Amber Smith - New

By releasing six full-length albums, Amber Smith has become the most prolific Hungarian indie band. In addition, Imre Poniklo has participated in numerous side projects such as The Poster Boy, SALT III just to mention a few. New was released on 24 April 2017 and contains eight new tracks. The songs were written by Imre Poniklo and Oleg Zubkov a.k.a Toof. New was recorded at Starmusic in Budapest, Hungary and it was engineered and mixed by Ábel Zwickl. The vocals were recorded by András Szekeres at Fantomas Studios in Budapest, while the record was mastered by Gábor Deutsch at An Organik Mastering.

Amber Smith's previous record, entitled Modern, was a departure from the classic indie-rock genre. Indeed, New is a continuation or arrival at the indie-pop genre. My first impression was that Imre Poniklo must have been listening to David Bowie while composing the songs for New. My guess is also supported by the fact that Imre Poniklo is also an active member of the Hungarian David Bowie tribute band. Although Last Lines and Straight To Video can be considered as classic Amber Smith songs, Monkey is a true example of the undeniable effects of David Bowie. Árpád Szarvas, EZ Basic singer songwriter, was also invited to sing on Straight To Video, while Jónás Vera (vocals) and Mihály Bazsinka (saxophone) appeared on Monkey.
All in all, New is one of the most interesting albums recorded by Amber Smith. It is also an eclectic addition to an impressive list of releases. However, the question is 'What are Amber smith fans can do with such a record?' I think the question will be answered in the upcoming months. My prediction is that New is going to divide Amber Smith fans since New is an indie-pop record, a David Bowie tribute, rather than a continuation of the Reprint/Introspective direction. 

Tracks:
1. Last Lines 2:13
2. Straight to Video 3:58
3. Pyrrhic Victory 4:22
4. Monkey 4:36
5. Numbers 4:39
6. No Truce/ism 6:41
7. Cape 1:32
8. Someday 3:25

Amber Smith:
Imre Poniklo - vocals and guitars
Tamás Faragó - guitars
Oleg Zubkov - bass
Bence Bátor - drums

The Junkie Monkey score:
Composition: 5/5
Musicianship: 5/5
Originality: 3/5
Recording: 3/5
Overall: 4.00

Amber Smith - Modern

Modern is Amber Smith's sixth full length studio album released on 6 April 2015. Modern was recorded at SuperSize Recording Studios and Echo Studios by Bence Brucker and Eszter Polyák. The album was mixed Zoltán Cs. Szabó. However, the songs Barking Dog, Memories of TV, and The Return were mixed by György Ligeti. Modern was mastered by Gábor Deustch at Anorganik Mastering. The songs were written by Imre Poniklo except Barking Dog (Imre Poniklo and Micheael Zwecker), Hold On To Your Love (Imre Poniklo and Tamás Faragó), Let Go (Imre Poniklo and Oleg Zubkov) and Flame To The Fire (Imre Poniklo, Oleg Zubkov and Michael Zwecker). The line-up included Imre Poniklo (vocals and guitars), Tamás Faragó (guitars), Oleg Zubkov (bass), and Bence Bátor (drums). This is the first record with Oleg Zubkov on bass.

Modern is a departure from the classic indie-rock genre since the album is exempt from songs with distortion. Barking Dog is a complex continuation of Introspective. However, we have to use our magnifier to find rock songs on this record. Hold On To Your Love, which we could listen to Amber Smith's concerts before, is also less energetic on the record since the song is built up on a piano rather than on Tamás Faragó's guitar playing as in the concert version of this song. However, Hold On To Your Love is a wonderful composition since its catchy riff goes into the endless labyrinth of your brain. Batman vs. Joker was also played at concerts and I was looking forward to its album version. However, I was disappointed when I listened to it for the first time on the album. The problem is the same as with Hold On To Your Love. Batman vs. Joker was serial killer during concerts, while it is a mowed lawn on the album. Even Imre Poniklo's howl was almost muted which gave the push during the live versions. Although Modern contains high quality compositions, I think the entire album could have been much better if the band had hired a producer. Those points which were excellent during the live version were totally annihilated on the record.

