II - DEJANJE

There are several noticeable differences in this album over Sedmina’s debut two years prior. First, the vocal interaction between Veno Dolenc and Melita Osojnik is much less about folkish harmonies, and much more about alternating, almost call-and-response pairing. The overall tone has also moved away from languid, traditional and acoustic guitar-driven storytelling type of arrangements, to much more string-intensive compositions featuring alternating violin and viola; and also the clarinet is featured much more prominently here than in the first release.

That said, these are positive progressions of the duo’s music, and the sometimes-flamenco sounding, sometimes-Slavic leaning sounds make for a richer experience overall. And for the first time there are some noticeable breakouts of instrumental solos and duos scattered throughout – violin on “Ciganka”; clarinet and viola on “Circus”, which would also prove to be the longest composition the band would ever record at more than nine minutes; and clarinet for the better part of “Gledalisce”.

Veno Dolenc’s vocals are featured more prominently here as well, although he seems to have found conviction in his singing which is more pronounced and confident than the first time around.

There are even some improvisational jazz touches to be found, particularly on what appears to be the reworking of a traditional tune with “Pav”, and with the closing “Kolo (Za Dusko)”, which also presents interplay between the clarinet and violin, played by Lado Jaksa and Božidar Ogorevc just as they were on the first album.

The change in tone and composition here reminds me a little of the way Bacamarte evolved between their first and second albums, with this comparison also showing more influence by the male musician and a tendency to use the female voice to complement rather than augment the songs.

This is an interesting development of the Sedmina sound, and one that unfortunately would not have a chance to evolve further as the couple split in the years following this release. Sedmina would resurface several years later, but by then Dolenc would have a new wife and only Božidar Ogorevc would return with him for a third album.

The first couple of times I heard this album I had some difficulty getting into it, as I had come to expect the type of harmonic duets that made the first release so appealing. But this one has its charms as well, which repeated playing manages to coax out. Another highly recommended work for prog folk and world music fans, and another four star performance.

peace