Artist: Gibonni
Label: Dallas Records
Release: 2007
Rating: 3/5
Gibonni is a guy who needs no introduction, unless this album review were written in some foreign language for readers outside the former Yugoslavia. The gentleman who rules the peaks of mainstream pop in neighboring Croatia, and who is also worshipped en masse by Slovenian listeners, has put together a special selection of his hits, which he played on his last big Balkan tour in support of the record “Unca Fibre” (2006).
“Acoustic/Electric” is a combination of live performances that covers both small club shows, which Gibonni used to give his songs an acoustic makeover, and bigger halls with a proper arena vibe, which are captured exclusively on the second, “electric” disc (RockLine’s report from the Ljubljana show, Nov. 12, 2006, is HERE).
On this double live release, Gibonni and his band once again crown his innate talent as a lyricist and a writer of evergreen melodies with a well-tested choice of carefully prepared arrangements that stretch the reach of the studio versions of the individual songs. In the live setting, every track is upgraded with a rich palette of arrangements and a seamless blending of Gibonni’s ever-warm, sensual, mid-range vocal, which is tailor-made for layering backing harmonies, something the guy again exploits skillfully this time around. The high point of the first disc is surely the song Posoljeni zrak i razlivena tinta, where the varied vocal approaches of Gibonni and guests Damir Urban and Maya Azucena build a string of deeply felt, emphatic moods and reach a special moment of one-of-a-kind, unrepeatable magic. It’s a magical mix of pop and Dalmatian sea breezes, creating a peculiar blend of passionate, sensual intensity whose sweetness draws you right in. This very first “unplugged” disc, which demands extra caution in the performance, confirms the high quality and distinct profile of the performers as a unit, marked by precise playing and a deft handling of the extended arrangements that dress the individual songs in new clothes. The musicians feel more than great when they can go even softer and subtler, with an even clearer and more natural expression, and they revel in the extra room to maneuver that an acoustic setting offers. Of course, we’re talking about a phenomenal upgrade of the basic forms, with added soul improvisations in the vocals, jazz touches, and bursts of Latin melody and rhythm. It’s colorful and inspired, and the production captures the real club atmosphere of an authentic band-crowd relationship.
Interestingly, the opening of the second disc with the song Ovo mi je škola doesn’t give you the feeling that Gibonni is plugged into the mains this time. Simply put, the only real difference between the two discs that you can detect on the performance side is the sound of the guitar, which stays in the background and, compared with the rich palette of all the instruments used, never pushes to the front. The tip of the scale that brings a new feeling is the completely different atmosphere of the “electric” disc, which only an arena vibe can conjure up, with the crowd faithfully following Gibonni in a state that is, at times, literally hypnotic and entranced. And it’s not hard to guess, from the volleys of delirious euphoria coming back from the audience, that the thousands of heads making all that noise are mostly women. Honestly, it’s hard to single out one moment, but first place for this intense bond between crowd and performer goes to the song Libar. The commanding discipline with which Gibonni deftly steers and handles the masses, documented on this release, is just the cherry on top of the exceptional charisma the guy has. Once again that sweetness Gibonni knows how to serve up comes to the fore, and the crowd can sinfully surrender to it in an instant. It’s simple, sincere and accessible to the masses, yet elevated by the aforementioned unmistakable musical quality of the performance, with outstanding synergy among all the members of the band. It’s a proper little orchestra, and to make it run flawlessly you need exceptional tightness and a refined, careful approach to stringing the individual elements into one complete picture.
The downside of this release is, of course, all the cutting, picking and re-gluing of the original performances. In the pursuit of perfection, the recording lost a few points in dynamics, spontaneity and genuine authenticity. The second downside is the stinginess with material. I believe that, given his big-star status, Gibonni could have had no trouble releasing a (at least) triple CD. Two CDs would hold the complete “electric” show, and a third (bonus) CD would have extra acoustic material. Separate double releases, one acoustic and one electric, would have been another option. The current move is simply the most commercially optimized, offering pinches of the best from the handpicked recordings. A guaranteed earner that also gives the listener a level of quality that’s still perfectly acceptable (though not necessarily what you’d demand, but that’s up to each individual).
The price is (for a double CD) perfectly reasonable, and the two CDs come packaged in an attractive (unusual) cardboard sleeve imitating wood, which at first glance looks like a Kraš Bajadera chocolate bonbon. “Acoustic/Electric” is a live album that shows Gibonni as a musician who has reached the zenith of his expressive maturity. It’s like a crown on his work so far, with which the star undisputedly reigns in popularity in Croatia today and reinforces and confirms his status as hugely beloved in the other countries of the former Yugoslavia too. A release that came out just in time for Christmas and New Year gift-giving.
Lineup
Gibonni – vocals
Marijan Brkić – electric, acoustic guitar
Marko Ramljak – violin, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Kristijan Terzić – piano, Hammond
Teo Brajčić – backing vocals
Brankica Brodarić – backing vocals
Matko Petrić – percussion
Marko Reljanović – electric bass guitar, acoustic bass guitar, backing vocals
Dalibor Marinković – drums
Also appearing on CD 1:
Dražen Bogdanović – saxophone
Nino Nimac – mandolin
Nebojša Lakić – accordion
Daria Hodnik Marinković – backing vocals
Vlado Pavelić – backing vocals
Linda Morogoić – French chant on track no. 8
GUEST VOCALS:
Damir Urban
Maya Azucena
Zorana Balov
Goran Bare
Klapa Iskon
Production
Marijan Brkić
Tracklist
CD 1. (acoustic):
1. Činim pravu stvar
2. Dvije duše
3. Mirakul
4. Posoljeni zrak i razlivena tinta
5. Tempera
6. Sve ću preživit
7. Šta će meni moja dica reć?
8. Svi moji punti kad se zbroje
CD 2. (electric):
1. Ovo mi je škola
2. U ljubav vjere nemam
3. Anđeo u tebi
4. Libar
5. Oprosti
6. Vrime da se pomirim sa svitom
7. Tija bi te zaboravit
8. Hodaj
Album length: 88.19