Tracks:

1. The Day After
2. Barking Dog
3. Hold On To Your Love
4. Let Go
5. Flame To The Fire
6. Memories of TV
7. Same Old Tune
8. Batman versus Joker
9. The Return
10. Into The Blue

The Junkie Monkey score: 
Composition: 4/5
Musicianship: 4/5
Originality: 3/5
Recording: 3/5
Overall: 4.00

Sexepil - Your Scream Is Music

Precisely twenty years have passed since the release of Sugar for the Soul. Obviously, many things have changed since then in the world of music and naturally in the life of the Hungarian rock band, Sexepil. One of the biggest changes was the departure of the Dutch singe Mick Ness. Tibor Vangel, originally the drummer of the band, became the lead singer a couple of years before the release of Your Scream Is Music.

Your Scream Is Music contains ten tracks, recorded by Dávid Schram in Budapest. However, some parts of the album were recorded in Cardiff, where Tibor Vangel resided at that time. The album was mastered by Gavin Lurssen in Los Angeles, The United States.

The album kicks off with Rat King, an excellent choice, creating the new atmosphere of the band. My first impression was that Sexepil in 2015 is quite similar to Sexepil in 1995. However, it is obviously totally different. YSIM is a perfect continuation of the band's previous record, Sugar for the Soul. I believe the crowning moment of the record is the last song, Your Little Revolution, in which Tibor Vangel sings perfectly creating an I'm-standing-at-the-of-the-world feeling.

Sexepil:
Endre Deák -  guitars
Tamás Kocsis - guitars
Viktor László - bass
Tibor Vangel - drums, vocals, guitars

The Junkie Monkey score:
Composition: 4/5
Musicianship: 5/5
Originality: 3/5
Recording: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

Dawnstar - Saturnine Valentines

On 16 May 2013, Dawnstar's first full length studio album entitled Saturnine Valentines was released.  The album was recorded at the Abnormal Studios by László Philipp and at the Dürer Studios by Dávid Schram in 2012. Saturnine Valentines was mixed by Dávid Schram at the Dürer Studios. The line-up included Attila Wind (vocals and guitars), Bálint Hamvas (bass), and Viktor Albert (drums).

There are two swans forming a heart on the cover probably suggesting the main theme of the album, love. Indeed, the first song of the album, Love's Gonna Be Tender, is a love song, probably about gay love as the abbreviation of the title suggests LGBT. The second track, Ophelia, is another ode to a woman, written by the singer-songwriter, Attila Wind. The drums are really interesting in this track. It reminds me of the Wham's If You Were There. The third track, Almost Every Flame Will Fade Away, is a sad ballad about the end of a relationship. The record continues with a real rock song, In Heaven We Meet Again, which reminds me a classic indie-rock song. However, the lyrics is about the death. In an interview with Dawnstar, Attila Wind said that the song is about the death of his father. Cougar De Luxe is another love song probably to an older woman as the title indicates. However, the lyrics are rather sarcastic. The next track, London Nights, had been played by the band as early as 2009 (for example at the Donaukanaltreiben Festival), is another song about love. The song starts with an acoustic guitar playing some chords and then becomes a pulsating pop-song. The penultimate track, Live Today, belongs to the songs which were written around 2009, uses a flanging guitar in the first few seconds and then the song becomes a real rock song. The final closing track, Aphrodite, is an instrumental ode to a woman.

All in all, Saturnine Valentines, is a brave debut by the Hungarian band Dawnstar. There are nice an promising moments in the album such as In Heaven We Meet Again and London Nights. However, there are certain songs, such as Love's Gonna Be Tender, which are cliches that should have been avoided to list on the record.

Tracks:
1. Love's Gonna Be Tender
2. Ophelia
3. Almost Every Flame Will Fade Away
4. In Heaven We Meet Again
5. Cougar De Luxe
6. London Nights
7. Live Today
8. Aphrodite

Dawnstar:
Attila Wind - vocals and guitars
Bálint Hamvas - bass
Viktor Albert - drums

Personnel:
László Philipp - recording
Dávid Schram - mixing
Attila Wind - producing

The Junkie Monkey score:
Composition: 4/5
Musicianship: 3/5

Originality: 3/5

Recording: 4/5
Overall: 3.5

The Cab You Know - Uxue

The Cab You Know is back with their second EP, Uxue. The EP contains three songs and it was recorded in Budapest, Hungary. The band's Bandcamp site is as secretive as possible so we don't know many details about the recording. However, one thing which is sure that the record itself is pretty amazing. Uxue starts with the almost irregular rhythms and distorted vocals of The Component. The out-of-tune chorus creates an even more bizarre atmosphere for the record. Elsa is probably the most catchy song on this EP with its perfect chorus. The closing Me Laundry kicks off with its out-of-tune keyboards and closes the record perfectly. 

