RODJENJE

After the release of highly acclaimed album "Pjesme s planine", Drago Mlinarec appeared at Ljubljana "BOOM Pop Festival 1973" performing excellent version of the title song from that album, and subsequently embarked on a successful theatre play career, composing and writing songs and stage soundtrack. In this period Mlinarec already built an image of a remarkable singer/songwriter in ex-Yugoslavia who is admired by many but his music was never too commercial to reach the top lists. In late 1974 he briefly joined JUGOSLOVENSKA POP SELEKCIJA, a short-lived supergroup of renowned prog rock and jazz musicians. Soon he gathered a group to back him up on his next studio album, led by pianist Neven Franges that included bass player Davor Rocco and drummer Dragan Brcic (from the band SPEKTAR) along with some old comrades from GRUPA 220, notably bass player Nenad Zubak and guitarist Husein Hasanefendic.

The third album "Rodjenje" (Eng. "Birth") was released in early 1975 and brought more acoustic, mellow, melancholic and less rock-oriented material. The opening title track with atmospheric acoustic guitars and thunderstorm sound melts into the 15 minutes epic and one of his best songs "Helena lijepa i ja u kisi" ("Beautiful Helen And Me Out On The Rain"). It is a prototype of a progressive multi-part composition, with prominent use of piano, organ, acoustic guitars and laid-back rhythm section with melodic bass. In the second part, there is an excellent piano/organ-driven jazz/fusion improvisation with harmonica sounding similar to Stevie Wonder's. Upon its fadeout the remainder of the album is a very melodic and pleasant, mostly acoustic folksy tunes, which nonetheless make this album a wonderfully conceived "dreamy" listening experience. All songs are excellent and stunning in their refined simplicity. Sometimes it matches the acoustic passages of Donovan, MAGNA CARTA or Leonard Cohen, sometimes there is a feeling of Canterbury musical expression, while at other moments that of the acoustic, flute-less JETHRO TULL, like in XV century lyrics of "Jur nijedna na svit vila" (sung in old Dubrovnik dialect!). "Kule od rijeci" ("Towers Of Words") carries Neil Young-ish harmonica and chorus, while the closing instrumental "Tema iz 'Pozdrava'" ("Theme From 'Pozdravi'", a theatre play by Eugene Ionesco) with its pedal steel and ambient sound of guitars and keyboards anticipates the present-day alternative/chamber country style of LAMBCHOP and the likes.

This album is a masterpiece of sophisticated progressive singer/songwriter style of semi-acoustic folk-rock that not only surpasses Yugoslavian achievements in that field but matches the best international examples of the genre. Absolutely a must for any serious and self-esteemed music collection!