Kampec Dolores are one of my favourite Hungarian bands so I was pleased to hear that they released a new album in 2011, the first one since 2006, and I have finally managed to hear it. They were founded back in 1984 by Csaba Hajnoczy and Gabi Kenderesi and soon found themselves supporting artists like Nico and Pere Ubu as they toured throughout Europe displaying their own very unique style. The days the line-up is Gabi Kenderesi (vocals), Csaba Hajnóczy (guitar), Arpad Vajdovich (bass), Istvan Grencsó (sax, flute, wind instruments) and Csaba Nemeth (drums).
To say that they have their own unique style and sound is an understatement. In some ways it is world music mixed with jazz, but it is both more and less than that. Gabi has a very pure high clear voice which she uses to great effect, but as she sings in Hungarian I really have no idea at all what she is saying! That leaves me to concentrate on her vocals as another instrument, as it mixes and melds with the rest of the guys. Istvan is apparently one of the top musicians in the Hungarian scene and is very much in demand, and here when he plays he makes a real impression but he isn’t always present as the band move the music around, and he is used at just the right moment. Some of the numbers are quite rocky with bass pedals and riffs but in others it is very light and folky with a fretless bass making its’ presence felt. This isn’t music for everyone but is well worth investigating. Luckily part of the website can be viewed in English so why not investigate? You can also hear some of their music on their MySpace page.
www.kampecdolores.hu
