A SZAVAKON TÚL

Another great Bandcamp find for me. Hungarian project Tabula Smaragdina's debut record. There is not much info about this band, although they've contributed to Musea's VA Projects Purgatorio, Paradiso and of course there's an excellent song on A Flower Full of Stars (The Flower Kings tribute). Guitarist, vocalist 'kos Bog'ti-Bokor is also the main guy in Hungarian prog band Yesterdays.

The album starts with an acoustic guitar crescendo called Amethyst, and after this the real progrock extravaganza begins. "A szavakon innen" is a dynamic symphonic prog tune with many parts, a well crafted prog hit in the style of The Flower Kings, Yes and even Genesis. Great moog solos, vintage sounds and electric guitar solos (strong Roine Stolt references!). Such a powerful way to start an album! T'l/Winter has distorted bass, psychedelic multiple vocal parts and a lush chorus. One of my favorite tunes on the record.

All the lyrics are in Hungarian, but that's not a problem with me, it makes this record more obscure and more mystical, just like in the case of Bog'ti's other band Yesterdays. Eastern Europe has so much prog to offer. There is serious potential.

Tabula Smaragdina was a very original project with many influences. There's some Dream Theater in T'l, Gentle Giant in My Electric Cat, King's X in Lehetn'l and Yes in A szavakon t'l.

I think this is a lovely addition to any prog collection. I only had one negative feeling about this: that this project stopped working. Four strong shiny stars from me! Highly recommended!