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...the history of choice with no voice began in the very moment when the three members of Mercy Minutes (UTE, Gergö, Jozs) remained without fellows. They mulled over the question: "should we play music or should we play chess?" As playing chess is only for two and they were three they made up their minds to keep on playing music. Before that, however, Jozs had an idea to put someone out of the way, thus the two remnants could play chess. Upon this UTE and Gergö had agreed to put away Jozs - so 'rather playing music' was the right choice. They didn't have any chessboard, anyway. Making music as a band requires four people - at least that was their conception. Several knights tried to fight the terrific Six String Beast but no one could defeat Him. Balázs was the last warrior in the row - and he won over the Beast with a single swish. That's how they became four but they didn't have any name. After some wrestling they agreed to name the band after the non-existent vocalist "choice with no voice". They made clear to play 'post-rock' however no one (including them) knew what it exactly means. So for the sake of plain understanding and capturing the heights of the charts choice with no voice labels his music: instrumental post-rock whateva'... The history of choice with no voice had begun in Miskolc, 1999. A band called “Mercy Minutes” played Supertramp, Yes, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Buffalo Springfield and Levellers songs. In 2000 the “Memorandum of Association 'Mercy Minutes'“ was born as a foot-stone of a band that moves along psychedelic and progressive paths. Later on the band's concert set-list contained songs by Porcupine Tree, A Perfect Cicle, Pearl Jam and The Cranberries - their own compositions were influenced by these as well. In the next years Mercy Minutes had several memorable concerts and festival appearances in the company of top-notch progressive and alternative rock bands as Eleven Hold, After Crying, Vera Lynn, Az Eső, Echoes of Pink Floyd, Trip-10, Jelly Belly. In 2003 a rehearsal room demo recording was made and around that time the band begun co-working with photographer Gábor Koscsó. After some changes among the musicians Mercy Minutes completed the second, now professional recording in 2005. The CD with four songs had the title "the calm before the storm" and was released as author's edition. The album featured Levente Csécsi (guitars), Judit Deák (vocals), Zoltán Pap (bass), József Simkó (guitars), Gergő Sumalán (drums) and Edit Mustos as guest (flute and blockflöte) and gained positive critical responses (Rockinform, Rock Gyémántok, Hard Rock Magazin, www.zenemagazin.com). To the late of 2006 - after subsequent changes and back-offs - only three "Mercy Minutists" remained: József Simkó, Gergő Sumalán and Tamás Udvarnoki (who replaced the former bassist). They decided not to seek for another vocalist again but to play some instrumental rock. At this time a new guitarist, Balázs Varga joined the band. To the beginning of 2007 it became clear that a new formation will come to life under the name "choice with no voice". On the one part it refers to the absence of a vocalist. On the other part the band pays tribute to the folk-singer and guitarist Roy Harper - a song of his contains the line "choice with no voice" (The Lord's Prayer). The band members have quite different musical background: Balázs is keen on jazz and blues, Tamás is fond of acid, ska and reggae lines, Gergő digs prog-rock and metal rhythms while József is hooked on progressive- and post-rock riffs. It follows that the improvised and later worked-on compositions of choice with no voice are basically a unique mixture of progressive rock (like King Crimson) and post-rock (like God Is An Astronaut, Mogwai, Red Sparowes, etc.) – spiced up with reggae, blues, jazz, electronic, alternative and avant-garde themes. On 16th June 2007 choice with no voice had its debut concert in Miskolc at Corner Stage Café, which is a beloved venue of progressive music fans. As the group earned a reputation as a good live band early, they do gigs regularly since then - playing their own compositions exclusively. Choice with no voice did a lot of club and festival concerts and had the chance to share stage with similar bands (including the internationally-known Korai Öröm). As the members of the band are enthusiastic about films and the visual impact of music, they gladly accepted a request to compose music for an experimental short film "Efraim" directed by Zsombor Diriczi. The film had its first run on the Faludi International Youth Film Festival on November 2007. Choice with no voice is committed to the contemporary literature as well. That is why the band has membership in the internet-based community "Első Kötet Műhely - Szabad Alkotók Városa" - www.elsokotetmuhely.hu (First Volume Workshop - City of Free Creatives). The "citizens" had their first "real" meeting on December 2007 in RS9 Theatre Budapest where the stage and reading productions were enriched by the live performance of choice with no voice. In Spring of 2008 the band went to the studio of Gábor Fülöp who was their sound engineer on the film music sessions. During that time band photos and cover art was presented by long-time friend Gábor Kocsó. The seven-track debut album (released as author's edition) "polonium, sweetheart?" was presented on a sold-out concert on 18th October 2008 in Corner Stage Café. The band cooperates with the net-label “Chromechoes Production” (www.myspace.com/chromechoesproduction). choice with no voice line-up: József Simkó - guitars Gergő Sumalán - drums Tamás Udvarnoki - bass, sound effects Balázs Varga - guitars + on gigs: Szabolcs Varga - visual effects discography: full length: CD - polonium, sweetheart? - author's edition (2008) – in slim or normal jewel-case, available via e-mail order (see below) on compilations: CD - Narcollapse Vol. 1 - Chromechoes Production (2008) - 1 song music for films: Efraim - directed by Zsombor Diriczi (2007, tükör|kép film workshop) official site: www.myspace.com/choicewithnovoice contact: József Simkó +36 70/416-4234 e-mail: cwnv (at) freemail (dot) hu Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.