Having released their second album, Gergo Borlai’s group a.k.a European Mantra - which has always been regarded as a kind of prototype on the Hungarian music scene - seems to have made a huge step during the past half-year. In contrast with the unruly eclecticism of their debut album, their second record seems to convey a more focused and mature artistry, which at the same time maintains the most significant values of this production: it’s matchless dynamics and complexity. Compared to their previous artistic practice characterized by it’s sway between invention and parody, their new material seems to be more elevated and serious, yet it continues to retain the vibrancy and playfulness so characteristic of the band’s compositions. With performances reaching the intensity of bands such as Liquid Tension Experiment or Tribal Tech, one would assume this album, like so many other studio recordings, is only a frail mock-up of the concerts. Wrong! The sound quality of this recording may definitely be set in line with the recordings of the above world-famous groups! This super-group featuring Gergo Borlai, János Nagy, Péter Lukács and Péter Papesch, with it’s two albums has significantly raised the bar for the Hungarian music scene.
Guitar: Péter (Peta) Lukács
Bass Guitar: Péter Papech
Keyboards: János Nagy
Drum: Gergo Borlai
Influences
Tribal Tech, John Scofield, John McLaughin, Gary Willis, Joe Zawinul, Frank Zappa and many more
I brought this group together on March 2001. Not long after having had a bass player switch, we ended up with the lineup existing to this very day, featuring my friend and co-composer Peta Lukács on guitar, János Nagy on keyboards and my favorite rhythm-section companion Péter Papesch on the bass.
By avoiding any kind of compromise, our music strives to break through the conventional boundaries between different genres. The music we are playing could be defined as ‘contemporary’, although it also encompasses elements, which are more accessible and thus easier to absorb. We don’t incorporate these out of compromise, but simply because we like them. We like all kinds of things. We really like ice cream for instance. With Jancsi we can sometimes eat up to 30-40 cones.
It’s really hard to make modern instrumental music these days, since this genre has grown to be totally indifferent for the public. Luckily we’re all open for new things and happy to use all kinds of elements found in today’s music.
Gergo Borlai
Hi European Mantra! FREE DOWNLOAD available for the bonus track of my debut solo album "Something Different" (released by Lion Music in 2008). The track's called "Glory Of Life - Bass only version". Enjoy!
A tegnapi koncert a Zöld Pardonban egészen egyszerűen lenyűgöző volt. Nem is értem, hogy miért nem a világkörüli turnét nyomjátok világsztárok vendégszereplésével :)))))
