Zalatnay Sarolta: Hadd Mondjam El (Pepita 197?)

I've been on some weird European kick lately - Swedish, Polish, Finnish, etc. LPs and 45s have really been catching my eye. This Hungarian female rock LP has been seen gracing both the Groove Merchant and Sound Library's walls o' fame and I can see why. For them drum break junkies (of which I am admirer though not full-time addict), this record is pretty friggin' sick and I'm just tickled that it's on...well...a Hungarian female rock album. I mean, I'm sure this stuff grows like trees over in Hungary but out here, it's pretty outstanding.

Sarolta's vocals are ok but then again, I don't speak Hungarian so what can I really say? Many of the arrangements don't catch your ear per se, though there sounds to be a Wurtlizer or Rhodes somewhere in the mix. Maybe a clavinet too. But seriously, whoever's working the drum kit on this MFer deserves some props. The drums on the title cut are ridiculous - big, fat, clean, as if Bob Powers cleaned it up. The opening break on "Ne Hidd El" sounds straight up like a twist on the "Put Your Hand in the Hand" pattern and song for song, this is probably the best track as Sarolta finally lets her vocals out to play a bit (she's rather restrained elsewhere). The break returns midway through, this time accompanied by a firm bass guitar. And ending side A is "Egyszer..." which has a chicken scratch guitar accompanying the opening break as the song kicks into a swinging party jam.

Like I said, this LP might appeal more to break heads but as for me, it gets by just fine on the novelty factor.