HOLDFÉNYKERT

Another proof that Eastern Europe has a lot to offer to the progressive rock world. Holdfenykert is a very strong debut album from a young band, released in 2006. Band leader Akos Bogati-Bokor (known from many Musea albums, Samurai Of Prog albums, Tabula Smaragdina and You and I) gathered musicians to record the first album of this project. Soon after the release, they played together with PETER BANKS (of Yes) and Flamborough Head (NL) in Budapest.

The album has an acoustic feel, with beautiful flute, acoustic guitars and lots of Mellotrons and Moog solos. The sound is excellent, rich and dynamic.

The first song Napfenykert has odd time signatures, but it flows naturally, great drum fills, poliphonic flute passages, it' instrumental, and a lovely way to start a first album!

Vegtelen is a jazzy, airy song with a strong middle part, very upbeat feel.

Ne felj is more serious prog with Hungarian traditional folk roots (just as their 3rd album called Senki madara), electric pianos, flutes (again) and a PINK FLOYD style solo at the end. One of my favorite tunes!

Ha majd egyszer (If ever) is an excellent acoustic solo guitar tune, with crazy good techniques, it's where Bogati's talent really comes through. A complex tune, and of course Steve HOWE's influence is shown. Perfect and progressive!

It's so Divine is the first song in English on this album, it's jazzy, with beautiful multiple vocals, rich harmonies, nice structures and a great Minimoog sound!

The second half of the album is more progressive and more symphonic and it starts with Hol vagy? (Where are you?). Although this song has some serious Pat Metheny influences, I'd call this prog-fusion, because of the flutes, nice vocal ideas, beautiful piano work and the fantastic ending. The most beautiful music I've heard since Locanda Delle Fate's Forse... album.

Varj meg. Now this is why this album is so unique, this song is really strong... although it starts with acoustic guitars, ebow sounds and even some sitar. It builds slowly and soon we find ourselves in a Moog solo extravaganza over some really tricky time signatures. YES influences all over!

The title song Holdfenykert is a harpsichord-guitar duet, some kind of prelude to the epic called SEVEN.

WOW, just WOW, Seven. This is a true progressive rock masterpiece. It has YES influences but it's nothing like Yes... It starts with a powerful prog intro with parallel moog sounds, complex time signatures then it goes directly into a flute solo and some amazing melodies, polyphonic backing vocals, and a powerful chorus. The second part of the song has some more brilliant surprises, ebow solos, hammond organ and a beautiful coda in 7/8, so they are true to the song's title... yes, this is the second English song on this album.

The album's final song reminded me of Kate Bush's Aerial album, it has a more modern approach, a repetitive rhythm in the intro and a beautiful uplifting ending.

This band keeps surprising me with beautiful music, great songwriting skills, rich dynamics and beautiful sounds. Worth discovering, especially this debut and their third album SENKI MADARA. Great compositions, highly recommended!