MODRA RIJEKA

During the mid-70s INDEXI were mostly occupied with pop festivals of easy listening music and released hit-singles of such a genre, so the appearance of this album, marking the return to their prog roots, was a bit of a surprise. In fact, this is their first proper studio album, although it cannot be called a "debut" since it showcased the superior creative energy and musicianship rarely heard in Yugoslavian rock music, acquired through the experience of the previous 15 years! "Modra rijeka" (English: the Blue River) is a concept album conceived around a set of poems by Mak Dizdar, a renowned Bosnian poet. The line- up of INDEXI consisted of: Davorin Popovic-vocals, Fadil Redzic-bass, Nenad Jurin- keyboards, Djordje Kisic-drums and Slobodan A. Kovacevic-guitar, with two guest players: Tihomir Pop Asanovic-organ solo (ex TIME and SEPTEMBER) and Ranko Rihtman-piano solo (former INDEXI member). The sound is dominated by the keyboards and energetic Redzic's bass playing, therefore one can roughly describe the music style as being somewhere between YES and RENAISSANCE. Kovacevic mostly played acoustic guitar in a manner that sometimes reminds me of Robert Fripp's playing on "Lizard" by KING CRIMSON. However in those few electric moments on the album, he proved the originality and unique sound of his Gibson "Flying Arrow" model (allegedly once belonging to Jimi Hendrix!). Although it is hard to find a weak moment here, the album highlights would be "Blago", "More" and the closing title song. "Modra rijeka" was re-issued on CD by Croatia Records in 1995 and again by Croatia Records and Naraton in 1999, so all interested are advised to search it out. This is a true gem of progressive rock music in the former Yugoslavia.

With their first album Indexi made a masterpiece of symphonic rock! This concept album based on a poem is very different from their pop singles with only occasional prog elements. This album may be the only fully symphonic progressive rock album from former Yugoslavia! Other Yugoslavian prog groups played more in the realm of fusion prog, space rock, folk prog, proto-prog and hard prog.

The first track "Modra rijeka" is a short spoken word track.

"Blago" starts the album in the vein of ELP's "Tarkus". In the beginning there are some complex melodies played in unison and later also in short counterpoint between bass and synth. In this track the bass guitar really stands out with very good melodic playing and soloing all the time. In the middle the vocal starts singing a short atonal melody in small intervals. The song continues with a short organ solo and finishes with passages from the beginning. This track borders on atonal music.

"Brod" is very different from the previous track. First we hear a few water sounds then the music begins softly with simple melodies later alternating with more rocking parts. This track reminds me of less complex songs of Italian bands e.g. BANCO, PFM, LE ORME.

"More" is a complex 11 minute epic. It starts with electronic soundscapes and continues similar to "Blago" with prominent bass and energic vocal. The composition continues with a lot of nice solos of bass, acoustic guitar, piano, electric guitar and Hammond organ. Last few solos are linked with a symphonically arranged theme repeated also in bass. The outro is similar to intro - like in "Blago".

"Zapis O Zemlji" is a short spoken word track.

"Slovo o covjeku" has the more usual verse and chorus structure. The verse is sung very pleasantly and passionately with a nice piano and guitar accompanying. This is IMO the best singing part on the album. I don't mind if the chorus reminds me of Dalmatian pop songs. Definitively the most upbeat song on the album.

"Pustinja" is a diverse track with decent group interplay and occasional unusual vocal harmony. "More II" is a peaceful instrumental with keyboard and guitar solos. Similar to YES.

"Modra rijeka II" is a symphonic song reminding me of Italian symphonic bands again. I especially like the guitar theme in the intro, chord progressions and symphonic arrangements in this song. There is also a small orhestra added to enrich te sound. A great symphonic piece!

This album is essential in Yugoslavian prog collection!

A unique achievement for a band who was previously mostly a pop-rock band with occasional forays into rhythm and blues, "Modra Rijeka" is as progressive as you can get. The guitarist Slobodan A. "Bodo" Kovacevic and bassist Fadil Redzic are the main architects behind this work. It opens with a Redzic composition "Blago", which can be considered partly succesful. It does contain some splendid bass work. Then follows "Brod", a predominantly vocal track also written by Redzic, which is followed by a stunning composition, Kovacevic's "More(Sea)". It contains some impressive soloing, both on bass and guitar, acoustic and electric, and is the most complex and succesful piece here.

