Far from wishing to enter into the controversy caused by the irremediable rift that occurred between the historical members of Negură Bunget a few years ago, one cannot help but note, wanting to see things from the selfish side of the enthusiast, that if nothing else there is now a chance to enjoy two great bands instead of just one. Not wanting to take anyone’s side, the only observation that can be made is that perhaps it would have been desirable also on Negru’s part to have chosen to use a different name for his current project, all the more so now that he has once again revolutionized the line-up with respect to Poarta De Dincolo, given that the quality of the music expressed is in any case undeniable and that, had it not been so, the maintenance of an already established moniker would have constituted only the classic lark’s mirror. But so be it…, Negură Bunget, as a foretaste of their second album in the “mark II” version, release this enchanting 7″ which, in line with the trends already manifested in their most recent releases, consists of ambient folk with an ancestral flavor and which bears their geographic provenance stamped on it. Currerea Muntelui and Taul Fara Fund are two rather short tracks in deference to the chosen format, which only increases the desire to hear new compositions soon; while the former of the two possesses a more traditional song structure and proves to be a majestic and emotional episode, with Tibor Kati’s beautiful voice declaiming the usual mother-tongue lyrics laid on a carpet of keyboards and wind instruments, the latter is a well-executed example of ambient with a strong ethnic component, where a choral litany becomes one with Petrică Ionuţescu’s flute. The magnificence of Om is a distant memory, an impractical and even unfair comparison, and the only way to fully appreciate the ten minutes of music contained in Gind A Prins is to rid oneself of the cumbersome prejudice that may result from the band’s name printed on the cover.

2013 – Lupus Lounge