Magyar Posse
Random Avenger
Release Date: 5/17/2006
Website:Magyar Posse
Label:Verdura Records
Buy Here:Record Shop X
Music:Verdura Records
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When this Finnish band was easily knocked out of The Silent Ballet's first tournament by Explosions in the Sky, it became clear to me that very few people were aware of this band's magnificent sound. It was that day when I promised myself that the world would one day know the music of Magyar Posse. A few short months later and this cinematic instrumental rock band has released it's third album, Random Avenger with the help of the good people at Verdura Records.
While we may pigeonhole most of the instrumental genre into specific camps following the train of thought of a certain band or two (Mogwai,Mono--quiet/loud; Sigur Ros--Ambient, angelic; Explosions in the Sky--guitar rock; GY!BE,Rachel's--classical), the Scandinavians continually show that they do not fit into this rigid structure. Be it Sweden's blistering underground post rock, featuring the stellar TenderVersion lineup, in addition to Sickoakes, ef, and Jeniferever, Norway's unorthodox sytling of Samuel Jackson Five, Denmark's uncompromising creativity featured in Under Byen, or Finland's own Magyar Posse, it is clear to many that this region of the world is a current boiling pot of instrumental bliss. Random Avenger is proof that this movement is here to stay, as it offers one of the most daring instrumental adventures in years, dispelling any notion that there isn't any room for new sounds in the genre.
May was a particularly good month for instrumental fans. With it came not only the release of Random Avenger, but also ef's Give Me Beauty...or Give Me Death, We vs. Death's We Too Are Concerned, We Are Too Concerned, and Russian Circles' Enter. Each album takes a much different approach to the instrumental genre, and together they made the month quite enjoyable. All four of these album certainly deserve a good amount of praise, but there can only be one Release of the Month, and inevitably it was Random Avenger that occupied my ears for the majority of the month. In fact, by year's end, I predict this little gem dominates over most of the competition with one of the most addicting albums of the year.
Random Avenger does everything that a band's third album should. Not only does it come full circle to develop the band's vision one level further, but it also takes it in a new and daring territory, effectively pushing the band to its limits and beyond. The only problem is that Magyar Posse loves to be pushed to the extreme; this is where it does its best work. Cinematic mastery mixes with lush compositions with an extremely generous offering of instrumentation. Executed like a band that has watched the global scene and then responded in cue with perfect accuracy and precision, Rand Avenger absorbs the whole array of instrumental techniques employed in the past half decade and blends it together while still maintaining a "traditional" sound. Bands of this caliber are often tempted to move into the energetic realm of neo post-rock, but Magyar Posse lets its patience and resolve be its guide through this monumental work. The electronic component is there (keyboard/synth), but it is not the glitch-crazy electronic offspring nor the suffocating form of the abstract purveyors of ambiance. Magyar Posse writes much more classically minded, with an extreme experimental bent. However, it often relies of guitar-driver segments and electronic devices to supplement to music just enough to distort the sonic landscape into a unique creation.
"Whirlpool of Tension and Terror" barrels out of the album, introducing the band through layers of synth, electronics, and distortions. A rustic guitar enters the portrait and graciously paints a deep, moody landscape. Desolate, unforgiving, isolated, lonely -- these are the adjectives that conjured up by the band's sonic presentation. This effect is only heightened by the addition of a violin, whom waltzes with the guitar all too forgetful of the repetitive synth and electronic vibe that keeps the track afloat. A short vocal segue later and the song resumes its dejected foreplay, halting only when the listener begins to accept the mystifying effect of Magyar Posse.
Possibly, this is the key to understanding the album. Above all else, Magyar Posse favors a sense and feeling of magic. Random Avenger twinkles and it shimmers like a brightly burning star. It plays out like an old man with a music box nostalgically recalling the memories of his youth. The cinematic parallel in the album is tremendous, vibrantly washing the sonic landscape in a clear summer night sky. The stars slowly sway, moving in sync with this majestic music. And is it ever majestic -- throughout most of the album you can feel yourself transported to a Victorian palace at the height of an extravagant royal ball. Magyar Posse is front and center, of course, and the night is theirs.