"Slovo o covjeku" is the best vocal dominated song here, "Pustinja" is quite interesting and "More II" continues on the path of it's predecessor, although it's less than half its length. It is the album's only instrumental and another proof of Kovacevic's talent as a composer. Then comes the album's grand finale, the song about the song, the title track. It has a very poignant guitar intro and a soothing string section in the middle, not to speak about the piano solo, which is one of the best I've heard (played by Ranko Rihtman, who did the string arrangement here) and Davorin Popovic's vocal is subtle yet powerful. It adds more depth to the overall feeling, which describes the other world, death.

In the history of Bosnian and Yugoslav music, there are few as important albums as Modra Rijeka. It is one of the most crucial albums in Bosnian music history, if not THE most crucial. It proved once again that Indexi were one of the greatest bands Yugoslavia ever had and they could always surprise, even after 16 years. A highlight for the Sarajevo veterans.

It is a shame that more people ouside former Yugoslavia did not hear this masterpiece of poetic prog."Modra rijeka" is musical adaptation of most beautiful poems written by renowned Bosnian poet Mak Dizdar in the first half of last century.Album was recorded in 1978,and shows Indexi at their best,creative ideas and performance,even sound are all top notch.Music can be described as a symphonic prog,although there is not much classical overtones,except maybe in best song on album,11-minutes plus epic "More"(Sea).Overall quality of this album set the standards for everybody in rock music bussines in former Yugoslavia at the time.To date,I don't think that anybody came even close to chalenge sheer brilliance and importance of this historic record.I understand that many people will probably avoid this album,cause it is sung in serbo-croatian language,but this should'nt be deterrent,music is too good to be forgoten.Cd reissue of this album is available on most ex- Yugoslavian music sites,I recommend it to everyone who appreciates classy prog music ,a true masterpiece.

This album - the first Yugoslavian prog-album, that I have heard. An easy and pleasant album. No any heavy sounds. Melodious keyboard and a guitar, not English vocal. I recommend to allocate from the general context a composition 4 (More) and compositions 6 (Slovo O Covjeku), 7 (Pustinja), 8 (Modra Rijeka II). A final composition - a magnificent ballad, excellent end of an album. My estimation - 4.5 stars.

One of the best rock albums to come out of Yugoslavia. Indexi really show their maturity on this album. This and the Plima EP is truly the best music that could be produced by these musicians.

Note to listeners: Don't be put down by the fact that this band is from Yugoslavia. I myself listen to Genesis, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep, and all those other great bands. Yugoslavia has some great music, and this is a prime example.

Oh, boy... On of the best ex-Yugoslavian and Bosnian albums. One of the best bands. "Modra Rijeka" made music based on Mak Dizdar's poems, and Dizdar is one of the best Bosnian poets, his poems are full of mysticism and beauty.

Occasional spoken words on album won't mean much if you don't know the language; however they fit between particular songs perfectly, because each song is a little story. The lyrics are recited by late Croatian theatre and movie actor Fabijan Sovagovic.

The music itself is beyond description. Beautiful multivocal harmonies, so typical for this band. Breathtaking acoustic guitar parts, comparable to the finest moments of Italian symphonic prog. Skillful guitar and keyboard solos. Tasteful bass lines. Indexi caught magic of Dizdar's lyrics perfectly. It's a pity that translation would be far too difficult task. Let me try...

Let's try to translate one of the shortest songs, "Blago".

First we have to remove all the "li" syllables from all the words in the song and then we get:

BLAGO

(Pastir Pastirici kao i Kralj Kraljici)

blaga nema do ocinjeg vida

draza si mi od ociju

draga

Now we can try to translate it:

TREASURE

(Shepherd to a Shepherdess as well as King to a Queen)

there is no treasure like eyesight

dearer you are than my eyes

my dear

.....etc. And that was an easy one. The whole album is, actually, about mankind and man's place in the universe. The title "Modra rijeka" (blue river) is actually allegorical symbol of life (hundred years river is wide, thousand years river is deep, about the length don't even dare to dream)...and music is here perfect tapestry for the lyrics, strong as lyrics themselves.

Therefore, this album is a masterpiece. A milestone, but a milestone of what? Absolutely out of time, and so easy to fit in any era. Astonishing.

I apologize in advance because I didn't gave you too many relevant infos about music itself. But in this case, I'm driven with emotions more than facts.

I'm rating it 6/5, but since most of you folks don't understand the language, you're missing half of the story. And the remaining half is enough to be called a masterpiece. 5/5.

This is one of the most exciting discoveries in the last years. Being 1978, this album is far from being experimental but... well, it's fantastic, pure, rough (rough as a rough diamond), aggressive, sad, poetic, dramatic, anguishing, melodic, sensual, hard, intelligent, intense, deep, obscure, sweet, relaxing, pastoral sometimes... in few words:

perfect!

