Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: El Kachon
Label: Multi Records
Release: 2013
Length: 38:42
Rating: 5/5
Want something out of the ordinary? Something that was in heavy rotation on the radio in the early seventies, or even right at the turn of the sixties into the seventies? When rock was young, carefree, you could even say innocent, and soared freely on the wings of the pioneering, genius musicians who created it? A (progressive) blues-soaked album by El Kachon, a band from Dolenjske Toplice? Lower Carniola? They’ve always been devoted to bluesy sounds down there. And the area has produced some great bands in the past too, like Drevored. There were always plenty of fans of bands like Lynnyrd Skynnyrd, Govt ‘n’ Mule and The Allman Brothers Band in that corner of the country, and there were even a few who swore by the Grateful Dead, and so on…
When »In the Bush« starts spinning, your head fills with figures of the unique, original kind from the prehistoric age of the human era, from The Allman Brothers Band (the opening Snakebite, soaked in that Mississippi Delta feel) to the psychedelic elements of the old-school sound of Iron Butterfly… Roughly speaking, of course… This is an album that came out about 43 years later than it should have. Eroticism, rough-edged “macho” figures and all the essential ingredients that come from the blues platform, the ones the greatest creations in rock history are known for, are by no means lacking on “In The Bush”. And that’s the key trait of this album, the reason we can talk about it as a creation of the purest authenticity and musical honesty.
The production is exactly what this kind of music needs for its character to breathe fully! It caught all the live authenticity! It feels like the record was played in the studio as if it were a gig. An extremely lively, dynamic, tight and decidedly colorful sound full of sharp contrasts. A warm rhythm line, stretched out by a melodically roaming bass with a supple, soft drive, the metallic, unpolished twang of an electric guitar that seeks out pure, unadulterated organic sound, with no hiding behind distortion. The guitar work has a rare power and quality. Every little corner of the transitional parts of the songs gets salted with a solo ornament. Even that trait lays bare the nature of musicians who truly, wholeheartedly enjoy their work and put their creative maximum into it.
In the instrumental sections, the songs seek out an almost progressive restlessness. You get the feeling that El Kachon can squeeze far more out of this attribute at their live shows than the studio product delivers. Of course, the album is meant for listening and you need a healthy (middle) measure in arranging the compositions, which the band members are clearly aware of, but still, some song sequences, especially in the instrumental parts, clearly show that this is a superb jam band, one that never runs short of dynamite fuses and can spin out a musical story, »burrowing into it« in an inspired, seasoned way when it comes to showing off the chemistry of their instrumental playing.
The band slyly lays a foundation of percussion under the leading rhythmic texture, and a melodic, warm-blooded and lively bass line nests masterfully into all of it, gratefully and effectively packing the available expressive space (What If). As alive as it gets. El Kachon thought of everything on the vocal side too. Seven people and, of course, several different lead vocalists. Combined duets and the like. In A New Mistake, which with its mix of infectious melody and bluesy introspection would make the perfect lead single from this record, El Kachon cross the two elements so effectively, and the contrast between the lead female and male vocals sounds great. The band also carries a great sense for livening up the lead vocal track with harmonies from the backing vocals (What If). If the naughty, raw and cocky Snakebite kicks the album off with a surplus of “macho roughness” (Come And Get It brings it back in the same naughtiness near the end), the next track, Don’t Start, led by a funky, lively rhythmic form and a female vocal, is a true melodic contrasting negative of the opener Snakebite, and right in the intro it instantly conjures up two faces of the El Kachon story. One more thing. The English comes naturally to this septet!
El Kachon definitely work like a real mini progressive blues orchestra. They’ve backed the backdrop of the accompaniment with the chemically charged mutual communication of keyboards (organ), wind instruments and, of course, the unpolished electric guitar. A perfect example of effective arranging sparkles in one of the album’s most accomplished songs, Everything I Get, with its solid funky blues backbone! The band doesn’t hide its slightly mischievous side when it plays with the flirty bluesy rock density (the song Solo Moon). Same Time Same Place is a power blues rock march that would have no trouble replacing Snakebite as the album opener. And again we come across wholesome, dreamy, wistful moments on the album, like the closing One Fine Day, which brings the listener close to the band’s soft, subtle side. At these points the bittersweet but full-blooded, deeply felt female vocal takes the lead, while the instruments (decorative guitar and keyboard solo touches) flexibly adapt to this softness with especially refined finesse and naturally working sonic shades. Simple as that. The septet’s hard-working chemistry pays off in full, which is why this is an album that instantly wins you over with its honesty and musical authenticity.
It’s hard to pin down the story of the album »In the Bush« in any concrete, one-dimensional way, since it couldn’t care less about any of today’s trends and takes its cue only from the genuine path of expressing whatever the hearts of its creators dictate. So this is an album of absolute specifics, lost in time and space, and on top of it all it comes from Slovenia! Considering the band was founded in 2011, the musicians honed their craft in other lineups beforehand and brought along an enormous amount of ideas, experience and knowledge, and above all brought exceptional talents together into one compact body called El Kachon. The septet’s team spirit is extraordinary, and it feels like nothing could ever break it up.
»In the Bush« is definitely a standout for the Slovenian music scene and one of the best records the Slovenian music market received in 2013. A band that can teach other bands a thing or two about the elementary, creative attributes of healthy and authentic songwriting. Simply put. Brilliant, one-of-a-kind chemistry hasn’t worked this fresh, invigorating and captivating in a long time, as it does with El Kachon and the album »In the Bush«!
Lineup
Tina Gerbec Radaković – lead vocals on tracks 2, 3, 6, 9 and 10
Tomi Perinčič – guitar, lead vocals on tracks 1, 4, 6 and 8
Andrej Barbič “Krt” – guitar, lead vocals on track 5
Mladen Cetina – keyboards
Dejan Gerbec Radaković “Sondža” – bass guitar, lead vocals on tracks 1, 7 and 9
Primož Malenšek “PimpS” – percussion
Žiga Dobravc – drums
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Boris Peternelj – trumpet on tracks 3 and 8
Vasko Blaj – saxophone on tracks 3 and 8
Sonja Benčina – trombone on tracks 3 and 8
Rado Božič – horn arrangements
Ajda Božeglav – backing vocals on tracks 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10
Simona Lešnjak – backing vocals on tracks 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10
Production
El Kachon
Tracklist
1. Snakebite
2. Don’t Start
3. Everything I Get
4. Solo Moon
5. Same Time Same Place
6. Still
7. A New Mistake
8. What If
9. Come And Get It
10. One Fine Day
