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 5 ^th 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 18 ^th 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.