On 1 December, WMCE (World Music Charts Europe) published its world music top list for 2013. Out of a selection of 913 albums nominated by radio-world music-specialists, Félix Lajkó’s Mező – Field (top hit in August and September 2013) ended up on the prestigious 5th place. This makes Félix Lajkó the most successful European-born artist as he is preceded by artists of African or Central American origin. On the 149-item-long list, Félix Lajkó’s is the only Hungarian album. WMCE lists are compiled by 48 radio-world music-specialists from 24 European countries; besides being a great achievement by artist and label alike, Mező – Field’s success is a tribute to the entire Hungarian music publishing industry.
The last Hungarian album to hit a WMCE “Top of the Year” list was Kismet by Márta Sebestyén (Hannibal Records) in 1996. In 1999, Muzsikás Band’s Bartók album (author’s edition) came out 18th on the year’s top list.
Top 10 of the WMCE 2013 Top of the Year list:
1 JAMA KO Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba, Outhere records, Mali
2 ZOOM Rachid Taha, Naïve, France (Algerian born)
3 AYO The Garifuna Collective, Cumbancha/Stonetree, Belize
4 CHATMA Tamikrest, Glitterbeat Records, Mali
5 MEZÖ – FIELD Lajko Felix, FONO, Hungary
6 YA NASS Yasmine Hamdan, Crammed Discs, Lebanon
7 NOMAD Bombino Nonesuch, Niger
8 JUMBIE IN THE JUKEBOX Kobo Town, Cumbancha/Stonetree, Trinidad/Canada
9 HOTEL UNIVERS Jupiter & Okwess International, Outhere records, DR Congo
10 BEYOND THE RAGASPHERE Debashish Bhattacharya & Friends, Riverboat, India/USA/UK
In April 2013, Fonó Record published Félix Lajkó’s first zither album, Mező – Field. In August 2013, Mező – Field hit the top of the renowned World Music Charts Europe. The last such Hungarian achievement was a single track by Márta Sebestyén one and a half decade ago. After spending two consecutive months at the top of the list, Mező – Field stayed in the top three for some more months.
In September 2013, Womex (World Music Expo) listed Fonó Records among the top 20 world music record labels – an achievement greatly due to the overwhelming success of Mező – Field.
“1983 – Félix Lajkó gets his first zither
2013 – Félix Lajkó makes is first zither record
Thirty years is a good amount of time, especially from a zither’s point of view. Félix Lajkó is still using the same zither his mother gave him back then. The zither, in the meantime, has invariably followed, tolerated, endured its owner’s whims; assuming the uniqueness, sound and mission of its destiny.
This album is a wonderful proof of that extraordinary relationship. And is presumably a milestone for zither experts, users and consumers… Because, until now, we didn’t know a zither could sound like this! Félix open up new perspectives, depths, planes; he demonstrates an unknown and perhaps unmatchable interpretation and utilization of this instrument.
Has world music been born? Perhaps more than that. But this is something everyone must decide for him/herself – after listening to this album once, ten times, or a hundred times over…”
(from the album cover, trans. Sue Foy)
Félix Lajkó’s next performance will be a New Year’s Concert at the Palace of Arts on 2 January 2014.
