MEGALÁZOTTAK ÉS MEGSZOMORÍTOTTAK

Hungary's After Crying delivered their second album in 1992, a couple of years after their debut. From a prog perspective, the positioning of a 22 minute suite "A Gadarai Megszállott" right up front offers the hope of a damn good listen. A quick check of the line up on the other hand suggests a degree of caution. Completely absent are guitars of any kind; instead we have a quasi-classical assembly, with oboe, cello, flute and brass featuring strongly.

The aforementioned suite, as it turns out, is a sort of modern classical piece apparently based around various improvisations on themes. When the vocals are eventually added, they sound to my untrained ear to be of the type common on Italian Symphonic Prog albums. The language may be Hungarian, but the atmosphere is universal. It is perhaps these vocals which differentiate the piece from simply being classified as a modern classical suite, but surprisingly they do not sound out of context. Around the mid-point of the track, the brass section suddenly makes its presence felt with a brief but rousing burst of jazz rock.

Of the remaining four tracks three are brief, almost interlude, pieces. They are pretty, but of little real consequence. The other track of note is the 11 minute "Megalázottak És Megszomorítottak". There is more of a rock orientation to this piece, with occasional hints of ELP when the pace is lifted. Overall though, the atmosphere is less structured than the works of ELP, hinting more towards 1980's King Crimson.

Overall, the album is paradoxically difficult to get into but easy to listen to. Superficially, the sounds are easy on the ear and pleasant, but the improvisational style of composition means that there is little to grasp onto and retain. Certainly worth a listen or three.

As a footnote, for those of you who enjoy the music here, and especially the longer tracks, I would recommend the albums made by my good friend Yoel Schwarcz under the band name Continuum, in the early 1970's.

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