Artist: Gjurin, Gal
Label: Nika Records
Release: 2007
What does it look like when one of the most ambitious musicians in these parts reveals his fetish? Much like it looked on his past, equally ambitious releases. But this isn’t just another round of routine, it’s constant exploration within (or outside of) all manner of musical genres, constantly pushing Gal Gjurin toward something new and uncharted. Even though it’s basically the same content in a different wrapper, luckily that content is hugely dynamic, polished and critical.
What sets “Fetiš” apart from Gal’s earlier albums is the addition of several instrumental tracks, plus longer instrumental stretches in the vocal numbers, which make it more serious and less of a crowd-pleaser. Like it was made more for his own soul than for the market. Still, with all the different blends of jazz, R&B, funk and other musical forms, and lyrics that are anything but undemanding, flirting with constructivist poetry in places (Vse, kar hočeš in ne smeš) and abstract poetry in others (H3O+), this is a thoroughly appealing and accessible album. An album that demands at least some understanding from the listener, and at the same time an album that demands the most from itself.
The music is a rich mix of styles and instruments that never lets up through the whole hour-long album. The only downside might be that overt drive for perfection, which with some overly calculated moves occasionally smothers the feeling of naivety, and that real, simple, innocent beauty.
“To deal a blow to the fetishes of petty-bourgeois democracy,” reads one of the example sentences printed on the album sleeve under the dictionary definition of the word fetish. Whether the album “Fetiš” is a blow or just another addition to the fetishes of petty-bourgeois democracy is up to each listener to decide.
Lineup
Gal Gjurin: Vocals, backing vocals, megaphone, piano, hammond, rhodes, accordion, synthesizers, trumpet, trombone, alto saxophone, electric and acoustic guitar, bouzouki, cello, double bass, electric bass, percussion, programming
Andraž Mazi: Electric and classical guitar, lap steel
Igor Matkovič: Synthesizers, hammond, rhodes, trumpet
Ana Duša: Backing vocals
Jasmina Kljajič: Backing vocals
Janez Moder: Electric bass
Rok Koritnik: Drums, percussion
Guests:
Jan Kus: Soprano and tenor saxophone
Polona Meglič: Backing vocals, violin
Žiga Brank: Violin
Žiga Cerar: Violin
Meta Kunstelj: Backing vocals
Janez Dovč: Accordion
Miha Petric: Classical guitar
Production
Gal Gjurin
Tracklist
01.Fetiš
02.Poglej ven, dežuje
03.Pridi sem
04.Vse, kar hočeš in ne smeš
05.Meenus
06.Bil je sončen dan
07.Hentai
08.Še
09.H3O+
10.Ko ljubim, ne ljubim
11.Nočna
12.Fužinski blues
Album length: 60:13
