Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Artist: Praprotnice
Label: SPD Edinost
Release: 2017
Rating: 4/5
Reviews like this on RockLine are always debatable, and yet. The truth is, pieces like this simply have to happen and get published every once in a while. Plain and simple. Because in terms of musical expression they’re so special and different. Praprotnice are an Austrian-Carinthian quartet who play songs tied, one way or another, to acts of heroism. In the true sense of the word. The point of it all is that something we might call an intuitive, collective sense of judgment about what a just world looks like and what it takes to fight for it. Collectivism can bring out the good or the bad in people. These are times when the masses react negatively, the system drags the worst traits out of us, and it shows in intolerance toward anything different at every level of how we live, a life that’s turning more and more into a life of »wretched« deeds. The wise keep wisely quiet, growing lonelier and lonelier, right down to that critically decimated handful of sensible people who have to start a revolt and stand up. At any cost.
So the debut »Upor« brings a whole sixteen reinterpretations of mostly familiar works born out of the fight for the right cause. Through revolt. Some of them are definitely well known in Slovenia. Like Na oknu glej obrazek bled and Počiva jezero v tihoti, songs we translated into Slovenian back in the days of the uprising. Then there are reinterpretations of songs celebrating acts of heroism that tie our region historically to the south (Bilečanka) and the north (Trije rdeči žvižgi, originally by the Austrian folk group Schmetterlinge, and at the end we even get a German-language version). Just like Slovenes, other nations carry stories like these too. The Greeks have Sotiris Petrulas. That’s where the song of the same name comes from, written by Mikis Theodorakis, here in a moving reinterpretation by Praprotnice. Next they pay tribute in a similar way to Chile and Chilean heroine Marta Ugarte (on »Upor« you’ll find a cover of Marta Ugarte se queda), the band even touches on Jewish klezmer in Tango of Warsaw Ghetto, and heads to the Iberian Peninsula (Portuguese Grandola, Vila Morena)
The quartet got help from the Slovenian tandem of Katarina Juvančič and Dejan Lapanja. Katarina helped polish the look and feel of the songs, for example on Na kateri strani si, which has a story about American miners behind it, and translated the lyrics into Slovenian, while Praprotnice also took on one of Katarina’s own songs in their own arrangement, Češnjev cvet. And »multi-task wizard« Dejan (pretty much as expected) took care of the album’s production.
Praprotnice would never be this expressive if the interplay of the three voices didn’t reach such exceptional tenderness, sensuality, softness, and an infectious musical way of speaking to the listener. In the arrangements of the chosen songs. The vocals are laid down in tastefully flowing harmonies that can ring out sad, defiant, unbending, yearning. The whole palette of feelings carries on as the singers address the listener. And you can’t possibly overlook the contribution of accordionist Jörg Errenst, who has over the years pretty much specialized in arranging songs with a message of resistance. The accordion speaks unpretentiously too, follows the melodies with an incredible feel, and with its softness and sensuality complements the vocal reach of the sparkling, lively little choir of three committed singers just brilliantly. No rough escapades. Better hushed and soft than »bouncy«.
Never mind that Praprotnice aren’t reinventing the wheel and aren’t bringing anything unheard-of, just one more reinterpretation of (mostly) globally beloved folk songs, with poetry that might make some people squirm at the thought of being forced to live in the past, the message of these songs is becoming more relevant in new times than ever. The forces of evil and darkness are on the march again, common sense has been sold off, a handful of crowned autocrats bound to eternal conspiracy are, through quasi-moralism, manipulating the helplessness and servility of the colorless, enslaved masses one last time, because the wake-up call is close. The system is collapsing, but the absurdities will keep piling up. And since history teaches us nothing, a new world war is near. Just a few more crazy moves and we’ll be right back there. This time it’ll be the worst. That’s why products like the album »Upor« carry the power of a great message in these new times, because this poetry, through memories, forces us to think, opens our eyes and gives us the strength, yes, those of you and us who are still honest at heart, to keep finding upright deeds as we discover tolerance, moderation, acceptance, warmth, and compassion within ourselves. Beyond the foulness of mad gerontocrats who won’t step down from their thrones. That’s their game and their time is running out. One way or another. The easy way or the hard way. There’s only one truth and one justice. And you can’t escape it. This is »Upor«.
Lineup
Rozi Sticker-Tratar – vocals
Nadja Pörtsch – vocals
Hanca Pörtsch – vocals
Jörg Errenst – accordion
Production
Dejan Lapanja
Track list
1. Trije rdeči žvižgi
2. Widerstand
3. Sotiris Petrulas
4. Bilečanka
5. Marta Ugarte Se queda
6. Tango Of Warsaw Ghetto
7. Grandola, Vila Morena
8. Na kateri strani si?
9. Češnjev cvet
10. Žuravli
11. AušvicateHin Kher Baro
12. Na oknu glej obrazek bled
13. I Ain’t Afraid
14. Počiva jezero v tihoti
15. Upor
16. Drei rote Pfiffe
