BEGNAGRAD

One of the most powerful Slovenian bands ever. It's somewhere between works of AREA and DUN (and that's really something) + strongly emphasized aspect of East European folk music. It's dominated by woodwind and accordion with occasional, weird guitar moments.

It's great. The catchy aspect of the band is utilized with gorgeous Balkan/Gypsy melodies, the same ones that are providing a great base for rhythmical experimental experiments, and that are easy to mutilate into cacophony just after a few bars. Harmonies are unbelievable, bold, unusual but very logical. The cacophonic parts - shouts, noises, structure-less parts are working fine within the whole story, they're just a bit too much for my taste, hence not the five star rating. But it might grow on me even more. Surely, this album is very rewarding: for the RIO fans, for world music fans, jazz fans and fans of clever, elaborated music in general. It's out of time and space, not inclining towards any trends, and it's certainly not progressive music for the sake of it. It's one of those records that came out of nowhere and re-invented music. If you are serious music lover, get it if you can find it.

Four and a half stars...so far.