Record Reviews

URMA ~ LOST END FOUND CATAPULTA ~ ROMANIA ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is the fifth album by Romanian Rock band URMAFind albums by this artist, fronted by vocalist / guitarist Mani GutauFind albums by this artist and including also drummer Dominic CsergoFind albums by this artist, bassist Sorin ErhanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jimmy CserkeszFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Louis PalominoFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Sebastian BurneciFind albums by this artist and percussionist Ati de ChileFind albums by this artist. Three more musicians are listed as contributors to this recording: vocalist Catrinel BejenariuFind albums by this artist, caval (Eastern flute) player Mandela GajolFind albums by this artist and trombonist Florian RaduFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original songs, which are all credited (lyrics and music) collectively to the band members and sung in English. The album is lavishly packaged in a digibook format, accompanied by a beautiful book full of extraordinary photographs of the group in different locations, the songs lyrics and photos of Romanian architectural treasures of great beauty, many of which are in a desperate need of conservation and restoration. The entire package, i.e. the music and the book are an exquisite example of how Culture should be presented. The album is an absolute blast from start to finish and honestly I had a hard time to believe my ears when I heard it for the first time. I kept listening to it again and again to be absolutely sure I am not under some momentary lapse of reason, before finally deciding that this is one of the best Rock / Alternative Rock albums I have heard in the last decade. The quality of these songs and the performance are simply stellar. I must admit that I´m familiar with many Romanian musicians, mostly those from the Jazz scene, but I never expected that a Romanian Rock band could be capable to producing such superb piece of music. The music is beautifully melodic, lyrical and moving, presenting a diverse collection of stylistic approaches, from classic Rock ballads to World Music influenced explorations and even a reserved from of Rap. The arrangements, which range from calm acoustic guitar backing, via almost hard Rock moments to Brass-Rock Jazzy riffs are all simply outstanding. The entire album simply broadcasts intelligence, elegance, good taste, professionalism and above all a deep feel for music, which is so rare these days. Even the fact that the songs lyrics are performed in English, something that usually would have unlocked my terrible wrath, does not worry me at all. Yes, Gutau has a foreign accent, but it is so charming, that in his case it becomes an asset, which only spices his wonderfully theatrical delivery. But URMA are definitely not about a vocalist supported by a band, en contraire they are an integrated music making unit, that has but a few equals. I know I am stepping on a perilous ground here, but the music of URMA takes me on a magic ride back in time, when music was as real and as kicking as what they are playing today; a progress in retrograde? But these are just rumblings of an old man. Grab this album any way you can, go and hear them play, look them up on the Net - they are simply fabulous!

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