Hungarian quintet
Söndörgo are unique among Balkan folk acts. A family act from the small town of Szentendre, brothers Áron, Benjamin, and Salamon Eredics along with cousin Dávid Eredics and bassist Attila Buzás take inspiration from famed composer
Béla Bartók's detailed transcriptions of Eastern European folk music. They are as focused on Serbian and Croatian traditions as they are with Hungarian music, and unlike so many contemporary brass-led Balkan groups,
Söndörgo work primarily as a string band showcasing the tambura, a small, plucked instrument similar to the mandolin. Their fifth album, 2014's
Tamburocket: Hungarian Fireworks, mixes fervent dance tunes and thoughtful instrumental tracks with vocals both from the group and from guest singers like Gypsy singer Antal Kovács and Hungarian actor Kátya Tompos. Vibrantly played and beautifully recorded, the 12 songs on
Tamburocket showcase the impressive and ever-evolving talent of this premier European folk group. ~ Timothy Monger