Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Various Artists
Label: Društvo kočevskih glasbenikov
Release: 2012
Length: 66: 43
Rating: 4.5/5
The Kočevje scene is alive and kicking! The Društvo kočevskih glasbenikov (the Kočevje Musicians’ Association) is a fresh alliance that decided to take things into its own hands and look after its homegrown original music itself. The result is an 18-track compilation that, in its own way, has brought together and connected the musicians of the Kočevje region. Putting it out is a logical continuation of the association’s activities, namely the Kočevska Rock Scena events in 2011 and 2012.
Eighteen songs, eighteen different stories, eighteen credible pieces of work show off the sharp talent of the Kočevje region, which is finally getting a proper official decree of its own affirmation – one that should shake up and »rock« the other Slovenian regions too, so they wake up and start forming similar alliances. By the way, just a month later a similar compilation came out in January from the Trbovlje end of Slovenia, but more on that in the next RockLine piece.
The album opens in a lively manner – and what do I mean by »lively«? Fiery and aggressive! The thrash metallers Hellex contributed the track »Apocalypse«, which makes no secret of its inspiration from the legacy of German Teutonic thrash metal. It’s a superbly produced cut of colorful, avalanche-like riff napalm, with a raspy, aggressive vocal riding the crest of a rolling wave of fury – it sounds incredibly convincing and has just the right tone and approach, which suits the band’s »apocalyptic« outlook immensely. Let’s hope the band delivers more than just this extremely promising song on the compilation. The compilation only returns to metal toward the end, when it’s time for Nčodnč and the track »Man of Rage«. It’s funny how the constant repetition of the word »rage« in the verses, the arrangement itself, and the vocal tone and approach all evoke the German metal band Rage in the first half of the nineties, when they were writing material under the heavy influence of Metallica-style thrash metal. Nčodnč, though, steered the track into modern production, where the guitars buzz sharp as a razor.
Next up, Kosmate dlesni bring a switch to the »crossover« scene with the track »Kaj je s tabo«, which brings under one roof, in a nice spirit of coexistence, the knotty, gnarly mass of riffs in the backing, a groovy rhythm section (which probably hides a deeper leaning on funk foundations, though we can’t take that as fact from a single song) and a pumped-up, sharp-tongued hip hop telling of a story about a spoiled mommy’s girl who doesn’t know what to do with herself. Intellectual sarcasm! You’ll fall for the contagious chorus dictate »Kaj je s tabo« instantly! The combination of ska and metal is bound to appeal to fans of RATM and the like…. The reggae-flavored Semo & Sonics aren’t uncovering a musical revolution with the track »Ujet«, but the surprising realization here is how similar the vocal tone and delivery are to UB 40’s lead singer Ali Campbell. The intro and outro of the song owe a thank-you in the guitar phrase to the RHCP classic Under the Bridge!
The compilation naturally has its expected bunch of punk-tinged tracks. First to introduce themselves, in a takeover of reality, are Sintetika with the track »Odnosi«, which grabs right at the spot where Slovenian punk rock has always been strongest. Slovenian lyrics and furious, debauched rock shots, no kitsch, straight into the vein. Then there’s »Walkin’ Dead Man« by Charlie Butterfly, which carries some calculated art-house engraving, a bit of destructive, Cave-like gloom or even Morrison-ness in the vocal stance, worth checking out even by those who know Tide from Kranj. Golliwog follow in the footsteps of trivially American skate punk confession (»Lucid Fairytale Nightmare«), which doesn’t leave behind anything especially homegrown or tangible. In terms of alternative rock, at least as far as this disc delivers it, the punk rock tracks with Slovenian lyrics are the ones that fire up the most, because the Slovenian language gives it absolute authenticity. Slovenian punk, in other words. Besides the aforementioned Sintetika, another such torchbearer on this disc is Pankeroschi with the track »Lepi novi svet«, and the fierce, caustic vocal roughness does a world of good in that kind of musical setting. We can also stuff the track »Konec« by Jaguar Februar into the alternative sack. You know, there once lived a jaguar they called February, while the one they’d call January hasn’t been born yet. Even though this review files the song under the alt stuff, it’s interestingly soaked in crossover impulses, brought in especially by the frenetic sax soloing toward the end of the song, while the guitar riff climbs, a few times in the passages, into properly metallized territory too.
