In the 70s Sarolta Zalatnay was Hungary’s equivalent to Janis Joplin (for sheer vocal extremity; see also the English-language cover of Move Over), Madonna (for zeitgeist-reflecting imagechanging) and Patsy Kensit (see her filmography and line of bedpost notches) rolled into one, as famous in her home country as Bowie then was everywhere else. The sleevenotes here reference an autobiography, I’m No Nun, which Finders Keepers really should get UK publishing rights for.
Of course, we know nothing of her in the Western world, so this is yet another FK release that makes you say, ‘Someone recorded what?’ Post-60s France Gall/y�y�- mould teen fame, Zalatnay donned leathers and began working with Hungarian rockers. These 19 tracks cover the sort of blues-rock and Hammond psych end of things that, in terms of the Western world’s 70s was a dull retreading, but in the hands of Zalatnay and chosen co is full of the nuances and bendy rock madness that only the truly free to create can come up with. It brought her mega stardom in Hungary (she was even in their recent Celebrity Big Brother, not so oxymoronic as that would be here) and there’s enough of the unknown on this to keep you coming back for more.
