Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Љубојна "Парите се отепувачка" [2005]

The band Ljubojna, which most authentically conveys the pulse of the Macedonian traditional sound, has not only founded its work on its descending to the “source” but deeply immerses into what we call contemporary sound, the Macedonian music of the 21st Century with all its passion and vigor! It is an elegant music with rough rhythmic beat and intermingled music styles. The band has impassionedly performed Macedonian music for eight years and has announced it through the vocal expression of Vera Miloshevska. It is believed that she is a successor of the renowned Vanja Lazarova and Mirvet Belovska. The critics call her Vera the Nightingale. People say she enchants with her spontaneity of a cafe singer. Two words brought Ljubojna to life, “ljubov” (love) and “boj” (battle). Its music is tied to the Macedonian life and founded on the Macedonian traditional music. The idea of the band is to utter music as one universal language. A great experience lies behind the musicians’ devotedness and an art passed down from the masters of this music. Then the music itself, European deep inside, though with fashions and influences from the East, creates a mix of sweet and salty savours and elegance relieved by the feelings that sway and bring you to joyful sorrow. Enlivened and shared between both sides of Via Egnatia, the East and the West, Ljubojna sings of the past and the present, of the unrepeatable, the genuine and the forever modern beat.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Three Minutes in the Rain (видео) [2007]

Вања Лазарова "Ритмистика" [2000]

Ритмистика
...или: аманет како да се љуби и негува, облагородува и воздигнува духот на пребогатиот македонскиот музички јазик
Љупчо Јолевски

Кругот е затворен. Со обелоденувањето на „Ритмистика“ е комплетирана трилогијата на нашата пејачка легенда Вања Лазарова. Велиме трилогијата од проста причина што за релативно краток временски период ( 1998 – 2000 година) се обистинија дури три објави потпишани со името на големата национална изворна певица. Најнапред, Македонската радиотелевизија, во рамките на својата едиција „Македонска фолклорна антологија“, претстави 14 македонски народни песни документирани во последните неколку децении што г-ѓа Лазарова ги отпеала во придружба на Народниот оркестар на МРТВ, триото кавали и солистот на гајда , големиот уметник и учител Пеце Атанасовски. Следуваше албумот „Македонски традиционални љубовни песни“ (издание на најреспектабилната независна македонска издавачка етикета „Трето уво“) каде во една камерна форма „изворното и природно“, „софистицираното и современо по сензибилитет“ пеење на нашата тетка Вања во „неслутените висини на уметничкиот естетизам“ (како што ќе забележи етномузикологот и нејзиниот животен сопатник Душко Димитровски) е следено од инструменталистите – солисти, големи мајстори на својот занает: Благоја Десковски – виолина, Стојанче Костовски – кавал, Хисрет Саит – канон, Драги Митев – кларинет и Златко Ориѓански – тамбура, продуцент на материјалот чија пасија и движечко уметничко кредо е потрагата по изворното во македонскиот звук.
И, ако со обете звуковни фрески, се заокружи автентичното вонсериско претставување на моќната творечка душа на Вања Лазарова, актуелната објава „Ритмистика“ („Трето уво“, 2000) е неверојатно храбар и насушно потребен исчекор во иднината што можат да го сторат само навистина големите творци. Имено, овде во безмалку 40-те минути забележана музика единствениот кадифен глас, не за прв пат, ќе се најде во едно само по форма, но не и по суштина, поинакво звучно опркужување. Колку за потсетување, соработката и чудесното пријателство на Лазарова со членовите на групата АНАСТАСИЈА е бележито за целата мината деценија, а неверојатно инспиративно и футуристички беше крунисано во 1994 година со песните „Девојче бело, црвено“ и „Со маки сум се родил“ снимени за потребите на музиката за култниот филм на Милчо Манчевски „Пред дождот“.
Согласно, од воведната „Кирајџиче, јабанџиче“, во којашто се распослани длабоко емотивните гитарски солажи на Влатко Стефановски, преку амбиенталното патешествие во „Ах, минав гора“ каде Златко Ориѓански гради електронска симфонија со македонско мелосен предзнак, „Таму ле долу вода ми дотече“ во која Мирослав Тадиќ сензибилитетот на традиционалниот македонски звук умешно го испреплетува со фламенко гитарските пасажи (навидум неспоиво, но...), трип-хопичната „Стојне бре моме кочанско“ како вистински показ дека Кирил направил уште еден неверојатно „леплив“ хит на кој тешко може да му се одолее (не случајно за оваа песна е направен видео клип), „Слага се с'лнце да зајде“ во којашто КИСМЕТ излеваат толку многу енергија и традиционалниот звук го транспонираат во тескобноста на технолошки самодеструктивното столетие што надоаѓа, до „Катерино, кротко јагне“ кадешто Ристо Вртев (АРХАНГЕЛ) слегува до подрумите на сопствената душа и од таму пласти емоции толку типични за нашиот музички јазик низ времето и просторот... Вовлечени сме во магијата именувана НАША МУЗИКА, наша светлина и вознес, при што вокалот е оној битен вонвременски врзувачки елемент којшто плени и разгалува, којшто ја раскажува нашата сторија за постоењето и жилавоста за опстојување.
По, ваквиот сет следуваат уште две песни („Прошета се Јовка Кумановка“ и „Многу ми го фалат бабо“) во кои Вања Лазарова единствено преку неповторливиот глас нè вовлекува низ портите што ги бришат сите огради и ограничувања, за албумот многу мудро да биде заокружен со аудио подлогата за видео спотот од акцијата „Купувајте македонски производи“ што го потпиша Ориѓански.
Сè на сè, по објавувањето на „Ритмистика“ многу работи нема да бидат исти. Едноставно, ова врвно остварување не остава нималку простор за „преснодојденците“ и некадарните (коишто, рака на срце, се намножија во последно време) во нивниот т.н. „експеримент со традиционалниот звук“, со што за верување е дека ќе бидеме поштедени од нивните „полуфабрикати“ кои не се за споменување, а камоли за каква било анализа. Конечно, аманетот – македонскиот музички јазик, единствено може да се чува со поимање на неговата суштина а нималку со немушто трендовско кокетирање. Еднаш и засекогаш.
P+C 2000 Third Ear Music
blesok.com.mk

