MELITA & VENO DOLENC

Psych/Folk group from Ljubljana, Slovenia, found in 1977 and led by vocalist/guitarist Veno Dolenc and his wife singer Melita Osojnik.Gaining some significant reputation through live performances and TV appearances the group headed for the recordings of their debut simply entitled ''Melita & Veno Dolenc'', for the artwork of which Veno Dolenc was responsible,as he was a painter as well.The album was originally published in 1980 on Helidon FLP,the music department of the Maribor-based book company Zalozba Obzorja.A CD-reissu followed some 15 years later on Mellotron Records.

Performed by an 8-piece group mainly with traditional instruments,the album is characterized by its very mellow and often melancholic atmosphere, being much based on the Dolenc duo's vocals with no instrumental break-outs at all.The musicianship lies around the acoustic crescendo of Veno Dolnec along with soft violin parts and supported occasionally by light piano passages, accordion and flutes, reminding a lot of German OUGENWEIDE.However the twelve tracks are very short with simple structures and heavy lyrical content, being much in a Psych/Folk vein and far from anything progressive.Of course some of the vocal arrangements really shine,like on ''Deklica z vzigalicami'', '' Veter Beli Koni'' or ''Ljubica'', highlighted mainly by Melita's ethereal voice.

I can see no other than a Folk lover admiring this release, which is neither progressive nor even that challenging.If you like simple folk melodies,this album might be of some interest, but I wouldn't recommended it at all for fans of Rock or progressive sounds.