Review by Stephen Pedicino
The Moon and the Nightspirit is:
Agnes Toth - vocals, violin, morin khuur, bass, woodwinds, percussions
Mihaly Szabo - vocals, 6 & 12 string acoustic guitar, bass, zither, lujara
Get the idea? If not, you certainly will by the end of this terrestrial listening experience dubbed Ösforrás. After debuting in 2005, The Moon and the Nightspirit gained respectable publicity and even appeared on national Hungarian television (an ambition that all of us secretly have). After their sophomore album, “Regõ Rejtem,” they began touring throughout Europe in several modestly sized venues. I haven’t actually listened to either of these two works, so I was highly excited to expose my ears to these pagan headbangers.
“Álomidö,” the opener, enchanted me with it’s Arabian guitar tone and morin khuur. They combine to form an engulfing aura for the beautiful vocals of Agnes Toth. The song is subdued, yet full of life. “Ég Felé” would be perfect for conducting a tribal ceremony on the beach of some remote, enigmatic island. Keep that in mind if the occasion were to arise. You’ll hear plenty of chanting and percussion. The title track is pretty languid with the exception of the middle crescendo. The tempo jumps from largo to allegro, and then regresses back to a seemingly improvised collision of sluggish instruments and soft vocals. You’ll notice this motif in several tracks, with some instances being more enjoyable than others.
Without any type of solid guitars or traditional drumming, TMatN depend mainly on acoustic work and the spellbinding vocals of Agnes Toth. She is very compatible with each juncture, ranging from urgent trills to delicate crooning. You know those spiritual Native American songs that were the big trend years back? She would fit like a glove into those. I would love to hear her sing in English. There are some back-up vocals supplied by Mihaly Szabo, most of which sound rough and inconsequential. The unique array of instrumentation Ösforrás is very appropriately used. Nothing sounds out of place. However, some moments could simply use a little kick in the ass. Several songs have a slow tempo which may get boring for some.
The more festive songs include “Fénybe Térö” and “Hétvilág.” Woodwinds and the violin are used more liberally, thus offering a needed deviation of tempo and vibe. I don’t speak a word of Hungarian but I can tell that both songs predominantly feature chants instead of lyrics. You will actually notice a lot of ungrammatical chanting during the album. Is it just me, or has this style gotten big ever since Lisa Gerrard’s contribution to the Gladiator soundtrack? Could just be me...
If you’re looking for an album to lull you, Ösforrás will do the job. That statement isn’t really meant to be negative. It’s soft package of instruments and homogeneity will imbue you with the drowsiness all metalheads need sometimes. But, if you analyze the musicality of music like myself, Ösforrás will convey a generic rendition of ambient medieval folk. You’ll end up waiting for something deviant before realizing that the album never had any deviant intentions to begin with. Some crescendos thrive with spirited haste, and a handful of songs are quite upbeat. However, I know many would prefer something more exciting…more METAL. The music is nonetheless unique. I give TMatN credit for staying true to their folk hearts. There are no keyboards on the album, so everything is organic. Their next album might benefit from more forceful guitar work and percussion though.
Because Ösforrás is more of a musical “experience,” I can’t really review songs individually. You’re either in the mood for this, or sober. Of course, I jest. I’m sure something psychoactive would make this stuff sound even more appealing, but Ösforrás will definitely compliment that naturally ethereal state you may find yourself in during the nights. It must be stressed that there are no radio hits or standout tracks. If you pop this album in for merely a few songs, you’re missing the point. Either let the flowing nocturnal spirit encompass your mind fully, or not at all.