HOLDFÉNYKERT

Yesterdays is a Hungarian band with mainly Romanian musicians, the current line-up features 10 band members including 3 women. Yesterdays is rooted in early 2000 and has already made a demo tape (entitled Come Dream With Me from 2002), a serie of CD's and even a DVD. During the first part of this CD their sound is pleasant and folky inspired featuring lots of acoustic guitar and flute along a wonderful female voice with echoes from Annie Haslam. I am delighted about an acoustic guitar duet (twanging and solo) and the omnipresent violin-Mellotron waves. The second part of Holdenfenykert delivers a way more symphonic rock sound featuring fluent Moog runs and again beautiful Mellotron work. But we can also enjou pure folk and I was very pleased with a duet from acoustic guitar and harpsichord, that distinctive vintage keyboard. My highlight is the long and alternating song entitled Seven: it starts with a fluent rhythm, Moog flights and Mellotron waves and mellow parts with warm female vocals, then a compelling piece with sensitive guitar and lush Mellotron. The final part begins with a flute solo and howling guitar runs and finally a sumptuous eruption with a swirling Hammond solo. To me this sounds as a wonderful blend of folk and symphonic rock, very tasteful, this band will please both the prog-folk - as the symphonic prog fans. Two years ago we talked about adding this band to Prog Archives, I am sure the band members (a salut to Zsolt from here) are very glad that in the end they are part of PA! My rating: 3,5 stars.

A young band with a great future

After several months of delay, due to the fact that the Symphonic Team expert from Romania left Prog Archives, and with the invaluable help of Zsolt Enyedi (Keyboardist of YESTERDAYS) who supported us with the language barrier, the band was finally added to the Symphonic and last Friday I received my autographed copy of "Holdfénykert Enhanced" (Which I treasure) in the office.

The first thing I did is to exchange a CD from the cartridge in the car and replace it for this album, being that in the more than hour journey to home, I had enough time to listen it.

The first surprise (Unexpected in a new band) is the fantastic production, the sound is pristine clear, to the point that you can listen clearly the fingers Bogáti-Bokor Ákos touching the nylon chords of the guitar, so with that technical quality, there are no excuses to avoid writing a fair review of this album based exclusively in the music.

The album is opened with the fantastic "Napfénykert ~ Sunlit Garden", an acoustic guitar intro, soon followed by accurate drums and the excellent flute of Kozma Kis Emese, who leads the band with unusual dexterity for such a young woman. The song flows gently through the 2:11 minutes that seem too short.

"Végtelen ~ Infinite" starts again with an acoustic guitar solo, but this time with the fantastic vocals of Jánosi Kinga or Fülöp Tímea (The album doesn't specify, but the important thing is that each time I heard double vocals, the two ladies have a fantastic voice) and the unique style of Szolt Enyedi in the keyboards, who manages to keep hidden in the background but manages to make explosive appearances when required. It's also impressive how YESTERDAYS manage to blend a Symphonic structure with Transylvanian/Hungarian Folk, some Jazz end even a bit of Bossa nova. The lyrics in Hungarian seem very similar to Portuguese what enhances the Brazilian elements.

"Ne félj ~ Don't Be Scared" has a long Synth intro which is joined by the acoustic guitar and drums, then comes the Latin percussion and of course the flute, wonderful synchronization, again the way they blend a mainly Classic Symphonic structure with all this different sounds and flavors is simply delightful.

"It's So Divine" Starts with Jánozi Kinga on the lead vocals and backed by Fulop Timea and Bogati- Bokor Atos adding the main backing vocals to create a wonderful work and interesting contrast, while Zsolt Enyedi gives us one of his most memorable Moog performances, the whole band is at the peak, they sound better than ever.

"Ha majd egyszer ~ If ever" Now it's the turn of the talented "Bogáti-Bokor Ákos" to present us a pure acoustic guitar track, despite the references to "Steve Howe", his style is very peculiar and original, very beautiful. (The album edition seem to mistake track N° 4 for track N° 5, because the lyrics are clear)

"Hol vagy? ~ Where Are You?" begins with a keyboard and guitar intro that leads to a vocal section of amazing sweetness which morphs gently into a more mysterious sound, again the two female vocalists give a strong performance.

"Várj még ~ Just Stay" is another keyboard oriented track but well supported by a solid vocal work, percussion and flute, up to this point I was ready to say that this was the weakest track but then a great Moog section that changes the mood and the musical approach of all the previous track. Simply amazing and unexpected, Powerful and dynamic.

"Holdfénykert ~ Moonlit Garden" is the only track we can see in the Bonus section as a video, starts with a keyboard section "a la" YES (Going for the One era) and then the guitar joins to create a semi unplugged memorable track.

Now it's the turn for the epic, the track "Seven" is "la piece de resistance", during 11:48 minutes the band hits us wit all they have, radical changes, lush keyboards, electric guitars and everything you can imagine is present, trying to describe it is futile, better get the album and enjoy it.

"Valahol a térben ~ Somewhere in Space" closes the album, more melofdic than the previous and much softer but the beauty replaces the frantic and breathtaking sections, great closer, if you get this version of the album, you can see this track in a video as bonus material.

What else can I say? Excellent production, great presentation, bonus material and better music, the album is complete, but won't give them 5 stars, because it would mean YESTERDAYS has reached their peak, and I'm sure they have much more to offer, they are skilled and very young, we will be seeing them for many years.

Four very solid stars.

Intriguing debut album by this band based in Cluj, Romania.

The first six tunes are for the most part mellow, slick compositions dominated by acoustic guitar licks, with some use of flute to add a folk feel to the songs, some addition of careful floating keyboard layer in the back of the soundscape to add symphonic elements - with a most times jazz tinged drum or percussion pattern as the foundation for the tunes.

