Ekatarina Velika – Ekatarina Velika

Needs repress as soon as possible. Dajte novo izdanje majku mu!

The golden rule should be - if you want a review, just listen to EKV itself. Impressions are of subjective matter and regarding their talent, originality or creative absolutism, EKV remains an institution respectfully and deservedly reaching out far beyond their state (of art).

A chance meeting with this particular record happened in autumn 1985. Paying a visit to a friend, there in his record collection, "EKV" was silently lurking, a novelty of the day. Intimidated by the cover but something lured me to take a listen. Once "Tattoo" started kicking out through the loudspeakers with Margita's gorgeous synth intro, I couldn't stop listening. And I it very vividly, while the house was buzzing with other guests, I stayed at my friend's room and listened to this damn song all day long...

A deserved masterpiece, this is not the group's crucial album alone. After an equally impressive start as "Katarina II" a few years earlier, "EKV" was a fresh new start. The opening track "Oči boje meda" (meaning: "The eyes the colour of honey") makes it for a spooky start. Massimo Savić (then of Dorian Gray, here appearing as guest vocalist) speaks out in a bizarre voodoo-esque fashion, providing with a pattern that helps shaping up the song which at the same time is a fascinating, wild, creepy and surreal story told, kicking off hard with lush keyboard and stabbing rhythm section. "Zaboravi ovaj grad" (meaning: "Forget about this city") is a stunning 80s urban postcard showcasing an emotional struggle between resentment and sense of belonging.

"Tattoo" lyrically expresses masochistic escapism. "Hodaj" (meaning: "Walk!") is a simple, yet powerful existentialist song. The word "Walk" actually appears during the song - EKV combined English throughout the album on several occasions, including the mentioned song "Zaboravi" (a line saying 'Freeze Frame!') and the closing epic "I've Always Loved You" which makes it a beautiful dramatic finale, rescued from a lost noir film.

Quiet and introspective "Ruke" (meaning: "Hands") juxtaposes shades of grey melody with oriental touches. "Modro i zeleno" ("Blue and Green") is remarkable of its romanticism - the lyrics radiate with warmth and sensuality as opposed to the merciless ing of time. The playful "To sam ja" (meaning: "It Is Me") is screaming with energy and ion. "Olovne godine" ("Lead Years") despite other dramatic and attention-striking material, is the hardest piece on the record. Not specifically for its slow arrangement but more for the fact it leaves the album at unrest - giving way to the final, and brilliant "I've Always Loved You".

The problem surrounding EKV in general is, they frequently expressed ion through self-destruction and dejection. It is just frustratingly unbelievable people so young created the music that was too mature to handle.