Friday, June 12, 2009

Bernays Propaganda "Happiness Machine" [2009]

Luckily, the father of PR, Edward L. Bernays, is dead – otherwise, the United Nations Security Council, NATO, Mossad, Interpol, the Macedonian police, CNN and some other self-proclaimed leader, world's cop or sleazy politician would condemn Bernays Propaganda as enemies of humanity, dangerous anarchists, atheists, feminists and terrorists. However, the only crime of guitarist Vasko Atanasoski, drummer Dzano Kuc, bassist Sasa Pavlovic and singer Kristina Gorovska, is that they're protesting the consequences left behind by Sigmund Freud's nephew and one of the most influental Americans of the 20th century. Bernays invented the most powerful of all weapons which kills painlessly, purposely incites hate and secretly leads humanity towards destruction. Manipulation, control, and seduction of the masses disgust Bernays Propaganda, so they're inviting us to a politically engaged dance!

Vasko and Dzano played in the cult HC thrashers FxPxOx until last year, and all four of them were or still are active in many other bands (Suns, SmartXBomb, This Home Is Prepared, Demoncrats, Choice of My Own, Backstab Warning, Boombyx, New Police State, Treta smena, tk.sk). If the transition into a more optimistic, dancey and groovy ride is too much of a culture shock to someone, don't forget that the always positive long time punk core underground dance activist Vasko, among other activities, rollicks in the electro-dance PMG Collective, which captivated the Balkanian indie underground with their hit song Manekenki. All of the above mentioned bands are here by chance as Bernays Propaganda are a symbolic combination of them all.

Their edgy lyrics subtly avoid Bernays' school instead of being hypocritical and agitprop-direct. A reverberant female voice enters deep inside the ear and spreads ideas together with the music. The social engagement iz well-founded and positive. Dance and politics. Music and attitude. Fun and struggle. Collectivism and individualism. Bernays Propaganda praise the postulates and attributes which many post punk and new wave revivalists have forgotten.


With their best intentions they mantain the ideas and attitudes of a long line of bands such as Gang Of Four, Slits, Fugazi, Submission Hold, !!!, Gossip, LCD Soundsystem... Their danceable funk doesn't try to escape reality, but also refuses to accept status quo. Bernays Propaganda don't want escapist entertainment – they're utopistically but honestly fighting for a better world.

After a self-released EP and contributions to compilations from Skopje to Moscow, the persuasiveness, self-confidence and positivity of Bernays Propaganda shook the ground beneath Mr. Moonlee's feet. He just couldn't resist temptation, so he made room among his crew and accepted another debutant – no less than the debutant of the year 2009., which hails from the the banana republic of Macedonia.

