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:
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