"Sudden Death" immediately comes off as the most catchy song on the album, with an uplifting, cathartic finale featuring a traditional violin leading the climax with a newer feeling deflation compliments of the band's guitar work and electronic support. The eight minutes leading up to that point are a mountainous battle of control between the instruments. The song begins much like an 80s new wave band with an electronic rhythm and synth distortion. This fabricated, contrived sound is very unlike the normal post-rock dogma, but the band lets the unfamiliar sounds saturate the landscape before it switches to something more comfortable. Two minutes into the song an aching violin crashes into the composition and forcefully extracts the organic tones of the song through a fury of synthetic ambient resistance. Eventually this classical composition wins over--receding into a fragile piano segue with soft guitar and drum backup. The violin returns, this time caressing the listener with a smooth, soothing sound. Ever so slowly, the song builds tension through the guitars repeated pressing force. It undulates, and you can tell the climax is coming. Only it doesn't. Magyar Posse pushes through the storm, seeing the clear blue skies as the piano rejoices in the serenity of the moment. This doesn't last long, however, as the guitars cut off all auxiliary sounds and flare to life with a rumbling drum and bass line, building a rich tension which can only be fully released by the violin's screeching wail. Is this an epic song? Yes. Is it cathartic? Yes. Is this completely original and and new to our ears? Yes. "Sudden Death" doesn't really fit the bill of a quiet/loud song, and over the course of the album it becomes clear that this is not the band's intent. Yet, this does not exclude the band from the epic sounds of the genre, which they gleefully utilize in creative ways.
Although "Sudden Death" receives an immediate approval from post rock fans, after repeated listens, other tracks begin to show their appeal as well. "Black Procession" introduces the cerebral "European Lover/Random Avenger," a playful foray into uncharted territory. Again we see a violin-dependent composition with synth and guitar support change into a guitar-dependent composition with a large backup of ambiance. You shouldn't confused this guitar rock as the likes of Mogwai or EitS, but rather the more linear and angelic style of Sigur Ros. The first five minutes spike into a swift eruption of sound, then quickly navigates into a lethargic "Random Avenger." The momentum slowly gets rolling as the guitars flicker on and off and the drums awaken and single-handedly breath life back into the track. This indicates the band is setting itself up for only one thing--a beautiful ending. And sure enough, "Random Avenger" delivers, wrapping the listener into a tight embrace that won't let go until the ending seconds. The guitars finally let loose in a furious cacophony of sound, amidst the soaring violin and synth. This is really the magic that is Magyar Posse; this is cinematic music at its best.
"Intercontinental Hustle" picks up the pace and the energy of Magyar Posse. Drums come into the picture with full force while taking over the rhythmic responsibilities and the violin and keys fill up the rest of the band's sound as a wavering, haunting presence. When the guitars enter the picture the song gets its final cue and Magyar Posse effortlessly crafts the ethereal, magical feeling that at this point in the album you can't help but submit to. Eventually "Intercontinental Hustle" begins to turn back and consume itself, unable to harness the volatile energy that is has created. And in a poof of smoke it is gone.
After the short segue "One by One, the band has one last chance to strike gold--or more accurately, one more chance to strike gold. "Popzag" reintroduces the combination of electronic vibes and electrifying violin scraping the tips of the sky. Vocals again enter the picture, reminding the listener that this is indeed a human experience. Do not get lost in the wondrous magic of the music, for it all eventually return back to the band itself, center court playing as loud as humanly possible. Anyone can crank the speakers up to maximum volume and roar out a deafening tune, but it takes talent to do that and still have a violin and a whole electronic component of the music bouncing on top of the caustic foundation and still sounding crystal clear. And like the sun setting into the distant horizon, "Popzag" concludes the album with a beautiful serene expression and leaves the listener craving more, just as every great album should end.
Random Avenger hits all the right spots. While no single entity truly steals the limelight, Magyar Posse dazzles through a complex arrangement of instrumentation and an intelligent approach to song writing. The band's composition undoubtedly takes the listener down all the ideal paths and alley in the instrumental world, and then shows some ones that were previously unknown to the public. While the band's influences may be though to pin down, there is no denying resemblances to bands like Sigur Ros, Scraps of Tape, and God is an Astronaut, yet ultimately Magyar Posse is its own unique expression. The story the band has to tell is not one to be taken lightly, but strap yourself in for the ride and the band will take you to places you've never seen. I wouldn't be wrong to call Random Avenger one of the best instrumental albums created in the past few years. Magyar Posse have not only matched the brilliance of Kings of Time, but also exceeded it far beyond the hopes of any fan. Kudos to this Finnish act, Magyar Posse shows us there is still reason to hope for the future of music.
~Jordan Volz