BEGNAGRAD

After a brief period of inactivity in late 1970s, BEGNAGRAD re-formed in 1981. Two founding members, accordionist Bratko Bibic and clarinetist Bogo Pecnikar, invited three younger musicians to join, so the end-result, their eponymous debut album, sounded with more rock energy while retaining their Slovenian avant-folk and RIO roots. "We hear a relationship to the music of other earlier RIO bands - Stormy Six, Samla Mammas Manna, and others ­ that were also informed by the European folk music."* This is a totally wild and unpredictable album with freaky experimental music featuring odd traditional instruments (accordion, clarinet, double bass, violin, strange percussion, whistling), that were played with avant-garde or jazz attitude. There are no lyrics but the vocals are used as instruments in some instances, and often sounding quite humorous and funny. "Bratko's accordion, Bogo's clarinet, the rhythmic and melodic structure of the tunes are underscored by more electric instrumentation and a firm rhythmic structure borrowing from rock music that lends the recording a curious mixture of chaotic atmosphere, surprise, melancholy, and central, south and eastern European folk musical traditions. The music has strong melodies, contrasts of harmonic and discordant structures and dramatic changes in rhythms and time structures."* It is hard to single out some tracks because the whole album is a pretty cohesive effort with excellent production throughout, but my favourites would be "Cosa Nostra/Waltz" and "Coc'n'Rolla (Ljubljana ponoci)", two of the craziest moments on the album. The freaks responsible for creating this jolly and amazing patchwork of Slovenian RIO were: Bratko Bibic/ accordions, melodica, Faninger Klavier, voice, Bogo Pecnikar/ clarinet, sogra, baritone sax, ocarina, whistling, voice, Nino de Gleria/ electric bass, double bass, mandolin, whistling, screaming, Ales Rendla/ drums, violin, conga and Boris Romih/ percussion, tiny instruments, guitar, whistling, voice, double bass. "Begnagrad" was originally released by "Zalozba kaset in plosc RTV Ljubljana", September 1982 (RTV LD 0811) with this white cover sleeve. In 1990, AYAA label reissued the album on CD (cdt 1180) with a different cover sleeve, titled "Konzert for a Broken Dance" - two tracks were reordered, and a bonus track included. Finally, 2nd CD reissue of "Begnagrad", under original title and cover, was done by MIO Records (Israel), MIO 006, November 2003 with extra live audio + 20' video bonus tracks from 1983). This album is highly recommended to listen and if you are a RIO enthusiast, then it is a must for your collection.

*source: http://www.beat-a-go-go.com/begnagrad.html