Artist: Pavel
Label: Dallas Records
Release: 2007
Rating: 3.5/5
Pavel came together at the initiative of their frontman Aljoša Šerić, who is also a member of the somewhat better-established band Ramirez. Over his years in Ramirez, Šerić also wrote plenty of songs that he didn’t feel suited the parent band, so starting a new project made sense. Rather than trying his luck with a solo record, he started a new band that gave him a bigger sonic palette and opened up new possibilities for arrangements. It turned out to be the right call, because you can really feel a depth and talent in the music that Šaranović would have struggled to create on his own.
The music on the album is firmly cemented in the folk/singer-songwriter world, but the band knows how to break out of that concrete now and then and dive into other musical waters. And that’s exactly what makes this album interesting. Just when you’ve settled into the mellow, sleepy Mediterranean groove, Šerić and the gang jolt you awake and show you that this kind of music shouldn’t be underestimated.
Aljoša Šerić really has a knack for beautiful melodies, and not just in the choruses but in the verses too. The music is thoughtful and nicely executed, and its defining trait is a graceful, moving melancholy. The lyrics show off Šerič’s experience too: the words sit beautifully on the music and everything flows, whether he’s singing about hope, nostalgia, love or just playful, humorous jabs.
It’s a real pleasure to hear the kind of sonic backdrop Pavel can weave. Sure, you get the typical acoustic guitars, piano and accordion – all the instruments that matter in singer-songwriter and chanson music – but there’s also a good helping of strings and other instruments. The strings sometimes even remind me of the album Florian by Le Orme, since they’re played in a very refined, minimalist way, which suits the genre perfectly. Šerič himself plays a very prominent part, with a warm, pleasant voice that can put you in a good mood or ease you into a peaceful sleep (on “Uspavanka”, for example).
The album Pavel, also known as Koliko je sati u Tobagu, carries on the outstanding Croatian singer-songwriter tradition. And not only that, it builds on it. Much like with Drago Mlinarec, it’s not just mellow folk or pop; there are touches of world music and assorted other shades in there too. Aljoša Šerić has put together a promising group of people and made an ambitious album that sits firmly in the folk singer-songwriter camp while occasionally rising above it. Maybe there’s not as much experimenting as Drago Mlinarec did on a couple of his records, but Pavel operate in a completely different frame and a different era. A very solid release.
Lineup
Aljoša Šerić – vocals, acoustic guitar
Igor Arlović – guitar, acoustic guitar, pedal steel
Stanislav Kovačić – bass, cello
Jurica Hotko – piano, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, Hammond organ, accordion
Goran Leka – drums, percussion
Rista Ibrić – violin, mandolin
Guests: Maja Posavec and Romana Orešnik Mlinarić – vocals, backing vocals
Production
Rista Ibrić
Track list
1. Morska
2. Bajke još postoje
3. Tobago
4. Moj stan je prekinuo s njom
5. Bolje
6. Tko je stavio prosinac u svibanj
7. Zvončicu može biti sram
8. Zajedno
9. Ako si za, mogli bi jednom izaći
10. Uspavanka
