Axiom of Choice
0 . :
Summary of history:
His own name might not ring any bells, but hearing Csaba is a member of Hungarian modern classical group After Crying will probably bring up some associations. His solo album is a less varied, mostly in a piano vocal style, but the ghost of After Crying is there.
The album is divided in four sections, two of which large, apparently representing eras.
The album:
Eso is a gentle piano vocal track. Nice opener.
Valaki Sir is a piano vocal track as well, but using the extra length to slowly build momentum as well as strength, towards the piano intermezzo, afterwards returning to the early gentleness.
Mire Megvirrad opens with a choir leading into a vocal section, remarkably followed by a piano solo that moves towards a piano piece somewhere between classical and jazz, and sometimes touching on boogie woogie even. The tracker closes with another vocal section, a bit spunkier than the ones before.
Misericordia sees the piano vocal formula extended with a flute, but the gentle atmosphere remains.
Szelid Szel is a bit more up tempo, and quite familiar, considering it is part of After Crying's material as well.
Csak Mesz starts in the same style as previous tracks, but as it progresses gains in speed, with rolling pianos and trumpet (sounding like a bugle) in the back. This track is definitely more striking than the previous.
Ahoi! Ahoy! (no typo) gives this first section a near swinging end.
Tanc opens section II a bit up beat, with an almost staccato piano rhythm, not without a certain perkiness, which is taken into Zum-Zum. Pretty happy sounding stuff. A little too happy, as far as I'm concerned.
Mely, Hosszu Tel opens section III with a flute solo.
A Tengeresz is another piano vocal track, mid tempo this time.
To Gloria and Keso are slower tracks.
Even though piano vocal, A To is different from the other tracks, being more esotheric, as you would see in Not Drowning Waving stuff. Better.
Dunakeszi Elagazas is a but stronger, giving way to the gentleness of Enni A Kenyeret.
There's something familiar about Szolgalati Jarat, but I'm not quite sure what. For a change, the track contains narration as well as vocals.
Elmenoben closes the album with a trumpet solo.
Conclusion:
So what's the verdict? For one thing: this album seems to lack in diversity. It's all pretty nice stuff, but it doesn't contain a killer track, or something like it. Csaba Vedres's voice is pretty good, and the Hungarian is nice enough to the ear. Then again, the sound of the album is. A little too.
Roberto Lambooy
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