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Hungarian rockers The Moog release second album
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Budapest's The Moog release second album, prep for U.S. tour. (PHOTO: Tamás Dobos)
Budapest has nothing on musically-inclined cities like London, Seattle, New York or Los Angeles, but The Moog have brought some attention to the goulash-cooking, eastern European nation's rock scene.
The Hungarian-bred quintet, who formed as teens in 2004, have released their sophomore album, Razzamatazz Orfeum (MuSick Recordings), with a fall U.S. tour to follow.
From opener “This is Horror” to first single “You Raised a Vampire," the synthy vampires (appropriately named after the famous Moog synthesizers and an old Barcelona haunt) summon '80s dancey goth in their follow up to debut Sold for Tomorrow (2004). Sprinkled with 60s grooves like fourth track "When I See You," Razzmatazz returns to a moodier "Can't Say No, Can't Say Yes," which at moments transports singer Tonyo Szabo into Peter Murphy-esque vocals. Synth-heavy tracks like "Self and Soul" and "Mina,” a dreamy, pop-driven track aptly named after Bram Stoker’s Mina Harker round out the remainder of the album.
Szabo, along with drummer Gergo Dorozsmai, guitarists Adi Bajor and Miguel Gyorgy and bassist Csabi Szabo, deliver 12-tracks of goth pop that would make anyone into Christian Death, Love and Rockets (coincidentally, Bauhaus/Rockets' guitarist David J plays on The Moog's B-side cover of Bauhaus' 1981 single '"The Passion of Lovers") or Gene Loves Jezebel back in the day, listen up.
The Moog’s Tonyo Szabo recently spoke to Examiner about recording in Seattle, Budapest's rock scene, or lack thereof, and vampires, of course.
Examiner: I hear something different in each song on Razzmatazz Orfeum. Overall, I definitely get more of a '60s through '80s vibe. Who are some of your influences?
Tonyo Szabo: We've always liked the'60s. This impression can definitely be heard on our first album Sold For Tomorrow. In the last few years we got more and more into darker 80s art and post punk, so the ' 60s garage and pop impressions merged with the a bit of influence of bands like Bauhaus, The Cure and My Bloody Valentine. But I'd rather say we like anything which has cool hooks.
E: Where did you get the name The Moog? Is it an homage to the famous analog synthesizers?
TS: No. The story is that when we were younger and hanging out in Barcelona one weekend, we got stoned in a club called Moog. We always wanted a short and more or less international name which sounded good, so we chose Moog as a band name. A bit later, we realized we could get into legal trouble with the name but it was too late. We added "The" to band name and bought a swanky synth from Moog Music and the rest is history.
E: Tell me what influenced the song "You Raised a Vampire"? There’s also “Mina.” Am I wrong to think there was some heavy Bram Stoker influence here?
TS: It is a bit cheesy. Anyhow, it's a bit awkward since there are too many sh*t movies, books and music related to vampiric themes these days, but since Transylvania was actually part of Hungary, we stand by our fondness for vampires.
E: Geoff Ott, who has worked with artists like Pearl Jam, Queens of the Stone Age and Nickelback produced Razzmatazz. What did he help bring to the table during your Seattle recordings?
TS: Plenty of beer, that's for sure. In addition to this friendship, ideas, cool attitude and an insanely good work ethic.
E: How did you hook up with Gris Grimly for the cover art for the 7-inch vinyl ("You Raised a Vampire")? Were you fans prior to working with him?
TS: Our manager contacted him, because he knew his work would fit with our music. He was right of course. I think his artwork and our music make a beautiful marriage, and it's perfect for this new album. He also designed two T-shirts for us, which we all love.
E: Are you working with Grimly on anything else?
TS: Not yet, but I hope we'll have the opportunity to have him on board at some point again.
E: Give me a picture of what’s happening in the Budapest music scene right now? Is there a rock scene?
TS: Unfortunately, I would say it's crap. There are some very talented bands who just don't get the opportunity to show their talent abroad. The problem is that the bands who could be world famous or at least well-known are not that popular in their own country, so they can't break out to get to the next level, internationally speaking. It's like an ironic trap.
E: Where did you start playing when you first formed in 2004?
TS: Our first show was in a club called Marco Polo, which closed a few months after we played. We might have been the last nail in that coffin. We played sh*t clubs for a few years in Hungary. Things started to get better for us the last couple of years, and though we play the mid-size venues here, it's cool with us. At least all of our shows are packed, and at festivals we can play for a quite a big crowd.
E: What has been the response (shows) to the new album so far?
TS: It seems people like it. At least they scream and shout after most of the songs. I can't tell if this is due to our artistic qualities or to the alcohol, which is served at festivals these days. Anyway, I enjoy their reaction.
E: Are you ready for the U.S. tour? When will it be?
TS: We are more than ready. It seems we're going to America this autumn. Hopefully not by Airbus...
E: The Moog will be _____________ in a few years.
TS: Fu**ed or happy—or both!
Razzmatazz Orfeum Track List
1. This is Horror
2. Panic
3. You Raised a Vampire
4. When I See You
5. Can’t Say No, Can’t Say Yes
6. Lost Day
7. Joyclad Armies
8. Sphinx
9. Make Me Happy
10. Self and Soul
11. Mina
12. Epilogue
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