Nyolc 8 Nyolc

Söndörgő are Hungary's super-lively tambura band, fizzing in their music and breathtaking to watch on stage. Members of the Eredics family play instrumental music from the Serbian and Croatian communities in Hungary on plucked mandolin-like tamburas, and Macedonian tunes with wind, brass, accordion and percussion. This album is their eighth (nyolc in Hungarian).

Produced by Ben Mandelson, what's impressive here is the way Söndörgő create new music from their traditional sources. ‘Tines’ features Dávid Eredics on kaval (flute), playing over asymmetric Bulgarian rhythms. ‘Merakolo’ is a mercurial dash of kolo dances with Salamon Eredics on shepherd's flute. Two of the tracks clock in at over ten minutes. ‘Riba’ begins with drums and brass, and suggests something ritualistic. In the middle it becomes delicate and melancholy, and then rushes to a virtuoso tambura finish. A couple of tunes on the album will be familiar to those that know their Bartók, taking melodies he used in the 44 Duos for Violins and the Romanian Folk Dances, the latter in ‘Kind of Bela’. All in all, a very satisfying and accomplished set.