The bittersweet message of organically wrapped-up, melodic, radio-friendly tracks on the compilation gets kicked off by Primož Turk with his Skrajneži. The cowboy-flavored romp »Danes živce sem zgubil« is full of lucidity, with an effective harmonica filling the available space between the verses. Gaber Brin, known in his closer family circles as Roman Zupančič, is the Kočevje singer-songwriter and thundering voice with big, rounded »O«s in his verses – his specialty and protective trademark, which simply can’t be missing from a compilation like »Grupni«. The new story about freezing on benches at night, walks with a mutt, and tips on which snack bar has the best blueberries strongly recalls his contribution to the Val 012 compilation »Imamo dobro glasbo«, the track titled »Šihtarska«. Light, bright, carefree, and rocked into a flirty jazz-funk groove, the retro pop-song-style »Odmik od tal« by the charming and vocally even more appealing Lea Likar eases the compilation’s overall tension, which is noticeably weighed down by bitter but truthful verses. Radio accessibility is carried on by Andraž Hribar with a song of simple, easy-going arrangement moves, but with more rock fervor (the middle instrumental section). In the second half of the compilation, the danceable, swinging »E,e,e« by the duo Kinemine could also go in the radio-fun bunch. Let’s wait and see; maybe they’ll evolve into a sequel to the Da Phenomena saga. More tangibly retro is the excellent pop gem »Drobci« by Skaktus. This is a song that will appeal to fans of Slovenian art pop bands, from Avtomobili to Panda to Drevored. With this composition too, Skaktus prove they’re a seasoned, proven crew of masters at arranging melodic catchiness, which peaks in the chorus melody. They hold an excellent balance between lively musicianship and radio listenability. A beautifully seasoned song with lots of color shades, certainly one of the finest pearls of this compilation. Into this majority bunch of »radio-friendly« tracks we can also add the waltz-swayed »Ko si sam« by The Perception. It’s a moment on the album built on the elements of a blues song, with its rustic look given strong backing by the Hammond organ.
Foršus are an interesting hard rock combo with a female vocal at the center of attention. The track “Moje misli” nails an excellent combination of verses and a singalong chorus. In a stripped-down look for new times. Imagine a distant relative of Rdeči baron, where you take away the keyboards and put the guitar riff front and center.
And then there are the proven Sell Out, a quality ska combo that already made a name for itself with its debut »The Best Of Sell Out 2001 – 2011«. On the compilation they’re represented by the track »Kaj naj naredim«, which already appeared on that debut. It’s a polished song in its arrangements, but above all its strength lies in the dynamic production and the excellent playing of the instrumentalists. Sell Out have the potential to knock on the doors of the international scene. Even though they’re not uncovering a revolution, they move right in step with the modern ska craze.
So there you have it! A phenomenal compilation that we hope will turn into an annual tradition of releases and showcases of the Kočevje creative pulse in the field of rock music! An incredibly colorful music compilation, tight and tangible in its substance, that surprises with how much homegrown, authentic musical creativity Slovenia can offer, even when we trim it down to just the Kočevje region.
You won’t run into this deeply interesting compilation on store shelves. But if you’re a music gourmet, a collector of rarities, or just interested in making it part of your collection, then head to the following useful contact to order your copy of the disc: [email protected]
Track List
1. Hellex – “Apocalypse”
2. Kosmate dlesni – “Kaj je s tabo”
3. Sintetika – “Odnosi”
4. Semo & Sonic – “Ujet”
5. Primož Turk & Skrajneži – “Danes živce sem zgubil”
6. Gaber Brin – “nje pa ni bilo”
7. Lea Likar – “Odmik od tal”
8. Andraž Hribar – “Lep večer”
9. Charlie Butter Fly – “Walkin’ Dead Man”
10. Golliwog – “Lucid Fairytale Nightmare”
11. Pankeroschi – “Lepi novi svet”
12. Sell Out – “Kaj naj naredim”
13. Kinemine – “E, e, e”
14. Skaktus “Drobci”
15. Foršus – “Moje misli”
16. The Perception – “ko si sam”
17. Nčodnč – “Man of Rage”
18. Jaguar februar – “Konec”
