Music is probably the one field of entertainment that is never lacking in quality content for the early months of a new year, and January 2020 was no exception. Welcome to the first full year of Sputnikmusic’s ‘Album of the Month’; a feature that lets everyone express what their favourite album of the month is. This edition was jammed with numerous albums, but one album in particular really voiced itself loud and by many: the Hungarian avant-garde opus from Thy Catafalque – Naiv.

“A prophet is not without honour except in his own town and in his own home.”

“This is basically my first thought whenever I think about Thy Catafalque, because Tamás Kátai’s unique work is sadly oppressed and overlooked in the Hungarian musical culture. But even though it must be very hard to fully understand each album (both stylistically and lyrically), the reception for his music is encouragingly improving. And that fills me with great joy!

It’s not easy writing about Thy Catafalque, because they’re one of those bands that are so experimental and unique in their own right, and can go through a renewal with each release without forcing anything, that you have to expect the unexpectable at this point. This is the case with Naiv as well, despite the fact Kátai and co. haven’t really changed their sound at all, the results still feel completely fresh and new. For me, Naiv is a very exciting and dreamesque experience. I feel like I’m listening to something that’s in a constant state of metamorphosis; something which blends different moods, emotions, styles, ages… and displays them with elegant ease.

I think due to the incredible variety found within Naiv, it can offer something for each listener, but in that, each personal experience may be different. Personally, as a Hungarian, I especially enjoyed how the Hungarian folk elements were integrated into the whole creation, making the album sound a lot more interesting. I would also like to highlight Martina’s enchanting and beautiful voice, which I believe had a great impact on the album’s overall atmosphere. Furthermore, it brings certain excitement to the whole album’s lyrical world, and is expressed exclusively in Hungarian because the symbolism within (which goes far beyond my understanding) is so special, making it absolutely impossible to translate into any other language.

Naiv by Thy Catafalque is one of those albums that might catch someone’s attention with its uniqueness, but for those who dare to dig deeper, it could offer something more than just excitement. I’ve jammed the album many times in the past weeks and I can still find some new flavours within each listen, and I think I’m quite ready for new adventures in the future as well.” – Garas