Àbáse‘s Awakening was one of our Album Picks of 2024, so we’re naturally excited to hear he has a new single out. ‘Fekete Szem / Black Eye’ finds the Berlin-based Hungarian producer, composer, improviser and keyboardist reconnecting with the folk traditions of his native Hungary, blending Hungarian folk music, jazz, hip-hop, electronic and avant-garde classical music. ‘Fekete Szem / Black Eye’ brings together an inspired cast of collaborators, including Hungarian folk singer Kacsó Hanga, cimbalom virtuoso Jenő Lisztes, bassist Petter Eldh, drummer Silvan Strauss and saxophonist Otis Sandsjö. Built around the music of composer Márta István, it also draws on Mihály Vörösmarty’s 1830 poem Fekete Szem and a folk melody collected by Béla Bartók, all reworked through Àbáse’s distinctive musical lens. Speaking about the starting point for the track, Àbáse says:

“I started researching Martaʼs work and came across his 1985 ‘Heartsʼ LP. As soon as I heard the opening track, I immediately heard these drums over it, and as soon as I hit the studio I did the draft idea. At its initial instrumental form, Mártaʼs composition is practically the core of the track, with added drums and bass that later received added layers and depth from Hangaʼs vocals and Jenoʼs cimbalom playing.”

On expanding the piece with the wider ensemble, he adds:

“Returning to Berlin, we had a two day session at the Brewery Studios where we further developed my beat ideas and demos on tape. It was important to me to involve international musicians so the Hungarian storyline gets a contemporary and outsider twist. Thatʼs how we developed the second section and improvised over Jenoʼs solo.”

Take a listen to ‘Fekete Szem / Black Eye’ below.

‘Fekete Szem / Black Eyeʼ is out now through Bridge The Gap & Oshu Records