Of the ingredients above, sadness is the most important, musically, Sadness and poetry.

"Modra Rijeka", english for "Blue River", is based upon the self titled real cicle of poems and partially is based upon recitative parts, as in the opening move and in "Zapis o Zemlij".

Sound is a real joy, featuring, above all, impressive work on bass guitar, acoustic guitar, classic piano, hammond organ and moog soloing (sometimes duets and "battles") as you hear in the song "Blago" and in the extended track "More" (11,20 mns) and even in "More II" (4,19).

All instruments are definitely masterfully balanced. Attention! This is not a keyboard based album, it's more a mix between heavy and symphonic prog with that "GRANDEUR" that only comes from the masterworks. Great, great work on acoustic guitar. Passion, passion, friends. This is music I want to listen to.

And you, listen to me: "More", please. What a big, big, huge impression caused to me this song! Wonderful and aggressive bass guitar solo and duet within a superb acoustic guitar!!

I repeat: listen to "More", please. What a big, big, huge impression caused to me this one!

The album is a real gem, a must have for any good prog lover, especially for those who like symphonic and heavy prog. A very inspired yugoslavian band with attention to their own original mood.

The album is at the same level of other big opus: it has also its own "Lucky Man": the beautiful, melodic, sad and joyful "Slovo o Covjeku".

I see that my english cannot really give you the idea of what I've found in Modra Rijeka. Please, pay attention to internet where you can find this wonderful album. The best from Yugoslavia. On the top 5 of my entire discography.

Modra Rijeka is album based poetry of Mak Dizdar, one of the greatest Bosnian (and Yugoslav) poets of the of the twentieth century. But poetry is not the only thing on this album, so if you don't understand language don't worry. Except 2 spoken word tracks there are 7 tracks of great music. The mayor problem if you live outside of ex-Yugoslavia is that it is difficult to find it in Music Shop, but you can find in somewhere on internet for sure.

Modra Rijeka - Spoken word track. Translation of en part of song: There is a blue river It's wide, It's deep, A hundred years it's wide, A thousand years deep, its length you cannot imagine. There is a blue river It worth us to cross the river. Blago (7/10) Brod (9/10) More (11/10) - In my opinion, and probably many others this is best track on album. Zapis O Zemlji - Spoken word track. Slovo O Covjeku (8/10) Pustinja (7/10) More II (9/10) Modra Rijeka II (8/10)

This album is most probably one of the best albums ever released in ex-Yugoslavia, as far as we're talking about progressive rock music. I assume (I wasn't born back then) this album came as big surprise after that much time spent by the group for creating pop music for large masses.

I read other reviews here and there are not many things left to say. Great music, lyrics, atmosphere, production. INDEXI at its best. This album, in my opinion, has only one minus - year of the release (1978). But, if we are here to judge the value of music, this is a masterpiece.

Best tracks here: epilogue Modra rijeka, More (if I have to choose).

5 stars!

3.5 stars.There's no doubt from reading the other reviews that i'm missing something by not understanding the lyrics. Apparently it's a concept album and there are two tracks that consist of spoken words only. INDEXI were a very popular Pop band in Yugoslavia, so popular that the record company didn't mind that they veered off into Prog territory on this release in 1978. To my ears this is Symphonic-Prog with lots of keybords, acoustic guitar and deep bass lines. For some reason I think "Italian" when I hear the vocals.

"Modra Rijeka" is the intro consisting of spoken words only. "Blago" is uptempo with chunky bass and drums leading the way. Synths come in as it settles some. Almost spoken vocals 2 minutes in. Organ follows then it kicks back in. "Brod" is the first song I like although the aggressive vocals take a while to get used to. It opens with water sounds as acoustic guitar and vocals come in. Vocal melodies follow. Drums 1 1/2 minutes in followed by organ then those harsh vocals. It settles before 3 minutes as themes are repeated. "More" is the over 11 minute epic. Synths to open as the song builds. It kicks in before 1 1/2 minutes with vocals. Guitar and bass take over before 3 minutes then it settles with intricate acoustic guitar melodies. Solo piano melodies follow. It kicks back in with some bombast after 6 minutes. Organ 7 1/2 minutes. Acoustic guitar, bass and vocals are back 9 1/2 minutes in.

"Zapis O Zemlji" is another brief spoken word track. "Slovo O Covjeku" is a song I just can't get into at all. Ballad-like with fragile vocals and piano to open. The vocals do get passionate and the guitar comes and goes.The tempo picks up 2 1/2 minutes in then back to earlier sound 4 minutes in. "Pustinja" is pretty good. I like the mellower parts of it more than the fuller sounding sections. I don't like the guitar later though. "More II" is my favourite song on here. It's almost like an instrumental reprise of "More" but a lot shorter. I'm reminded of a few different bands during this track. "Modra Rijeka II" is pastoral to open. Reserved vocals a minute in. Strings follow. A full sound 3 minutes in. Chunky bass before 6 minutes.