Bernays Propaganda entered Enterprise studio soon after that and, with the help of Valentino Skenderovski, recorded their long-anticipated debut album (mastered by Carl Saff) named Happiness Machines', which will be out on Moonlee Records in April 2009. The album will also feature a 32-page essay on violence and the human society, written by singer Kristina.

Dance, clap, sing and celebrate civil disobedience, human rights and freedom! Spread the word that the socio-politically motivated crew called Bernays Propaganda have prepared an album you won't be able not to dance to!

And while you're at it, don't forget to use your head!
P+C 2009 MOONLEE Records

Bei The Fish "Everybody Says" (видео) [2007]

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Д.Н.О. "Тишина" [2004]

DNO is an acronym of Drustvo so Neogranicena Odgovornost, which can be translated as "Company with Unlimited Responsibilities." It consists of Zlust members (plus others) and this long awaited debut album titled Tishina ("Silence") portrays different aspects of what these musicians can do. It seems that producer Malcolm Burn (Daniel Lanois, Peter Gabriel) has brought out the best of these musicians and the result is a classic of the genre.

Tishina is a very consistent album, with the musicians' excitement and energy easily being felt on such tracks as "Tishina," "Borba," and "Sweet Love." The album opens with a dramatic psychedelic riff "Ogledalo" (Mirror) and is followed by majestic "Ideme Do Kraj." "Tishina" and "Chija Li Si" are beautiful ballads that open ominously with jazzy fringes movingly expressed by Pop-Hristov's smoky recitation. "Jas i Ti" is dynamic tune with an impressive drum and bass riff. All these tracks create aural portraits of love, lust, brokenness, and devotion. Anyway this music successfully avoids some of the cliché that usually follows this type of music (both lyrically and musically) and it gives the listener a pleasant listening experience. I think that there is little more to be said of this album, as the music speaks for itself.
P+C 2004 Chicken Madness
NENAD GEORGIEVSKI @ AllAboutJazz.com

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

PMG Колектив "Еј!!!" (видео) [2008]

Dedicated for Life "Another Dawn" [2008]

Dedicated For Life is a quintet from Macedonia that was formed in 2001. The band has released a demo (in 2002) and a full length album (‘By All Means’, 2005). In heir early years they concentrated on playing only hardcore but by adding a thick Swedish layer the band has gone a different way.

The five members have been influenced by names as At The Gates, Hatebreed, Lamb Of God and The Haunted, but this act only has similarities with these names in the far distance. ‘Another Dawn’ is being characterized by an overall cliché approach: the mixture of death metal, the Swedish influences, hardcore breakdown and similar vocals are all things we have heard many, many, many times before. And although the musical part, despite the straight forward approach, is not that bad at all, it are vocalist Kiril and guitarist/second vocalist Ognen which wring the neck. The unintelligibility and I am certainly used to some, rules. It may add some to the ferocity of the death core, but that what they are spitting out only ensures the standard sound and after a while even gets annoying. Next to the three tracks a video pf ‘Once More’ is on the cd. This song is neither available on this demo or their full length album so why they have made a video of this track just leaves me wonder.

Dedicated For Life is the next band in a (too?) long row of bands which follow the path of a mixture of death and hardcore. The death-blow is the grating of vocalists Kiril and Ognen. There has to change a lot will the dream of this band - being able to make a living out of music - ever come true.

Леб и Сол "Live in Macedonia" [2008]

Nothing in the world sounds like the band Leb i Sol. Period. For 20 years—as long as the band existed—it created music that was dynamic, turbulent, complex and soulful. During that highly productive period the band made 12 recordings, numerous film soundtracks, music for theatre and ballet, and played at places starting from those you can't find on maps to prestigious avenues, concert halls and stadiums. Most importantly, the band drew upon jazz, rock and traditional Macedonian music, and later it helped in the popularization of traditional music in the Balkans during a period when the genre called "world music" didn't exist and when traditional music was thought to be un-cool. This filling of a void helped the band to achieve a perennial appeal among generations of music fans who continued to buy their records many years after the group had, silently and unofficially, split up.

While the band's music and its influences became increasingly clear, especially as it reflected the styles and genres that were popular during those 20 years, and the band itself became subject to many analyses, it was the special breed of characters forming this band that best explains its evolution and essence. After the band played its last show, on the 18th of December 1995 and well before the 2 CD Anthology was released in 1996 (for its 20th anniversary), its band members had already begun to pursue more or less successful solo careers, showing their different tastes and more importantly, their strong individuality.

