HUNGARIAN ECLECTIC

Tompox is the focus of former Solaris member Tamás Pócs , a stalwart bass virtuoso who felt the need to "keep on proggin'" and pursue the progressive rock medium in Hungary, a land that still has a wide audience available to fans worldwide. After the official dissolution of Solaris in 2010, Tamás (Tom in Hungarian) Pócs (pronounced Pox by English speakers) gathered around some fine younger musicians and played at various festivals , jazz-clubs and theaters, first playing all the old Solaris classics and then inserting their own material in the process. The line-up features all the usual suspects including the flute, up front and forward. The man's bass work is stunning throughout the proceedings, not afraid to occasionally hog the spotlight, something many talented bassmen somehow are shy to do.

The courage of their convictions is exemplified by the ultra-bold challenge of blasting off with an epic 17 minute + instrumental extravaganza " Monumentum Valley pt. 1-2" that holds back nothing, led by a wobbly bass, clanging guitars, sizzling synthesizers and rock solid drumming. The hypnotic groove is set down nicely for the surreal flute, courtesy of Adám Tasi to weave its magic, enticing axeman Gábor Berdár to rip a few little solos into the night air. Keyboardist Endre Balla keeps it all highly symphonic, using a variety of synths to color the sonic sky while drummer Péter Szula keeps it all so very tight. The arrangement takes many subtle redirections, always within the spirit of the piece's main theme, evolving naturally like a blooming flower, always captivating. The bass solo half way in is spectacular, displaying some solid technique and brilliant digital dexterity, a clear highlight that should not be missed. The playing can go from soft to harsh rather rapidly, keeping the dynamic meter always on edge, with chunky guitar passages, spirited synth runs and flute delicacies. This is utterly delightful, especially after repeated listens.

A quartet of shorter tracks gives this package some pace, displaying the typical Solaris rumble ("Protuberance") where the electric guitar trades barbs with the fleet flute. Berdár unleashes a monstrous solo that has a very original sound and technique. "Overture" is the third track (having fun, guys?) and has a heavier feel that is most welcome, leaden axe riffs blasting nicely until the flute enters seductively calming things down, very slick indeed. Another flirty solo from Berdár kills this one off lovingly. "Duet" has only the magical flute and Balla's piano to engage the listener, a playful, jazzy etude that has imagination and essence within its short life span. Finally, "Surf Menten" proposes another highlight, brisk synths announcing the cascading torrent of riffs meeting beats and thus creating a raucous feel that keeps the blood pumping. Another very Solaris-like comp.

Their version of the classic King Crimson masterpiece "Epitaph" is close to respecting the original but with slightly more operatic vocals from guest lung Zoltán Kiss and only proves once and for all, the 1969's song infinite universality. This is a rather brilliant homage and a definite show stopper.

"Tower Bridge" has, of course a very British feel, not unlike a piece from Nick Magnus' latest albums (a rather fair comparison throughout, BTW), a rolling, loopy bass anchors a dizzyingly repetitive keyboard theme, the flute flaunting its merits and some more guitar raunch to boot. Things are ratcheted up quite a bit as we go deeper into the track with some wild playing by all concerned, while still respecting the main theme. Slick indeed.

The all-too brief "Hommage to Solaris band" is jazzy piano insanity with excellent technique from Balla , who obviously knows his craft , hopefully more piano from him in the future. This is a keeper, big time.

The disc closes off on a brief revisit of the amazing opener, a 3 minute radio edit that speaks volumes about the entire listening experience and consolidates this ebut as an absolute winner.

Obviously fans of Solaris, Nick Magnus, Steve Hackett and Camel will be interested in this recording and should hunt it down, as it contains some enjoyable music that spans various influences and yet still provides a beacon of hope for the future of prog in general. I really enjoyed this the second time around and will revisit Tompox many more times.

4.5 Magyar diversities