MODRA RIJEKA

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.