Artist: Mežek, Aleksander
Label: Dallas Records
Released: 2010
Running time: 47:02
Rating: 3.5/5
After three years, the famous Slovenian singer-songwriter and Fru-Fru candy lover is back with a new studio record. Mežek doesn’t surprise with it, staying instead on his tried-and-true expressive turf. That’s where his musical character can do the most, feeding his soul and heart and delivering the album he’s after: simple, concise, natural-sounding, with his vocals once again delivered in the manner that long ago got under Slovenians’ skin. 22nd studio album. That’s a number worthy of all respect, no question. Especially given the unassuming modesty this musician has kept, unlike the fake arrogance of certain Slovenian acts who think they’ve reached the core of their artistic expression on the Slovenian mainstream scene by buying media coverage and serving up trivial, easily (in)digestible music.
On the previous studio record, “Tekel skozi čas”, Aleksander had only one studio helper – Dave Goodes. This time Mežek invited three English musicians into the studio (Steve Smith has worked with him before) and managed to capture the album on tape as a sonic mix that better stresses the feel of a group playing together – there’s a “band” on this album, not just one man, even though we’re talking about singer-songwriter music. The cohesion between the instruments works! Collages of natural sounds blend together compatibly and build that pleasant atmosphere that suits Aleksander Mežek’s recognizable and unique voice best. Already in the opening track Dan se začenja, a guitar solo sits in beautifully, unobtrusively slipping a few bluesy turns into Mežek’s otherwise typical vocal delivery.
Consistency and sticking around on the scene bring plenty of useful experience. The man knows what he needs, knows how to realize an idea and reach the goal he’s set. That’s craft. And when the will and the strength are there, getting from idea to goal can happen very fast. A new touch on this album is the addition of piano. Mežek certainly doesn’t stray from his basic starting points. In the studio he’s strictly focused on keeping the sound natural, authentic and tightly played. No heavy philosophizing, no “weirdly” cut arrangement figures that would smell even slightly of musical experiment. Still, “In” is a different album from its predecessor. It has five songs that Mežek sang in English, and these automatically veer away from the rest of the songs in Slovenian. Opposite Direction is the track among them that proves Mežek can still pull off a really interesting number, one that even stresses the blues, while the musicians squeeze some impulses out of the accompaniment you’d normally find in jazz (the keys). Gentle and tailored to fit Mežek’s vocal delivery like a glove. On a song like Mož prisege, the studio chemistry between all four musicians comes through especially well, giving us the most flexible and interestingly structured arrangement on the album. Far From Slovenia confirms how seasoned these studio players are. Mežek’s “lament” about being far from his homeland is contrasted by a crafty blend of country, blues and southern flavors that come out more intensely especially in the track’s outro.
By bringing English into the songs, Mežek managed to add extra variety to “In”. That’s a very good thing, especially because the songs on “In” are much closer to each other in arrangement than they were on “Tečem skozi čas”, where the arrangements gave the songs’ characters sharper separation (more diversity). The energy a song catches depends heavily on the language the vocal delivery uses. Mežek is at his most convincing in English on a track like Dance On. Still, we like him best when he sings in Slovenian. Also on “In”. That’s when his famous vocal tone is put to best use, bringing the singer-songwriter’s sermon to life and giving it meaning. Interestingly, after almost 40 years living in England, Mežek hasn’t completely shaken his Slovenian accent. In the English songs you can easily tell it isn’t an Englishman singing. That’s why, this time too, the Slovenian-language songs hit harder and take the edge over the English ones on “In”. Especially effective on a track like Osamljena senca. “In” doesn’t hide the fact that Mežek’s velvety vocal tone has “dropped” a bit over the years.
On “In”, Mežek replaced the playfulness of the previous album “Tečem skozi čas” almost entirely with seriousness. The album is darker than its predecessor. Mežek stays personal and confessional on it, but the feeling of joy and ease isn’t as pronounced as it usually is with him. Mostly sad in mood, “In” is an album that smells more of nostalgia, of (not) touching, (not) tasting those “things” you can only feel through journeys like the ones memories of the past sketch out. Longing and a sense of transience go hand in hand. The unavoidable eclipse of life’s path, which every one of us is caught in. Mežek remains an independent man. Indie! The album doesn’t scream for media hype or for conquering the masses’ musical taste. It’s just a modest manifesto of a musician’s rich musical culture. Kids today don’t have the “steel” nerves for albums like “In” yet! It’s tailor-made for a mature audience. Mežek’s audience, that is. Mož prisege has thus once again kept his promise.
Lineup
Aleksander Mežek – vocals, acoustic guitar
Simon Johnson – acoustic & electric guitar, mandolin, bass guitar
Steve Smith – keyboards
Duncan Thompson – drums, percussion, double bass
Production
Aleksander Mežek & Steve Smith
Tracklist
1. Dan se začenja
2. Rima
3. Svetle kaplje
4. Uganka
5. Osamljena senca
6. I don’t know
7. Oposite direction
8. Far from Slovenia
9. Kako lahko
10. Dance on
11. Last night
12. Mož prisege
