Back to Følk (Music from Følklānd)

Like the ancient Hungarians who migrated from the Urals to the banks of the Danube, Kerekes Band have been on an odyssey of their own. In case you missed the departure of their caravan, they have been probing the limits of Hungarian folk for well over ten years, most notably with the release Pimasz in 2006.

Their latest offering sees a return, as the name suggests, to a more introspective sound. The raucous folk-rock remains, with no lack of driving bass or stadium-filling percussion. But after a decade of paying homage to Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, focus has been reoriented on their classic Hungarian combination of hosszi (long flute), koboz (lute) and viola. It's an eloquent mix of folk melody with sonic effects and funk-rock hooks that invites comparisons to the likes of Shooglenifty and Sheelanagig. Their trademark foolish humour also packs the liner notes. The titular fictional islands of Følklānd are described in minute, hilarious detail, while the band appear in space-age Danubian silk. This is informed, conceptually savvy and innovative music.