Then in the 7th and 9th tune we're treated to songs much more symphonic-dominaated, with layered keyboards, some drawn out guitar chords at times, as well as flute and acoustic guitar licks combining to make 70's influenced symphonic songs.

A mostly mellow release that will reward the liberal-minded symphonic prog fans as well as the crowd more interested with folk tinged compositions.

Yesterdays are based in Cluj Napoca, Romania and were formed in 2000 by Hungarian singer/guitarist Bogati-Bokor Akos, founding member also of Tabula Smaragdina and part of the last You and I line-up.With the disbanding of the later in 2005, Akos focused on writing material for Yesterdays, where the sound would link the vintage Progressive Rock sound with the modern technologic stylings.Helped mainly by keyboardist Enyedi Zsolt, female singer Janosi Kinga and drummer Csergo Domokos along with session musicians, ''Holdfenykert'' was released in 2006 by Hungarian label Rockszerviz, to be reissued just two years later by Musea.

Mission accomplished for Mr. Akos, as ''Holdfenykert'' carries all the aspects of both old and new prog generations in an album that combines Symphonic Rock with Folk along with some Pop sensibilities.The band sounds insanely similar to Italians CONQUEROR or even SPOCK'S BEARD both on the soft and more stronger parts with an evident tendency towards melodic Prog, headed by ethereal female vocals and harmonic pieces.A very clear and professional production and a dreamy voice is mixed with dominant flute parts and a fair dose of Mellotron sounds to come up with an effort respecting the masters of the 70's but also stepping on the present years.Keyboards parts seem to be the most interesting part of the album, from the use of the mighty Mellotron to the brilliant synths solos on the longer compositions.Akos, being the main composer of the band, managed to blend equally more folky acoustic parts with strong and more symphonic cuts, but overall the sound has a very calm and positive aura.

The Hungarian version of Fabio Zuffanti?Not as prolific or talented as the Italian mastermind, but definitely Mr. Akos seems to be a very creative musician with plenty of interesting ideas.Yesterdays' ''Holdfenykert'' is a good proof.Mellow Symphonic/Folk Rock with decent quality.Recommended.

YESTERDAYS is apparently made up of ethnic Hungarians who live in Romania. The female vocals are in both English and Hungarian. The music itself is what i'd describe as light and sweet. Probably because of the female vocals and airy flute that dominates the sound much of the time. There is mellotron but it's sampled, still it does help me enjoy this more than I would have otherwise.

I'm going to use the English song titles provided. "Sunlit Garden" is a short opening track with strummed guitar, flute and a beat leading the way. We get some mellotron as well. "Infinite" has picked guitar as reserved vocals join in. It picks up with a beat. Mellotron before 1 1/2 minutes followed by flute. Vocal melodies late. "Don't Be Scared" opens with intricate sounds and atmosphere. It starts to pick up after 2 minutes with flute. Reserved vocals a minute later. Mellotron before 5 minutes. "If Ever" is a short piece with acoustic guitar melodies throughout. "It's So Divine" has strummed guitar as vocals, a beat and flute join in. Mellotron after 1 1/2 minutes.

"Where Are You ?" is mellow with Hungarian vocals. Mellotron and flute also help out. "Just Stay" has fragile vocals, mellotron and a beat. Flute after 2 minutes and then synths lead from before 3 1/2 minutes to 5 minutes in. "Moonlit Garden" is a short instrumental. "Seven" is uptempo with synths leading then vocals after 2 minutes. Mellotron comes and goes. A calm before 6 minutes as male vocals come in. It picks up as female vocals return. "Somehwere In Space" opens with a beat as piano comes in. It builds until vocals arrive around 2 minutes as it settles back some.

Pleasant and well done for sure but this isn't the style of music I enjoy that much.

My review (posted originally in November 10, 2015) concerns the remastered version of the 2006 debut album by YESTERDAYS, a band consisting of musicians from the Hungarian minority of Western Romania. [As a side note I'd like to mention that I've witnessed the amazing acoustic guitar playing of Ákos Bogáti-Bokor last spring in a gig featuring the Finnish band Paidarion and multi-national guests. That's one of my fondest gig memories.] A thank you to the drummer Kimmo Pörsti who kindly sent me this CD among a heap of others. He's an executive producer here. Ákos underlines that the remastering didn't involve any compression. The booklet features also very beautiful outdoor photography with piano keys, guitar and a flute. The musicians themselves are not photographed, but this visual approach suits nicely to the pastoral feel in the music. The short instrumental opener 'Napfénykert' stars flute, mellotron and acoustic guitar. Mellow and pretty, perhaps a bit too much so. 'Végtelen' introduces the charming, innocent female vocals. The playing is soft and dreamy, comparable to the classic KC ballad 'I Talk to the Wind'. On the third track there's a brief flute melody citing 'Close To The Edge' (this was amusing to hear for the first time: I instantly recognized it to be from a YES track, but which one was it...). The peaceful and accessible compositions on this acoustically oriented album are not hugely progressive -- and this fact is definitely not a fault, but understandably it can make the album sound a bit too spineless to some prog listeners.

Warmly recommended if you enjoy pastoral works of e.g. ANTHONY PHILLIPS, STEVE HACKETT, ERRATA CORRIGE, CELESTE etc. The Hungarian lyrics are completely beyond my reach but they do sound nice. A couple of songs are sung in English, and actually some of the charm is lost by that. I really like this peaceful music with lots of flute, but the compositions indeed could be more impressive. Hence four stars.