Magyar Posse
Random avenger
Verdura Records
This CD has gotten regular spins on my car stereo ever since I got it. I love great instrumental pop, especially of the cinematic flavor, and that's exactly what this Finnish group serves up in grand style on their third full-length album. The seven tracks here show the band's obvious love of film composers like Ennio Morricone, John Barry and others, down to the use of evocative, wordless vocals on tunes like "Whirlpool of terror and tension" and "Popzag", which ebb and flow but generally create a mood and then work it thoroughly, with subtle variations. The mournful strings on "Black procession" and the delicate acoustic guitar on "One by one" places this stuff closer to real film music than the post rock it'll likely get categorized as, but fans of the style really should seek this out. What I like best about Magyar Posse is the way their music can perfectly mimic the tensions and mood swings of an average day; I found this stuff uncannily appropriate for a day of frantic errand running and zipping through town in my car. Jani Viitanen has produced the whole thing with warmth and sparkle, and even though a lot of other platters in this vein have been released lately, "Random avenger" is among the cream of the crop.
- Kevin Renick