ONKRAJ REKE (1990-1994)

"Across the River", as the title reads in English, was recorded in 1994 when Veno Dolenc and Klarisa Jovanovic, still under the artistic moniker DUMA, teamed-up with arranger and producer Boris Kovac. Since at the time they faced little interest for this material to be released in Slovenia, the album finally appeared in Italy 1997. Meanwhile, Dolenc and Jovanovic decided to re- name themselves adopting the name of Veno's old band.

The album contains 14 equally beautiful and amazingly performed songs. Kovac added numerous strings, clarinet, saxophone and organ arrangements making the sound quite polyphonic and fulfilling, which was not usually the case with earlier albums. Still, acoustic guitars, various percussion and hand drums and sombre vocals of Veno and Klarisa make the music on "Onkraj reke" perfectly identified as SEDMINA.

Some of the outstanding moments of the record include: the introduction "Sarabanda" with odd time signatures, whispering percussion and solo clarinet; an eerie strings-filled intake of the Slavic mythology with "Jaga Baba" (for the prog community - the same grotesque character appears on ELP's interpretation of Musorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition"); mediaeval-sounding instrumental "Pot v Avignon" ("The Road To Avignon") with excellent melody and solos on clarinet and electric guitar; the title track with viola bringing some Hungarian/Gypsy folk emotions; "Knjiga" ("The Book") with menacing dark chords of organ, electric guitar and flute, at moments could be compared with CAN's "Soon Over Babaluma". "Na poti v Krasnodar" ("On The Road To Krasnodar") is a reprise of the composition from "Pot v Avignon", this time with lute as a lead instrument. Amongst the many guest musicians, it is noteworthy to mention the violinist Bozidar Ogorevc from the original line-up of early 1980s SEDMINA and excellent contribution Uros Lovsin (ex-BULDOZER) gave on his electric guitar and lute solos.

"Onkraj reke" is perhaps the most accessible SEDMINA album due to relatively short songs, simple and melodic arrangements and "light" themes. That said, it is by no means commercial in a vulgar sense or exploitative of the current "world music" trend- setting. It is the work of convinced artists who despise "artificiality" of contemporary folk music and are diligent enough to dig the traditional music out of its roots and present it to the modern public in artistically engaged and emotional way. The fans of progressive folk will love this album, while others are strongly encouraged to take a break from bombast symphonic or jazz arrangements and 10-minutes solo parts, and listen to this masterfully crafted album.

PERSONAL RATING: 5/5

P.A. RATING: 4,5/5