“A girl started to take off my belt while I was singing…that was pretty surprising...” reveals The Moog singer Tonyo Szabo, as he recalls the craziest action by a fan during a performance. Such is the life of a rock star in the biggest band in…Hungary!
Five years ago in Budapest, five guys then in their teens (Szabo -who also plays keyboards, guitarists Adi Bajor and Miguel Gyorgy, bassist Csaba Szabo, and drummer Gergo Dorozsmai) melded their love of all things David Bowie, Morrissey, Roxy Music, Blur and Bauhaus to name a few, and set out to conquer the music world despite the fact Szabo and his mates choose to present their brilliant compositions in a language other than their native tongue. The baritone crooner explains: “singing in English is still unpopular here since it's not really common, nor well received by older generations. There are some indie, hardcore and alternative bands who choose to sing in English but most of these bands can't achieve real success and always have to face the question: ‘why don't you sing in Hungarian?’ I have nothing against singing in Hungarian of course, but singing in English shouldn't be considered so unusual after bands like Abba, Scorpions or even The Hives, let's say. But we still have to deal with this issue.”
According to Szabo, Hungary’s elders still disdain The Moog’s chosen art form, citing that during the communist era, rock music was a symbol of capitalism and “the enemy.” He notes “so many bands were banned for that reason. Lyrics became extremely important for many reasons and maybe that's why most of the Hungarian alternative bands consider the lyrics more important than the music. I have nothing against that I guess, but even if I find good lyrics important, the music comes first for me.”
The Moog’s latest offering is entitled Razzmatazz Orfeum - the result of a Szabo brainstorm to combine a somewhat English word (“razzmatazz”) with a Hungarian term (“orfeum”) referring to a type of club that existed in the Habsburg Empire during the turn of the century wherein musicians, comedians, actors, magicians and other performers convened. And the name sounded hip too.
Recorded in Seattle with producer Geoff Ott, “a cool, funny guy” noted for his work with Queens Of The Stone Age, Mark Lanegan, and Pearl Jam, the North-Western American locale was chosen for reasons other than its climatic similarity to the band’s homeland. “Our label thought that this could be a good idea and after checking out the details we thought the same” recalls Szabo. “We spent few weeks away from home and concentrated only on putting together a good album. When we weren't recording we were playing video games, eating Thai food or getting wasted at The Comet tavern.”
Pop hooks, sweeping dynamics, slashing guitars, vintage (you guessed it) Moog synthesizer textures, and a flair for the dramatic abound on Razzmatazz Orfeum. The fist single “You Raised a Vampire” is an infectious dance-Goth offering. “It represents the vibe of the album and my connection to the world too... even if that sounds a bit cheesy” proclaims Szabo. However the question remains, are there vampires in Budapest? “I hope not” is Szabo’s humble response. Cobain devotees will appreciate “Panic” wherein Szabo waxes desperate akin to the late rock icon whilst the band wreaks harmonic and rhythmic havoc. “Can’t Say No, Can’t Say Yes” evokes aural images The Thin White Duke imitating Syd Barrett and vice versa. The frenetic “Mina” is a tribute to Mina Harker and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The album’s finale “Epilogue” is a cinematic farewell waltz heavy on piano and pathos.
Now America beckons The Moog. Preparing for their fourth state-side tour in September 2009, Szabo’s impression of the U.S.A is quite profound: “It’s very big, and we like it!” His recommendation for President Obama’s iPOD: “Joyclad Armies” from Razzmatazz Orfeum. It has strength, army, feelings... everything a president would want to possess.” Perhaps a duet with an American female pop diva is in the future for Szabo and The Moog? Beyonce? Tina Turner? Gwen Stefani? Cher? Britney Spears? Szabo declares “Shirley Bassey, of course! But she's Welsh, so... I'll get back to you on that one.”
The Moog’s Razzmatazz Orfeum comes out July 21, 2009 on MuSick Recordings.
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--Tom Semioli [July 13, 2009]
Photo: Reggie Ige
