KÍNAI NÁTHA / CHINESE FLU

Second (and first live) album of this excellent and almost unknown Hungarian band. From very first sounds you will be attracted by melancholic Balkan/Gypsy intro with energetic sax, but in a few minutes all music will really explodes! And for all album long doesn't give you a break!

On this early album band plays hyperactive jazz rock with many Hungarian folk inclusions,very groovy,with great drumming and guitar. But main hero of this album is sax player Lukács Levente. He is main soloist on all compositions, and his interplays with screaming guitar are really excellent. But even more - he leads all melodic line and contours every note of the compositions! Early Passport releases with Klaus Doldinger come in mind when listen that great music!

Drummer is jazzy, but guitarist plays real rock, so in all music is more rock, than jazz there. Having funky pulsation under the skin, music is really very positive and radiates energy. From all my experience, I believe Masfel is possibly one of leading Central European jazz-rock band (their later releases are more filled with electronics and have strong psychedelic flavour).

This album could be almost named as masterpiece, but there is a serious problem - compositions. I believe you will really enjoy of every minute of musicianship, but will hardly remember any composition, even more - all them sound as one long and great jam.

My rating is 3,5,rounded to 4 - for excellent musicianship!