These guys sure know how to create a melody, i'll give them that. And that's the strength of this album and what I like about it. I wish I could give this 4 stars but there's too many things (almost in every song) that I just don't enjoy.

One of the most pleasant facts in music is how one can listen to a new album without major expectatives and discover how amazing it is.

When I read about this album I thought that it couldn't be anything exceptional: it was, for me, an unknown band, coming from a country that isn't especially known because of its prog rock tradition. But, for the same reason, I was also curious about how would it sound. And to my surprise, I found a superb album.

Over an omnipresent keyboard layer giving a melodic atmosphere, the instruments develop through the songs in a balanced way: the interpretations flee from any pointless virtuosism, in order to play perfect-built songs. A predominant acoustic guitar (did I say that melody is the word when talking about the album?) sets the arpeggiated base to the voice, which is also (guess what?) melodic, without agressivness except some concrete points. Then, the great bass work, and its duels with the electric guitar. All that in a work whose major flaw is it's relatively short duration, but full of all that elements that a prog fan could expect to find in an album.

I'll never doubt of an album because it's procedency again. I swear.

Well, 1978,Indexi - Modra rijeka. an Unknown band to me, really, what it is Indexi? they are from ex-Yugoslavia, and i was searching here on the site, for something new, and i want to say "thanks" to progarchivies.com to give me the oportunity to meet this tremendous band, and of course, the album called Modra rijeka.and i was searching, and i found it, i really don`t understand a single word of their lenguage, but what i understand is the passion and feeling while they are singing, so i really don`t care about the lenguage, because in fact, it sounds very good to my ears, So there is no problem to me listening to stuff like this.

The first time that i listen to this, i was listening to it very carefully, i was relax, and i was very curious about th high raiting of this album, and i was reading all the reviews from the collaborators and all of them talking good points about this album, so to be honest, i was programming miself to hear something cool, and guess what? in the first time i was listening this, i was thinking like? so this is the amazing album?and in the next day I give it another spin, and there it is, little by little i was understanding every melodic and well structured part of the album.

This albums in my opinion consist in the bass-line, the bass in every track sounds amazing. check the second track called "blago" and this track is one of the most progressive songs in the album.a lot of changes it is a very good track,sometimes dark, and sometimes very energic.

"Brod" The third track on the album, starts like very "hopefully" nice acoustic guitars, and the electric guitar put the melody, and then some good vocals waiting for the explosive change.2:05 ,wow, what a nice vocal in there, rock and roll type but with more classic structure, then continues and a change comes a la "YES" and then again the relax part.and the electric guitar a la CRIMSON, very very nice track..perfectly for walk and to look to the sky. and in a sunny day,yeah!.

"More"the fourth track on this brilliant album, this is the longest track on the album, starts like an jet arrives or something, or a ovni, and then starts very agressive,fast, and the voices are very energic, a lot of screams, again the bass kicking ass, and i like a lot the acoustic guitar too a la flamenco.very good song, and there is a part in the middle of the song when the keyboards make his way into a dark castle.

"Slovo o covjeku" the sixth track on the album, this track will make you cry, really, it is very beautiful, a lot of feeling.i don`t understand a single word but i understand the energy that the vocal transmits.god chorus.nice hamony and very melodic.

"Plustinja"the seven track on the album, one of the best of the album, in my opinion,again the vocals predominate the song, the organ sounds very dark and melodic at the same time, what we have on this album are the strong melodic vocal parts with good instrummental times,a very solid album, while the vocals are the principal keys to the songs, you hear a lot of rock,pop,jazz,blues, everything, so there is no tuning back to really aprecciate this masterpiece. i like a lot the accent of the vocal hehe.

"more"totally instrummental, and totally magnific, it sounds like an asiatic tune,the guitar sounds a la YES in some times, very deep, i enjoy a lot this wonderful music, the sintethizer very great ,the bass have a good solo in the middle of the song and what i can say about the final part? oh men, this is music,holy [&*!#],the keyboards a la deep purple in the final section,ends perfectly the song.Amazing.

"Modra rijeka" and finally the masterpiece of the album, i don´t have words to describe this beautiful piece of art. this is what i am talking about when the music and the human unites to creates the perfection in life. one of my top 30 songs of all time. give it a try to this song.