1. The Component 3:51
2. Elsa 4:43
3. Me Laundry 5:15

The Cab You Know
Dávid
Oleg
Micu
Márk

The Junkie Monkey score:
Composition: 4/5
Musicianship: 3/5
Originality: 4/5
Recording: 2/5
Overall: 3.25

Amber Smith - Introspective

On 18 February 2008 Amber Smith's Introspective was released by MP3 International Records in Lithuania. The album was recorded at Podium Studios in Budapest, Hungary in 2007 and it was mixed by Chris Brown at the Foon Mastering Studios in Belgium. The line-up included Imre Poniklo (vocals and guitars), Zoltán Kőváry (guitars), Oszkár Ács (bass), and Bence Bátor (drums).

The first track, the eponymous Introspective, is a nice start since it is a complex track which offers something new every time you listen to it. However, there is a nice chorus which helps to digest the complexity of Introspective. 1980, the second song, has a medium tempo and the lyrics are probably Imre Poniklo's retrospection. The third track, Coded, is a fast and melodic song which probably becomes the hit song. If you had thought that Coded was the best song from the album, you had probably mistaken. The fourth track, Select All, Delete All, has an even catchier chorus than Coded. However, there are several similarities with the previous song, Coded. The two hit songs are followed by Brazil, Hectic, and Treading Water which are less melodic therefore it takes more time to digest. The eighth track, Welcome to CIA, is written and sung by bass player, Oszkár Ács. Although the song reminds me of Interpol's, it is an enchanting moment on the entire album. The ninth track, Simon Says, is another complex song as far as the drums are concerned. The lyrics probably refer to Imre Poniklo's friend Tibor Simon who is credited as the cover artist for the band.The penultimate song, Father, is probably about Imre Poniklo's fatherhood. The final song, My Final Plea, is a nice closing for a precious album.

All in all, Introspective is an incredibly well-written composition. It shows Imre Poniklo's geniality and creativity. Introspective is both complex and melodic at the same time which is quite unique. Whether Amber Smith can break through with Introspective is a matter of question. However, Introspective is a remarkable continuation of the previous record, Reprint.

Tracks:
1. Introspective
2. 1980
3. Coded
4. Select All, Delete All
5. Brazil
6. Hectic
7. Trading Water
8. Welcome to CIA
9. Simon Says
10. Father
11. My Final Plea

Amber Smith:
Imre Piniklo - vocals and guitars
Zoltán Kőváry - guitars
Oszkár Ács - bass
Bence Bátor - drums

The Junkie Monkey score:
Composition: 5/5
Musicianship: 5/5
Originality: 4/5
Recording: 4/5
Overall: 4.5

The Moog - Sold for Tomorrow

On 17 April 2007, The Moog's first full-length record entitled Sold For Tomorrow was released by MuSick Records. The album was recorded by Zoltán Nagy, Tamás Kurina, and Péter Dorozsmai at Tom-Tom Studios in Budapest, Hungary and by Jack Endino at Electrokitty Recording in Seattle. The album was mixed by Jack Endino in Seattle. The music and lyrics were written by Tamás Szabó.  Gergő Dorozsmai composed the lyrics for Xanax Youth and the music for Goodbye. 

Sold For Tomorrow is an impressive debut from the young Hungarian talents. A mix of the indie-rock revival and Nevermind-inspired songwriting, Sold For Tomorrow is a quite promising start. Everybody Wants could be a hit song for the band since it has a catchy chorus and quite simple lyrics and chord progression. However, the big hit is going to be I Like You. A simple but still a great composition by Tamás Szabó. Although the lyrics sound a bit shallow, the song makes everyone sing with the band. Survive can also be a big hit for the band. It is again a simple but its chorus is again melodic and catchy. All in all, Sold For Tomorrow is one of the most promising debuts of the past decades in Hungary. I feel the same energy and hype around the band that I felt when I was listening to Sexepil's Sugar For The Soul. Although Sexepil could not break through or enter the international market, I hope that The Moog will and conquer the United States becoming the first major Hungarian act abroad.

Tracks:
1. Your Sweet Neck
2. Everybody Wants
3. I Don't Want You Know
4. I Like You
5. Never Hide
6. If I Died
7. Anyone
8. Survive
9. Goodbye
10 Xanax Youth

The Moog:
Tamás Szabó - vocals
Ádám Bajor - guitars
Gergő György - guitars
Csaba Szabó - bass
Gergő Dorozsmai - drums

The Junkie Monkey score:
Composition: 4/5
Musicianship: 3/5
Originality: 3/5
Recording: 3/5
Overall: 3.25