That miracles can happen even in our lifetime is the band's decision to celebrate its 30th anniversary by regrouping and setting off on a brief tour throughout the former YU republics. Before the announced tour began, they gave two performances at the antique theatres in Heraklea, Bitola and Ohrid, which were recorded for these releases. Prior to this live release, the band's only live documents were Akusticna Trauma (Acoustic Trauma), an excellent live portrait of the band during its first several years, and the misfortunate Live in New York at CBGB's. But the band was always better known and appreciated as a live act rather than as a record selling act. Leb i Sol made its reputation on location and reached its zenith when in 1992 the group had 4 consecutive sold-out performances at the exclusive Sava Centar in Belgrade.

But throughout those 10 years of retirement the band members remained in excellent shape, leading bands and projects of their own, and for them returning to this material is like McCartney going back revisiting the Beatles catalog. Since the early beginning they were recognized as masters of their instruments with distinct voices, a reputation well deserved as this DVD ably demonstrates.

The DVD also reveals the musicians' unflagging energy and passion, as they drive their music to new, soaring heights while taking the audience right along with them. Drummer Garo Tavitjan is the blood and bones of the music, playing with inhuman energy, variously shading the music with unusual timbres or driving it mad with powerful and complicated rhythms. Actually, he was the one who popularised uneven rhythms, thus making them one of the band's trademarks. Keyboardist Dimushevski provides a rich tapestry of sounds for the band, with solos that often evoke another era. Bassist Bodan Arsovski is the anchor of the band. In his hands, the bass becomes more than a supporting instrument: it's an instrument with a kaleidoscope of colors, textures, grooves and soloings. Stefanovski's precise guitar playing gives the band focus, though along with more than customary restraint he displays plenty of inspired guitar fireworks.

The repertoire is closely following the tracklisting from the Anthology CD, starting from the band's jazz-rock/fusion beginnings with "Aber Dojde Donke, Devetka," and "Kako Ti Drago" to the later and more commercial "Skopje," "Cukni Vo Drvo" and standard pop=rock tunes like "Kao Kakao." But this is a DVD packed with highlights, and Leb i Sol revisits these tracks with the maturity you would expect of them. On some tracks they stick to the basic form; elsewhere they embark on lengthy improvisations.

As a bonus, there is a brief documentary with band member interviews and a new studio track—a cover of a traditional tune "Raspukala Sar Planina". The brand new track easily finds its place among the band's highlights. There is also a double CD released with the same title, and it has a few songs that do not appear on the DVD, thus making it a must have for the Leb i Sol collector.

The DVD is essential viewing for anyone interested in the band. The video and sound quality are both exceptional. With this disc the band proves that it is bigger than the sum of its parts.
P+C 2006 Avalon Produkcija
NENAD GEORGIEVSKI @ AllAboutJazz.com

Veljanov "Porta Macedonia" [2008]

The thing about Alexander Veljanov's solo albums is that they will always be compared to what he does as half of Deine Lakaien. This is unfortunate as his two previous outings under his own name have been splendid little affairs tailored more to an introspective countenance, embellished by some surprisingly harrowing lyrical narratives. Now on leave from Deine Lakaien, Veljanov gives us a most tantalizing new record replete with curious instrumentation, stunning arrangements and, of course, that Voice.
"Porta Macedonia" has provoked some controversy in certain quarters due to it's name alone. Weather or not this is intentional on the part of our German/Macedonian hero remains to be seen. But one thing is certain, people are talking about his new work in greater numbers than ever before. With good reason.
Listening to the intonations of "Nie Mehr" you are taken out of the mundanity you lead as a life and put in a dimly lit café around closing time. The half-time breakbeat drives you on into the darkened recesses of your own subconscious (check out the video for this song to get a better idea of what I'm talking about). "We Can't Turn Back" wrenches at your emotions, it culls the herd. "His Vita" and it's spidery guitar work almost takes on a regal tone of resigned despair. Is it the march of the doomed or the damned he seeks to illuminate?
A lot of what Veljanov aims for he hits magnificently, the death of hope being a primary target. The loss of belief, the well with no end in sight which one tumbles down without end. "Porta Macedonia" may not be everyone's desired cup of tea but to me it's everything he sought to do with Run Run Vanguard filtered through the experiences life and age have sent his way. The man is doing some serious thinking here and so should you.
PETER MARKS @ releasemagazine.net
P+C 2008 Premium Records

