A MOONLIT NIGHT IN BUDAPEST

Festival in the Netherlands by the hosting musicians from Flamborough Head. It was therefore no surprise that this time, the Dutch band was invited to Hungary. The third act on the bill was Harmony in Diversity, the trio led by original Yes guitarist Peter Banks.

In 2022, Yesterdays' mastermind Ákos Bogáti-Bokor rediscovered the recordings and prepared them for a live CD, which was released in the fall of 2023. The band lineup is almost identical to that of the debut album, with the only change being a new drummer. An interesting side note: all three female musicians apparently got married in the meantime, as their last names have changed, as reflected in the booklets and liner notes.

The Music Just like the musicians, the music played is almost identical to that of the debut, only in a different order. Ákos's acoustic guitar solo piece Ha majd egyszer is now titled Willow. It is followed by Memories of Light, a keyboard solo by the late Zsolt Enyedi, which was not included on Holdfénykert. The only track missing is the title piece Holdfénykert, an acoustic guitar composition accompanied by nightingale song. Perhaps for this reason, the CD is not called Holdfénykert Live but rather A Moonlit Night in Budapest?which, interestingly, means the same in translation.

However, I said earlier that the music is identical to the debut, which is only partly true. While the arrangements have largely remained the same, the performance feels quite different. It's like a pair of twins with contrasting temperaments. Whereas Holdfénykert was a beautifully flowing, lyrically dreamy album?one that evoked the image of wandering through a moonlit garden?this live recording transports the listener to sun-drenched gardens brimming with life. There are still plenty of quiet, shaded spots inviting moments of contemplation before the music picks up again.

The brief opening track, Napfénykert (Sun Garden), starts with a powerful drum intro and an orchestral keyboard fanfare from Zsolt Enyedi's extensive arsenal, soon joined by Ákos Bogáti-Bokor's electric guitar and then the flute. Despite the prominence of keyboards and electric guitar, Yesterdays never lose the unique atmosphere of their compositions. When Emese Fazakas's flute enters, it's as if the waters part to make space for its brilliance. Kinga Molnár's vocals, perfectly suited to the songs, also shine through effortlessly?likely thanks to skillful studio mixing. The only downside is that Dávid Kósa's delicate percussion work is often overshadowed by the drums.

The eight-minute Ne félj! (Do Not Be Afraid) culminates in a spectacular guitar storm by Ákos Bogáti-Bokor.

If one were to compare Yesterdays to another band, Quidam with Emilia Derkowska might come to mind. Like their Polish counterparts, Yesterdays sing primarily in their native language (Hungarian), except for two tracks. This adds to the music's charm and shouldn't be a deterrent?after all, there are two English songs as well. Ultimately, comparisons feel unnecessary, as Yesterdays have a distinctive enough sound of their own.

That said, if I had to find something to criticize, it would be the programmed rhythm that runs through Valahol a térben (Somewhere in Space). However, this is balanced out by the beautiful vocal harmonies later in the track, which also highlight the presence of another strong singer, Tímea Fülöp-Gergely, in the background.

The closing English-language epic, Seven, showcases the full range of guitar and keyboard sounds Ákos and Zsolt bring to the table. The keyboard selection alone includes Hammond, Moog, Mellotron, piano, and organ. After this ten-minute track, which concludes the concert, Peter Banks took to the stage?full of praise for the band and his characteristic humor. Here are a few lines from his speech:

"I just want to say: This band is absolutely fantastic, they really are... I am just another boy and guitar player, but these guys are just so good... such beautiful women... the guys, well, they're okay... I've never heard a band like this before. I think they have a really nice, colorful spirit of the sixties, amazingly good, and they treated us so well, with such courtesy, and... I just... it's good!"

Coming from the founding Yes guitarist, these words alone are praise enough?I might as well have skipped writing this review altogether!

For anyone curious about how Moonlit Garden sounds under the bright sunlight, this live recording is a must-listen. The album is available on the band's Bandcamp page. The CD comes in an elegantly designed digipak with a richly illustrated 20-page booklet, featuring liner notes from the event organizer, the singer, and Ákos himself.

Peter Banks passed away in 2013; Zsolt Enyedi in 2020. This album is dedicated to both of them.

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