The Third Eye

Name Of Kings released a new album called Yurt back in May of 2023. I have had it since then, but it has yet to make it into my playlist rotation. That error in judgment has been rectified, and now we’re gathered to find out exactly why it was such a grievous error not to listen to it, to begin with. 

About Name Of Kings and Yurt

According to their Bandcamp description, Name Of Kings is a… 

“Rock band with Transoxanian characteristics. Originally based in Prague during the 1990s, now in Bucharest. Futuristic folk music.”

I had never heard the term “Transoxanian,” so I looked it up on Google because, you know, Google knows everything. I found that it is defined as a person, place, or thing from Transoxania, which is … 

“the Latin name for a region and civilization located in lower Central Asia roughly corresponding to modern-day eastern Uzbekistan, western Tajikistan, parts of southern Kazakhstan, parts of Turkmenistan and southern Kyrgyzstan.”

The band members are Bohemond Pasha (vox, acoustic guitar, percussion) and Majid Majnun (acoustic, lead and rhythm guitars, bass, keys, violin, percussion, oud, barbat, ocarina, string and horn arrangements). Based on the array of unique instruments they use, you can assume that the music on Yurt is diverse and it very much is.

The Songs

1. Revolutions (04:19)

The mellow vibe created by the bass, the backing sounds, and the vocals are utterly fantastic. After this intro comes a part that is a bit jazzy, a bit jam band, and a bit psychedelic. Every instrument, including the vocals, is performed with precision and panache, culminating in a sizzling yet tasteful lead to close the song. This track is a prime example of what we can expect to hear across this album.

2. Bridges (03:57)

“Bridges” is beautiful in its tone, particularly the vocal performances, which exude a classic rock meets soft-rock vibe. Bohemond has such an incredible voice and approach that it’s hard not to get lost in the sultry sound of his vocals. My only complaint is that the ending could be more blunt than the smoothness of the rest of the track. 

3. Night Errant (04:05)

Name Of Kings begins this song with a small amount of Grateful Dead influence, more on the modern jam band end of things, but The Dead is the root of that genre, so it will be heard within any band that employs that style. I also detected a psychedelic-folk type of vibe, which is mainly heard during the instrumental breaks. 

4. Too Long Together (04:36)

I loved this track from the very moment that it began. The organs, the outstanding vocal performance, and the psych overtones are all part of that love. I’d like to mention that there is also a lot of blues influence and even a slight gospel vibe that helps create an excellent feel. This is the best track of the first half of Yurt.

5. Motion And Flame (07:25)

Here, we find the longest of the eight songs and a Pink Floyd meets psych-folk vibe. I won’t say that this is my favorite song on Yurt, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad either. There’s a lot to love about what Name Of Kings accomplished here, and one pass through the song will tell you all that you need to know about that.

I dig the lead; it has a flair and intensity that contrasts with the first half of the song, and despite the backing tracks picking up a little, the song never loses that mellow feel. The organ playing in the last section is incredible, as is the guitar playing underneath and around it. 

6. Rumi (03:41)

“Rumi” starts us off with the most rocking guitar part of the album before dropping into the more psychedelic sounds we’re used to now. The psych influence quickly takes on a jazz feel, and by the end of the song, Name Of Kings has given listeners some of everything they’ve shared on the record so far.

7. Spy Boogie (05:07)

A blues-based progressive psych guitar approach supplies the boogie, sometimes reminding me of a mix of Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Clapton. The band also tosses in an R&B feel to make things interesting, mainly within the background, but its presence is keenly felt nonetheless. There are no vocals on this track, but that’s okay because the strength of the music stands on its own; no vocals are needed. 

8. By Design (02:46)

With such a brief runtime, “By Design” becomes more of an outro than a full song. This is an excellent way to finish the record: acoustic guitar, violin, and a beautifully performed vocal cap Yurt off with just the right amount of style. 

Final Thoughts

I was surprised and bummed out when the album was over. Not because it was bad, but because the 35 minutes seemed to have flown by, and I wanted more of this psychedelic folk rock music. I had found many things to love about Yurt, so it’s safe to say that Name Of Kings made a fan out of me with it.

The songwriting is terrific, the execution and performances are equally so, and the fact that they apply an old-school touch coupled with a modern flair is exactly what I wanted to hear. So head to YouTube (666MrDoom’s channel, not Stoned Meadow Of Doom, please) or Bandcamp to experience Yurt for yourselves. Enjoy!

Support Name of Kings by finding them on Bandcamp.

This review was written by Tom Hanno, who has been writing reviews for the last 7 years but has been sharing his love of music for the majority of his life. Originally starting out at the now-defunct Chimera Magazine, he is currently contributing to Doomed and Stoned, The Sleeping Shaman, The Doom Charts, Tom’s Reviews, and The Third Eye. Read more of Tom’s reviews by checking out his Linktree.

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