С.А.Ф. "Сафари" (видео) [1998]

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Влатко Стефановски, Мирослав Тадиќ & Теодосиј Спасов "Трета Мајка" [2004]

Treta Majka ("Third Mother") is actually a quirky slang expression that means a third attempt or third take in Macedonian. Also, it marks the third album that is an outcome of a fruitful partnership between the Macedonian guitar virtuoso Vlatko Stefanovski and the American-Serbian guitar master Miroslav Tadic that started seven years ago with the now-classical masterpiece Krushevo. Krushevo was a collection of traditional Macedonian reels, tunes and dances played on two acoustic guitars, usually in an odd-meter rhythms and archaic scale structures. The success of Krushevo broke new ground for them, as they were able to perform this music in various parts of the world. The second album was a live performance of the album, titled Live in Belgrade, where Krushevo was taken to a different plain, portraying the way the material has advanced and matured through its many reincarnations in auditoriums worldwide.

Because of its strategic position within the Balkans region, Macedonia represents a real melting pot of various musical and cultural traditions and heritages that has been brewing for centuries. Firstly, there is a strong influence by the Ottoman Empire that had highly developed classical music within the so- called Maqam system i.e. a modal system. Other influences range from Turkish folk music, as well as the travelling gypsy musicians who moved from India to the west picking up every style they came across on their journey, while infusing them with their own sensibility and morphing them into their own musical Esperanto. Another important influence is the Secular Byzantine music, with its intricate tonal structure and rich tradition. All of those strands of influence were weaved through the loom of Macedonian history, which even though full of hardship, tragedy, struggles, produced a musical tradition which is at same time sombre, epical, unrelenting, poignant, yet ultimately life affirming. This is best embodied and echoed in one of its most important features, the odd meters which are prevalent in Macedonian music as the most popular songs are written in seven, nine, eleven and thirteen beats.

Treta Majka finds these two artists working again with traditional Macedonian music and even though with different backgrounds and different approach to guitar playing, it is actually the chemistry that makes their approach to this material unique. The technique of these players is impeccable and their musical sensibilities have been informed by many different styles of playing: classical, flamenco, jazz, rock among others and the music has benefited from that. Compared to Krushevo the ambience is similar, but somewhat less electrifying.

The first track is "Sanoc Sedam Treno" (While I Stayed Up Through the Night, Treno) a plaintive song that opens quietly where we find the two guitars playing with each other not overshadowing or dominating each other. These musicians tend to be "chops-heavy" and virtuosic on their own projects, but here, most of the time the mood is low key as they confidently embrace a simpler, more melodic and atmospheric guitar style, sound and performance.

"Ne si go prodavaj Koljo Ciflikot" (Do Not Sell Your Land, Kolyo) is a popular upbeat folk song that has previously been covered by Vlatko Stefanovski (with his rock Trio). There is a wonderful solo by guest Teodosii Spasov on Bulgarian kaval (wooden flute). Teodosii also plays on several tracks and contrary to what he usually plays (free-folk jazz), he is delivering interesting solos that playfully enrich the music. He also suggested that the duo cover a traditional Turkish tune "Anadolu oyun havasi" that is one of the funkiest (and most surprising) tracks on this record with its catchy melodies and unusual twist and turns.

"Kasapsko Oro" (Butcher's Dance) is a folk dance with an interesting funky melody and the musicians, joined by Teodosii, are really ripping it up by playing flashy solos. "Opa -Iha" is another dance where the music builds slowly to a stormy middle section and then ending peacefully. "Kalesh Angjo" and the closing track "Eleno Mome" are slow ballads that belong to the so-called old town music tradition, a popular urban music from the turn of the 20th century and it shows the variety of traditions and styles present on this album.

This record as well as the previous ones displays the full array and versatility of the performers' craft. These tracks show both the players' ability to blend and to swing soulfully, whether doing a solo, playing in the background or playing in unison. This is rich, sombre, wonderful music being played beautifully by musicians who are pouring their heart into it. What matters here is the union between player and music. This music or its stylistic and performative traits bear some resemblance to the collaboration between McLaughlin and Paco De Lucia, or the music of Ry Cooder, but such comparisons only serve to suggest the level of Stefanovski and Tadic play, as well as the depths of the traditional Macedonian music they so devotedly explore.
NENAD GEORGIEVSKI @ AllAboutJazz.com
P+C 2004 Avalon Produkcija