Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: 2B
Label: HAD
Release: 2015
Running time: 38:45
Rating: 4/5
2B is a band from Bela krajina, based in Vinica. »B2« is their second studio album overall. Following their 2009 debut »Frnikule«, it shows the gradual maturing and musical growth of a lineup made up of three brothers, Primož, Gašper and Jernej Mihelič.
»B2« is an interesting musical mix. It’s beautifully produced and arranged. Taking part are Gal Gjurin, a patron of modern Slovenian pop and rock, and even vocal veteran Nace Junkar. It’s a stylistically polished piece of work that the guys tackled with serious dedication, putting a whole series of ideas into full swing, including lots of little details that the listener uncovers bit by bit. The arrangements are multi-faceted, after all.
The songs are light, instantly accessible, and woven from tight, short compositional steps with a high degree of catchiness. It’s a hugely likable indie rock and pop album with a distinct folk character too (Jutro, Zabluran svet), since the band uses a palette of instruments on the record that aren’t usual in the general rock ‘n’ roll setting. A very important element in building the band’s sound (and style) is the programming, along with the prominent keyboard arrangements, especially when it comes to building up the shifts in mood within the songs. The effective contrast between guitar and keyboards in the soundscape is often a key creator of atmospheric moods, close to indie rock (Figure v šatlah). The album is steeped in mostly melancholic melody, and the basic premise of the lyrics is broken hearts caused by girls – the classic inspiration for guys making music, in other words.
The soundscape is colored with a rich palette of sonic building blocks, with the lead vocal woven right into it. The guys also make skillful use of multi-part vocal harmonies, as in the song Gledam naprej, for which Gal Gjurin wrote the arrangement. In general, Gal’s mentorship certainly played an important part in shaping the final material for the album, and the band made smart use of his role as a multi-instrumentalist and his refined sense for arrangement ideas, as Gal plays a heap of different instruments across the record.
»B2« is an exceptionally lovely, light-hued rock album with superb songwriting and sound design, something the band can be proud of. It’s an indie rock album with a touch of folk that comes across as irresistibly catchy and very radio-friendly. »B2« is an album with a special geographic origin, with a distinctively effective melody and mood that can only grow in the middle of Bela krajina. That means it has a clearly recognizable musical character, on which the band can keep growing, relaxed and full of drive.
Lineup
Primož Mihelič – drums, keyboards, bass guitar, electric guitar, programming, backing vocals, cajón, tambourine
Gašper Mihelič – vocals, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Jernej Mihelič – bass guitar, backing vocals
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Gal Gjurin – bugarija, cello, brač, programming, electric guitar, “steel drum”, Hammond, harmonium, trombone, saxophone
Luka Pate – help with drum recording
Primož Hudoklin – electric guitar
Production
Primož Mihelič, Nace Junkar & Gal Gjurin
Tracklist
1. Iz zime v pomlad (intro)
2. Jutro
3. Seme in plevel
4. Kraljica glavnih vlog
5. Tvoja sreča
6. Zgled
7. Gledam naprej
8. Figure v šatlah
9. Na črnem ozadju
10. Zabluran svet
