Tudat Alatt

Soma Salamon is a folk music researcher and performer specialising in traditional flutes. He’s played with a number of bands including Buda Folk Band and Magos. But this is a totally solo record with eight tracks played on six different folk flutes (and some percussion).

The opening ‘Dombság’ (Hills) is played on an instrument with a clear, slightly reedy treble sound, but when the pace increases a growling bass drone comes in, typical of a lot of these shepherds’ flute instruments. The most striking instrument is the double flute which he plays on ‘Iker’ (Twin) and the deep flute of ‘Udzsapo’, the most dynamic track with growling and grunting. ‘Aer’ is a calmer piece with a Romanian-sounding doina-like melody over arpeggiated notes. On the album, Salamon says very explicitly that none of these are traditional pieces, but obviously all inspired by his knowledge of and work with traditional flutes across the region. Tudat Alatt means ‘subconscious’ and this is what Salamon’s flute research has brought out of his subconscious. Although much of the music might seem simple there’s virtuoso playing here.