Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Hamo & Tribute 2 Love
Label: Self-released
Released: 2017
Running time: 44:48
Rating: 4/5
So. After the February release of the vinyl edition of the new Hamo And Tribute 2 Love album, titled »3p«, this November we got its follow-up, out on CD. Much like back in the days of the album »Pol S«, Hamo And Tribute 2 Love first put the album out on vinyl, and more than half a year later the CD followed. And once again, the band isn’t putting out an identical replica of the new album. The difference between the two formats is that the CD version delivers three new songs and a reshuffled track order compared to the vinyl one. The CD keeps almost the same cover as the vinyl edition; the difference is that Hamo’s »3p« (trip) comes in red this time instead of blue.
»3p« is a seriously high-quality piece of work. We already wrote about it at length in the spring, when we put the vinyl edition of this album under the microscope. You can read the full RockLine review HERE!
So yes, there are differences between the vinyl and CD editions. First off, the track order. Among other things, the »refreshed« sequence puts the song Govori mi grdo, one of the most energetic moments on »3p«, at position no. 2. That means an album of mostly dreamy, sensitive sentiment now picks up adrenaline-fueled speed sooner on the CD. In the middle of the CD version there are two brand-new tracks. Given the musical vision and focus of »3p« (as a whole), both slot into the rest of the album more than nicely. The first is »Tud za naju dva«, where a sensual vocal duet between Hamo and Renata Mohorič steps into the spotlight, and right after it comes the second new song, Prepovedana tla, which adds welcome variety to the album mainly because it’s the faster song on the record, the one that brings a bit more adrenaline rush. That rockier energy is something the otherwise delicately weighted and deeply sensitive »3p«, the very essence of the album, sets a little to the side this time around. Both songs bring welcome, pleasing variety compared to the vinyl edition, and at the same time every fan of the band who already has the vinyl at home will have to grab the CD version too. At the tail end of the album there’s also a »hidden« eleventh track, »Dolgo nisva pila«, an acoustic duet of Hamo with Rudi Bučar, and it’s interesting how, with Bučar’s vocal character, the song itself picks up a folk element. The acoustic arrangement naturally underlines that feel too.
The album boasts an exceptionally organic sound, recorded »in one take«, and it knows no bluffing! It’s loaded with warmth and the contrasts it needs, which fill out the sonic picture to the max. On one hand there’s the concise, expressive and manly, charismatic character of Matevž Šalehar, and the payoff of his always charming, sensual and passionate vocal delivery. On the other, there’s a hugely successful dialogue, with superb chemistry between the building blocks of the sound, where guitars and keyboards, often imitating the old-school sound of Hammond organs, work together in a way that builds a hypnotic, dreamy mood. The album is played with great feeling, relaxed, fun, and just as described. No hiding behind makeup, special effects and other studio prosthetics. The guitars ring out deep and fat through reverb and stereo chorus, and alongside Hamo’s vocals they add that sense of live-gig vividness, that three-dimensional sound.
With its blues pop rock nature, and in places even folk sentiment, the album “3p” keeps Hamo & Tribute 2 Love firmly plugged into the radio waves, which have the power to shape the »mainstream« of Slovenian pop. Considering that Hamo & Tribute 2 Love are right now a hot, in-demand success story on Slovenian stages, the »reissue« of »3p« looks like a very welcome move from a marketing point of view, since it buys the band time for another solid »lap« of promoting the new album, one that will surely stretch deep into 2018. The next album, though, will bring quite a few novelties to their musical vocabulary. That’s what you’d expect, given that the versatile all-round guitarist Peter Dekleva recently joined the crew. Until then, let’s enjoy the »extended« story of the album »3p«. May the »trip« just keep on going.
Hamo & Tribute 2 Love – Vreme za lubezen (lyric video):
Lineup
Matevž “Hamo” Šalehar – vocals, guitar, harmonica, backing vocals
Denis “Duki” Horvat – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals
Uroš “Spretan” Primožič – guitar
Uroš “Hipi” Škerl Kramberger – bass guitar, backing vocals
Martin “Buco” Janežič – drums, percussion, backing vocals
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Renata Mohorič – vocals on track no. 6
Rudi Bučar – vocals on track no. 11, backing vocals
Maša Bogataj – backing vocals
Production
Drago Popovič, Denis Horvat & Matevž “Hamo” Šalehar
Track list
1. Vreme za lubezen
2. Govori mi grdo
3. Gospod
4. Ona gre
5. Ti in Mraz
6. Tud za naju dva
7. Prepovedana tla
8. Zabluzu
9. Telo
10. Uspavanka
11. Dolgo nisva pila*
*…. hidden track
