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.