant that grows in extreme conditions is the cactus, and this plant also gets an ode of its own: “Kaktuss,” with music by Tirzītis and words by Račs. No matter what is going on, the cactus behind the window is colorfully blooming.

It is not always Muktupāvels who handles the lead vocals. Račs handles vocal duties on “Uz jauno krastu” and guitarist Tirzītis sings on one of my favorite tracks, “Mēmais kino.” And not all the songs are cheerful. The somber “Kas mani pie tevis tur” asks the questionm “Kas mani pie tevis tur un neļauj prom iet” (What binds me to you and prevents me from leaving?).

A nod to their influences and a fitting conclusion to the album comes in the Latvian version of the Hank Williams song “Jambalaya.” In Latvian it is known as “Džambulaja” (with Latvian text by Alfrēds Krūklis).

The packaging includes all lyrics, and the cover features an odd picture of the band dressed as mechanics in a sea of tires—perhaps an ode to the fact that these “simpler” songs are more intended for the “common man” rather than some erudite musical scholar. Or perhaps it is just meant to be an amusing picture.

Six years is a long time to wait for any album, but it was worth the wait this time, as bet bet has delivered yet another infectiously listenable recording, full of songs that quickly grow on the listener. The band’s sense of humor and also a sense of joie de vivre are evident. The album confirms bet bet as one of the best and most consistent Latvian acts performing today.

The past several months I’ve become rather giddy because there has been an upswing in the quality of the Latvian music industry. Rock group Gain Fast continues the upward trend of good times and even better music.

Gain Fast’s debut album, Viss mainījies (Everything’s Changed), came out in February of this year, but the band is no stranger to Latvia’s airwaves. The group’s first single, “Brīži” (Moments), came out in 2004, jumped to Radio SWH’s No. 1 song of the week, and dominated the No. 1 spot for more than five weeks in “Latvian Airplay Top 50.” Slowly but surely, one single after another, Gain Fast kept its place on the charts and has finally given listeners something tangible.

With their jeans, vintage T-shirts and blazers, the members of Gain Fast (Kaspars Zlidnis on vocals, Didzis Bardovskis on bass, Andžejs Grauds on drums, Gatis Vanags on guitar and Oskars Tretjuks on keyboard) not only look and like an alternative rock band should, but they sound like one, too. So I was confused when the album started with a slow, acoustic guitar intro, sounding more like something one might hear from a Līvi album or from Rodrigo y Gabriela on barbituates.

But then the real stuff kicks in. A fade from the soothing acoustics into a strong rock beat bring us to the first track, “Tavās acīs” (In Your Eyes). The track’s strong percussion immediately pulled me in, and although I was at first a bit thrown off by the vocals (they sounded too soft for the music accompanying them), they grew on me.

“Kliedz” (Shout), possibly my favorite track, is a very busy song with no lack of vocals, percussion, keyboard and islandish-sounding guitar. Its full sound moves the album right along, leaving no time or room for disappointment. The lyrics are strong as well:

Nokrītu es atkal zemu
Nav vairs spēka piecelties
Kliedz, ja gribi mani atmodināt
Kliedz, ja es tev neesmu vienaldzīgs
Jo dažkārt nevar skaidri zināt
Pie kā lai tagad pieķerās
Tā var spārnus apdedzināt
Ja nezina kam lai pieglaužas

It makes you want to shout along with Zlidnis. I’m convinced that Gain Fast understands how alternative rock is done.

The fourth track, although it’s good, is not particularly impressing. It’s just a step down from the first three songs. The album’s title track brings it back up a notch, slipping back into the great vocals and cutting rhythms.

In the next set of songs, with the exception of track eight, Gain Fast shows off its softer side.  With the exception of light-hearted punk-rocky track eight (which is very fun to sing along with), tracks six through 11 are great songs to relax to.  What surprised me were the English-language tracks Gain Fast has decided to put on its first album. “Last Goodbye” could be any other song heard on any other rock station on the radio, but “Oh Lord” grinds my gears.  It’s too country sounding and, in my opinion, takes away from the rest of the album. Luckily for Gain Fast, its first single track, “Brīži” makes it seem like “Oh Lord” never happened. Thank God.

“Brīži,” my second favorite track, gets back to the “real stuff.” The tracks calls to mind bands like Nickelback and 3 Doors Down, or any popular alt.rock band that tends to stick to more soulful songs. Gain Fast has easily captured the style and it fits well.

For the sake of others, and myself, I’m going to pretend that track 12, a “bossa nova” remix of “Tavās acīs,” doesn’t exist. The band tried something different, but it didn’t work for me.

On the flip side, I love, love, love track 13, which is nothing more than a remix of “Kliedz.” I’m obviously already partial to the song, but the remix really is a wonderful one. It gets me moving to the beat every time and sticks in my head (not unwelcomed) for hours after.

The last track is an English version of “Var jau būt.” it’s a bit different from its Latvian counterpart, but it manages to maintain the overall tone. In general, the English is all right—not perfect, but all right.

For the people who are fans of some of the other groups I’ve already mentioned, like Nickelback or 3 Doors Down, Gain Fast will be right up their alley. Viss mainījies is a great album and I can easily get into it, minus the few bumps along the road. I’d like to personally congratulate Gain Fast on a wonderful first album that’s like a gift that keeps on giving.