Conclusion: A very very good album ( 5 stars )

Indexi were apparently a big deal in the former Yugoslavia, but I don't personally find much that's truly distinctive about Modra Rijeka, their venture into prog concept albums. With a sound ranging from keyboard-dominated prog-psyche to straight-aheard hard rock, the album seems rather directionless and unfocused musically speaking, though I understand that if you understand the lyrics it's a fairly cohesive concept album. Still, the album has a nice meaty organ sound to it, which is a plus, and will doubtless be of interest to anyone interested in Croatian/Yugoslavian rock music. However, it should be remembered that Indexi adopted many different styles over the years, often at the prompting of fashion, and to my ears it seems that their adoption of a progressive approach for this album was a mere affectation rather than something they felt passionately about.

My very first review here and what drives me to write it is the "confusion" I got listening to this album.

There are claims that this album is a concept album. Well, the concept might be hidden in the lyrics, but musically this is far for the cohesion a concept album should display, actually the music is rather unfocused, good, sometime with brilliant moments - but not essential. I understand the "patriotism" of our friends from this site which live in or have Ex-Yugoslavian heritage. I personally think a concept album is first about the music, lyrics beeing some secondary layer, something that just emphasize somehow the music's message. I felt in love with prog 35 years ago without understanding a word in english and I don't think I missed that much.

A way overrated album even if the crossover prog label attached to it might somehow soften the expectations.

Modra Rijeka by Indexi is a showcase of musical craftsmanship, with each piece a testament to complex songwriting and gifted musicianship. I wish I could understand the language, because even to a listener spoiled by English, the lyrics flow and adhere to the music perfectly. I highly recommend this to Kansas lovers, particularly "Magnum Opus" and Point of Know Return.

"Modra Rijeka" The recitation of poetry ("Blue River") commences.

"Blago" Florid poetry is quite the antithesis to this creeping and spiraling combination of punchy symphonic rock and psychedelic brooding. The bass warbles and growls as the organ twists and turns in this snarling beast of a song; it's quite ELP-ish in places.

"Brod" Fresh-sounding acoustic guitar with an agreeable melody and keyboards to match initially impart something in progressive folk territory, while the distorted organ and boisterous singing amplify this track into harder rock. To and fro it goes.

"More" Starting out like Camel's "Lunar Sea" (and almost the same length), "More" gives just what the title implies: More heavy progressive rock laced with acoustic guitar and a downright sinister bass. One may expect a few interludes, including an acoustic guitar one full of fingerpicking and alternate tunings as well as a delicate piano that just glistens. The keyboard work is outstanding, especially the organ.

"Zapis O Zemlji" A second poetic excerpt follows.

"Slovo O Covjeku" Dynamic vocals (a Yugoslavian Roger Daltery?) and a distant piano lead into a light acoustic rock tune.

"Pustinja" In addition to the organ and energetic drumming one could come to expect by this point, the guitarist treats the listener to the tasteful use of a Talk Box.

"More II" Bright guitar and synthesizer shine together to generate one happy instrumental. Compositionally, it channels Steve Hackett, whilst the organ nods in the direction Canterbury fellows like Dave Stewart.

"Modra Rijeka II" Stunning textures over a halcyon acoustic, followed by equally soothing vocals, soon erupting into a satisfying amalgamation of all the aforementioned ingredients, topped off with a catchy refrain. This is a suitable finale to an excellent and consistent album.

I must confess, progressive rock music ( from the ancient Yugoslavia) definitely isn't my speciality ! The only good album that I can remember from this country is KORNELYANS: "Not an Ordinary Life" ! Although, this INDEXI "Modra Rijeka" is other very good album I could knew some time ago .They are very different , while the first as jazz-prog oriented album, the second is a few more flexible in style. In the first track as only a narration. The music really starts in second track ". Blago " whit some broken beats and a detached distorted bass guitar and a breath organ solo. The track 3 'Brod" the acoustic guitar gives the tune followed by a good vocal, melotron... a electric guitar sounding in "legato\' ( in fact this guitar seems to be mixed with the melotron in certain moments. The track 4 "More" ( one of best tracks in the album ) show some interesting moments, as in the case of acoustic guitar "intermission" followed by a breath "ascendant" electric guitar theme and a piano solo... at this moment the music reach their "'pice' with a "crying" electric guitar accompany by tubbullar bells/hammond-organ like a "bridge" to retake the main theme of track . The track 6 "Slovo O Covjeku" is a beautiful ballad whit a twelve-string guitar making the rhythm. I don't extend my review because the whole disk if it's not a masterpiece is really very good. My rate is 4 stars !!!