Transylmania - Mert Tudnom Kell (2008)

"Transylvania hides treasures. It tries to mask and preserve them from the world which keeps destroying itself. If you go there, it pours its secrets with open heart. The Székely man prefers giving and he does not look at what he has in return. He gives everything belonging to him – with honesty and honour. You get troubled by his straightforward way of thinking and speaking. He wants to love with his regards, his brioche or his brandy/pálinka offered early morning.
He requires to be respected, stands with straight spines in the world as the pine trees in Hargita – “where the hard stones ache as living hearts”. It was an unbelievable meeting at New Year Night 2002 on the programme of Duna Television. An ensemble from the Land of Székely expected for the Kormorán concert appeared on the screens.
It snowed but the melody made people smile and glad in spite of the keen frost. At was then that I have known TransylMania.
I had no idea who they were, why they started to play the Kormorán songs. I could not feel that life long experience would follow and life long friendship has started - there, in that very moment. Then, we made a common concert tour in Transylvania and the time spent together convinced all of us that there are heroic Székely soldiers of Hungarian culture at the borderlands.
TransylMania has chosen a difficult way to follow. Perhaps the most difficult. It mixes certain elements of the international musical language, the rock with Hungarian folk music and Hungarian poetry. This album proves: it is a success. With particular sensibility and musical talent, they created a characteristic musical style and language. Listening to the songs, I see the mountains and the small villages, I feel the clean air of Transylvania and the touch of God’s finger. I hear the mysterious quarrels of the pine trees with their tips reaching heaven and imagine the laughing Székely girls and all tricks of the crafty men."
The music of TransylMania: the kiss of the soul.
Gergely Koltay - KORMORÁN