It’s midnight and finally there is peace in the house. Everyone has gone to bed, the cats have stopped disagreeing with each other and have settled on their cushions, and I have put the fire on. A cup of tea, and I’m almost (but not quite) ready for bed. I decided to have a late-night browse through the magazine in-tray and came up with an album called “Driftlines” from two Budapest-based musicians, the Weekend Vikings.
The band told us that, armed with a piano, Rhodes, synthesizers, a drum kit — and a tendency to take unexpected turns — their second album, “Driftlines”, features nine original instrumental tracks somewhere between melodic jazz, progressive rock, psychedelia and improvisation.
“We love a good melody. We just don’t always know where it will take us. And we built the music somewhere to go.”
I was also told: Alongside the album, we created nine original short stories and nine interactive visual worlds — one for each track. Viktor, programmed the whole experience; Gábor wrote the stories. You can simply listen to the music, or explore it through your browser. No app, no registration, no paywall.
Explore the interactive album:
https://wv.band/driftlines/
My review however is only a review of the music – I need to make that clear!
Weekend Vikings are: Gábor Szunyogh (piano, Rhodes, synthesizers) and Viktor Szathmáry (drums).
My Review
The album was released on October 27, 2026, and is available on all major platforms.
It has nine tracks and lasts 41 minutes.
With instrumentals, you sit back, relax and allow the music to take you where it will!
“It Clicked” opens the album and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but this took me into some jazzy, late-evening vibes. It changes direction around 2:19, moving from something that reminded me of Henry Mancini to suddenly taking me into a more cinematic setting, almost like walking alone through dark woods. The second half of the track slows down and allows the drums to take more of a lead. Music of the forest!
“Skipper” brings a bit of sci-fi to the table, with a hint of funk somewhere in the added herbs. This is music I could have alongside me while battling with the day job, or perhaps listening to as I walked along a busy city street (not something I enjoy too much, so the music might just ease me through the day!).
“Circus” – at 3:13, this is the shortest track on the album and it reminded me of busy traffic. These guys clearly slip into each other’s styles very comfortably. The sense of unity in their playing is clear, and each instrument is allowed to breathe and be heard. I liked the rolling drums and the slight feel of pop slipping in and out of the jazzy grooves.
“Seagull” allows the cry of the gull to echo through the opening. It took me to a tall tower overlooking the sea, with the keyboards creating an almost haunting atmosphere as the waves lap over the rocks below and the gulls fly above.
“Gravity Road” (by the second half of this review, I’d returned to listening in the morning!) has a television soundtrack feeling, a little more electro with a pinch of sci-fi. I could imagine it accompanying a scene with a character in a bar on a planet far, far away. He’s having a strange-looking drink while an artist plays some atmospheric music in the background.
“Boundary” is slower and drifts along, with the keys taking the lead. This is late-night listening, not necessarily for my current morning mood! It has the feeling of footsteps in a corridor, creating something more atmospheric and understated. It came and went a little for me.
“Night Sky Gig” is a pleasant listen. There is a bit more of a lift here, with that sci-fi cinematic feeling appearing again in the keyboards. There is also a little funk lying within, making this a track I could happily have playing while cooking. Kitchen music can be so important! Honestly, my music selection while sorting out the food matters!
“Pin Tweaks” provides some cool grooves, a harmony for the beach on a summer’s evening. It’s a track for the waves lapping on the shore and children bouncing around having fun. There are also a few unexpected diversions along the way that made me stop and wonder where the music was taking me.
“Suspended Summer” closes the album by returning to that Henry Mancini-style feeling. Television backing music comes to mind again, with a drifting, gentle quality. It’s more of a gentle rosé than a whiskey!
Summary
“Driftlines” is an album that invites you to sit back and let your imagination do some travelling. Weekend Vikings have created nine instrumental pieces that move between jazz, electronic soundscapes, progressive influences and cinematic moods. There are some interesting changes of direction along the way, with the piano, synthesizers and drums working together comfortably throughout.
This is an album that doesn’t demand your attention so much as provide a musical companion to whatever you happen to be doing. Whether you’re cooking, relaxing in the evening or simply allowing your thoughts to wander, there is something here to accompany the moment.
I was also intrigued by the additional work that has gone into this release. Nine original short stories and nine interactive visual worlds, each connected to a track, take the album beyond the usual listening experience. It’s an imaginative idea and demonstrates that Weekend Vikings have put considerable thought into how they want their music to be experienced.
Gábor Szunyogh and Viktor Szathmáry have clearly developed a comfortable musical partnership, and “Driftlines” is an interesting addition to their catalogue. If instrumental jazz-infused and cinematic music is your territory, this is certainly worth exploring.
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Stream music from Weekend Vikings here
By Anna-Louise Burgess
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