Review Summary: A little Hungarian folk outfit that provides a delightfully melancholic and ethereal sound experience...
Nostalgia- an infinite, overwhelming and ultimately heart wrenching desire to return to one's roots. One's lost, but never forgotten childhood, those years of infinite possibility and wonder, before the relentless onslaught by the ghosts of disillusion who take Innocence hostage, never to return it again.
However, a fleeting glimpse of the past is all what it takes for us to return to our present prosaic lives with resignation; coupled with a quiet floating sense of satisfaction. What triggers it? An old song playing in the airwaves, finding your favorite bear inside the washing machine or in my case; listening to "Regõ Rejtem" literally translating to- "I conjure magic" by the Hungarian outfit
the Moon and the Nightspirit.
Now isn't it a paradox? I discovered the band just a fortnight ago; yet their music took me down the Nostalgia lane for an exhilarating and deeply satisfying ride. Reason? because of the powerful magic of Imagery it creates. Imagery of ancient woods and old gnarled trees; of fairies, evil queens and their magic castles; of Unicorns and talking frogs; of listening to your grandmother transport you to a magical world by the fireplace; of childhood and innocence and an unsettling ripple of melancholy; of fairy tales and magic.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that this album was missing from the band discography. This is a very little known band. It is a musical duo founded in 2003 by Ágnes Tóth and Mihály Szabó who play a variety of musical instruments and deal with themes like Pagan folklore from medieval ages. But surprisingly their music is quite accessible and to be quite frank-an aural treat.
Coming to the album, "Regõ Rejtem" is mood lifter. The beautiful, ethereal vocals of Ágnes is complimented by harsh growls by her male counterpart which provides a certain magnitude of balance; however it lasts for only the title track and consequently Ágnes takes full charge of the vocal section, barring some harmonies.
What makes the album truly gorgeous is the violin which holds the entire album together. There are no electric guitars used; ditto with bass and drums. And it is the good 'ol acoustic guitar combined with flutes and hand played percussion that steals the show. The melodies are wonderful, the weeping violins and the guitars are completely out of the world. The aural ambience is further reinforced by incorporating sounds of gentle rainfall in the first half of the album and near perfect production.
However, it has its own share of flaws. The vocals tend to get a tad repetitive in the first couple of tracks and they are a bit less "spaced out". But they manage a comeback with Csillagnász and Rögbõl Élet which. along with the title track are the highlights of this album.
According to me
The Moon and the Nightspirit deserve much more recognition for their work as the duo are supremely talented. I urge all of you who read this review to check them out. You won't be disappointed. Because genius always needs an instant audience and not providing them that would be grossly unfair.
