Gitarijada Vojvodine Kisac '75 on CD

This compilation was originally released by the Yugoslav PGP RTB label in 1975; it collects tracks by participants in the first official rock competition for bands from the province of Vojvodina. Pes?ani Sat open up the dance with a grandiose pop rock tune clothed in a garment of lush string arrangements with a beautiful lead melody plus a few simmering guitar solos that scream right into your face. Proces deliver an atmospheric '70s rock tune with a gentle edge and vocals that bear a strong character. At some point it turns into a furious but joyful dance and then straight afterward it becomes a bluesy and jazzy fuzz-rocker with some additional brass. There is an ever-pulsating percussion sound backing up the track, giving it an out-of-control groove. Sani's Eleonor rocks in a straight '60s garage fashion. A bit retro for the time of it's release, but never the less a kick-ass raw beat number with a memorable chorus. KUD blend contemporary funk, soul, psych rock, and garage rock into a hot-blooded rock tune with a classical melody thrown in here and there for good measure and some nice fuzzed-out guitars. Beautiful choirs and the lead organ spice up this tune and make it a wild highlight. Koren give us some dark, bluesy rock with a heavy organ sound-carpet and a skilled axeman who knows to fire beautiful jazzy leads and simmering, eruptive solos from the neck of his axe. Nelija enchant our ears with a gentle acoustic tune that combines the beauty of '70s hippie-folk with elements of traditional music from the Balkan countries. Cvrcak I Mravi's Cekanje is slightly folky, with rich melodic textures - a lightweight but heartwarming pop song with a '60s West Coast flair. They have a great hand for sweet arrangements, as the strings and flute patterns of this song prove. Omega have nothing to do with their Hungarian namesakes and play rather jazzy, late-'60s-style pop, with more US West Coast flair. They sing in their native tongue and might therefore sound a bit far-out for the average listener, but fans of that late-'60s stuff mixing jazz, blues, and pop will find a rich treasure in this song and in this compilation. Give this album a chance if you are a true music lover.