Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Eskobars
Label: Dallas Records
Release: 2014
Length: 35:07
Rating: 3/5
Eskobars are back after three and a half years with a new studio record, »Ni dovolj«. Their self-titled debut showed off a confident, slick package that didn’t exactly spark a musical revolution, but gave the band plenty of room to develop its own voice. With the calling card it handed over, the debut grabbed attention right away and signaled that a talented new act was rising on the horizon. On it, the band landed some seriously catchy ideas with real musical weight, serving up a confident blend of alternative rock where the influences of Britpop, classic rock ‘n’ roll and blues all mix, drenched in typical Slovenian alt melos.
With »Ni dovolj«, Eskobars try to take a step further toward a commercial breakthrough. The album brings more punch and a go at recapturing the anthemic stomp of Britpop bands like Franz Ferdinand. You hit that right at the opening with the title track, the Dej povej planted in the middle of the album doesn’t hide it either, nor do Ocean toward the end or Bele zastave at the tail. The album follows an optimized catchiness that tries to hit you hard – infectious, that is. On first listen, of course. There’s a pile of easygoing, relaxed, party-ready rock bangers here, and you can’t pin any arrangement mistakes on them. The production is clear and richly contrasted, the building blocks breathe vividly and coexist in textbook symbiosis. The production carefully brings out the bass groove that anchors the dance-driven rhythmic kinetics of the songs. Even the revamped arrangement of Potnik, which also appeared on the debut »Eskobars«, doesn’t escape it.
Eskobars already made it clear on the debut that they make music in short, thoughtful, carefully measured steps, where the axiom »less is more« rules. »Ni dovolj!« is also an album of tight, concise exposition. The band has definitely poured most of its creative energy into conquering the Slovenian »mainstream«. In terms of songwriting insight, »Ni dovolj!« doesn’t excite you as instantly as the debut »Eskobars« did, and it delivers more of the already tried-and-tested stuff. The bag of infectious melodies, dancey kinetics and the occasional bombast in the choruses surely makes for great starting points for winning over a live crowd, but still, that less welcome feeling – or realization – sneaks in »from the right flank«: this time Eskobars favor recycling ideas that will satisfy the mass palate to the point where originality becomes inferior.
However you look at it, Eskobars underline with the new album as well that these are excellent, talented musicians who know exactly how to serve up an infectious, instantly effective musical arrangement of tangible substance, one that breathes as a whole. But even though “Ni dovolj!” is a properly arranged and produced record that will surely bring a bundle of live favorites, at many points across the album there lurks the danger of sacrificing individuality in order to please the masses and repackage the already familiar tricks of today’s (also MTV-sounding) alt rock pulse.
Line-up
Jure Lesar – vocals, guitar
Teo Collori – guitar
Rok Druscovič – bass
Bogdan Sojič – drums
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Jani Hace – bass
Nikola Sekulovič – bass
Anže Langus – Dagi – bass
Jure Rozman – drums
CONTRIBUTING MUSICIANS:
Sašo Fajon
Benjamin Shock
Matjaž Šušmelj
Sare Havliček
Drago Popovič
Production
Dejan Radičevič & Eskobars
Track list
- Ni dovolj
- Vidim ti v očeh
- Hladne noči
- Hodim naprej
- Dej povej
- Iluzija
- Potnik
- Ocean
- Tri pike
- Bele zastave
