Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Sausages
Label: Self-released
Release: 2016
Rating: 4/5
Ljubljana rockers Sausages have always been counted among the most tantalizing acts in authentic Slovenian rock’n’roll kick, serving up just the right doses of mocking hooliganism, cheeky, suitably biting humor and all kinds of nudges toward temptation.
The band, formed in 1992, is celebrating 24 years of action. The album »Luni Tuns« is really a compilation of reworked material, in other words the best of the best, delivering 19 freshly re-recorded classics from the band. These newly played tracks come from the first three albums, released between 1999 and 2003, which vanished from CD shop shelves long ago and are now a collector’s rarity. So the band’s decision to hit the studio in late August 2014 and play them, as they put it themselves, »in the swing« once more, with the lineup of Breščanski (vocals), Janežič (drums), Čulajevič (guitar), Frangeš (guitar) and Gregorič (bass), and then put them out on an album couldn’t have worked out better. This compilation puts the band’s older work back »in circulation«, i.e. »back« to the rock crowd, and it’s also a snapshot of the chemistry and workings of the Sausages crew in this particular lineup, at this particular time and place. That very same lineup, after a 10-year »drought«, finally released the band’s fourth studio album »3,4,5,… Dej pel!« in 2013, and the run of gigs back then proved once again just how charismatic and tight their musical dossier is, strictly sworn to potently erotogenic rock’n’roll, generously drenched in bluesy dressing. It’s only right that such good, positive energy and true-believer rock vibes spill over onto an official document, in this case a compilation CD.
Because the guys get the logic of rock and roll, the point of rock magic, the content of »Luni Tuns« is laid out the same way. No room for overcomplicating things here. Not for a second. Breščanski keeps his hooligan, impishly biting, often nasal-cheeky vocals with an endlessly charismatic timbre, the finishing touch that makes the band instantly recognizable, while the instrumental side of the crew steps up with serious performing coherence, confidence and composure. The mileage shows. Čule and Maco bring some new, mature finesse to the guitar playing, and the crew effectively freshens up the arrangements of the originals. Everything works the way it should and the way you’d expect from Sausages, if not outright demand. The track that grabs special attention among these freshly revived figures in the updated 19 is definitely Poletna, where Sausages pull off an effective fusion of their rock’n’roll story with the accordion of special guest Marko Hatlak.
If you’re a devoted fan of rock’n’roll cooked up in Slovenia but don’t own a single classic Sausages record, »Luni Tunz« is pretty much a must, something to arm yourself with before you head to the nearest club »dive« the band is visiting with a gig. They hit hellishly hard, fired up, firing on every available cylinder as they pull horsepower out of their rock’n’roll engine, and at the same time they go about things with real feeling, which on the softer parts works just the way it should. Sensually softer. The guys keep the right connection with the magic of rock and the right touch that teases in just the right measure. Even after 24 years. With full force.
Line-up
Goran Breščanski – vocals
Marko Čulajevič – guitar, backing vocals
Helmut Frangeš – guitar, backing vocals
Janez Gregorič – bass
Martin Janežič – drums, percussion, backing vocals
SPECIAL GUEST:
Marko Hatlak – accordion on track no. 7
Production
Matej Gobec
Track list
1. Ženska
2. Zafuranc
3. Ulegu z njo
4. To mi deli
5. Spal bom cel dan
6. Sama doma
7. Poletna
8. Poglej se v oči
9. Od garaže do terase
10. Nkol počas
11. Nimam moči
12. Ne bo me več
13. Na pomoč
14. Izlet
15. Dost mam
16. Dolga pot
17. Denzi
18. Cerkev
19. Brezvezna veza
