Izvođač: Non Credo
Izdavač: Samizdat
Izlazak: 1988
Ocjena: 4.5/5
Non Credo su svoju karijeru započeli albumom Reluctant Hosts 1988. godine. To je album kojim počinje dugu i plodnu suradnju Joea Berardija i Kire Vollman. Nakon tog prvijenca uslijedila su samo još dva albuma, ali kad imaš takvu kvalitetu, kvantiteta nije toliko bitna. Reluctant Hosts se dugo nije mogao kupiti, ali srećom je ponovno izdan 2000. godine i još uvijek postoji nekoliko primjeraka koje je moguće nabaviti. Ako imate priliku, predlažem da ovaj album kupite, jer je riječ o dragulju koji će zadovoljiti većinu ljubitelja eksperimentalne glazbe.
Prvi dio albuma sadrži osam vokalnih pjesama i jednu skladanu instrumentalnu skladbu, dok drugi dio sadrži uglavnom instrumentalne improvizacije. Sve vokalne skladbe su izvrsne, s tradicionalno otkačenim i zabavnim tekstovima za koje se pobrinula Kira Vollman. Stilski se pjesme kreću od kabarea do popa (barem za Non Credo), a naravno ima i hrpa eksperimentalnih dijelova po kojima su Non Credo postali poznati s Happy Wretched Family. Na instrumentalu “Ask the Bearded Lady” (prikladan naslov) mogu se čuti i utjecaji cirkuske glazbe.
Na drugom dijelu albuma nalaze se pjesme bez konvencionalnih vokala, ali Kira ipak pravi zbrku svojim vokalnim ludorijama. U ovom dijelu možemo čuti Non Credo kako sviraju praktički sve glazbene žanrove – jazz, klasiku, avangardu, ambijentalnu glazbu,…. Kao da se žele pohvaliti onim što mogu. Gledajte nas, gledajte što sve možemo! No kod Non Credo u tome ne vidim nikakvu manu, jer svaki segment zvuči kao prirodan prijelaz iz prethodnog dijela i ne djeluje kao da je išta usiljeno.
Tekstovi Kire Vollman ponovno su izvanredni. Stvara vlastiti svijet crnog humora. Igra se temama koje su krajnje tragične, ali ih čini komičnima. U tom pogledu posebno se ističu “Looking in the Window” i “Thank You Mommy”. Ne mogu se sjetiti nikoga drugog tko bi znao tako tragične i morbidne teme prikazati na tako humorističan, a opet inteligentan način.
Ponekad je teško povjerovati da su Non Credo samo dvoje članova. Doduše, ima tu nekoliko gostiju, ali većinu posla odrađuju Joe i Kira. Najviše me uvjerio Joe na udaraljkama, a dojmile su me se i klavijature te naravno Kirin vokal. Možda je ovo njihov najeklektičniji uradak što se tiče stila, jer bez problema prebacuju između žanrova poput klasične glazbe, jazza, avangarde, kabarea, popa,…
Jedini dio albuma na kojem se čini da su Non Credo neiskusni jest redoslijed pjesama. Sve pjesme s tekstovima smještene su na početak albuma, dok se na drugom dijelu nalaze ambijentalniji i eksperimentalniji segmenti. Taj su problem na sljedeća dva albuma otklonili, ali i ovdje postoji dobar razlog za takav raspored. Sve pjesme koje se nalaze na drugom dijelu albuma zapravo su bonus skladbe koje su izvorno postojale samo kao podloga za neke filmove.
Unatoč toj jednoj manjkavosti (koja to zapravo i nije) prvijenac Non Credo je veličanstven. Ne osjeća se nedostatak iskustva, glazba je dobro osmišljena i inteligentna (kao i uvijek). Ponovno se ističu tekstovi kao i otkačena (i ozbiljna) glazba. Joe i Kira su s Reluctant Hosts snimili predivan album koji je nemoguće strpati u samo jedan žanr. Album pokazuje zalet glazbenika koji željno istražuju glazbene mogućnosti i pokazuje sposobnosti iskusnih skladatelja. Non Credo naprosto morate čuti!
——————————————————————————————–
Non Credo started off their recording career in 1988 with Reluctant Hosts, an album that would mark a long and artistically successful relationship between Joe Berardi and Kira Vollman. There have only been two other albums after this debut, but if you have quality like this, quantity isn’t that important. Reluctant Hosts was long out of print, but it was luckily rereleased in 2000 and there are still a few copies floating around here and there. If you have a chance, pick this album up as it’s a true gem for fans of experimental music.
The first part of the album contains 8 vocal tracks and one composed instrumental, while the second part is filled with mostly improvisations (I think). All the vocal tracks are great, with traditionally twisted and fun lyrics by Kira Vollman. The styles vary from almost cabaret songs, to what sounds like almost pop (for Non Credo) and experimental parts that Non Credo would later become renowned for on their Happy Wretched Family album. There’s also a circus-like atmosphere on the instrumental “Ask the Bearded Lady” (a fitting title).
The second part of the album is comprised of songs without any conventional vocals, but Kira does create some havoc with her vocal experiments. In this part of the record, we can hear Non Credo basically doing any genre you please – from jazz, classical, avant-garde, ambient. It’s almost as if they were trying to show off their credentials. Look at us! This is what we can do! But I see nothing wrong with this, at least not with Non Credo, because every segments sounds like a natural progression of the previous one and nothing seems forced.
Kira Vollman’s lyrics are again spectacular. She creates her own world of dark humour, where she takes sometimes extremely tragic events and puts a humorous twist on them. The standout tracks in this department are (for me) “Looking in the Window” and “Thank You Mommy”. I can’t think of anyone else who is able to create something so funny, yet thoughtful from a theme that is basically very sombre.
It is sometimes hard to believe that Non Credo is only a duo. True, there are some guest musicians here, but most of the work is done by Joe and Kira. I am particularly impressed by Joe’s work on percussion, the keyboard parts (from both) and naturally Kira’s vocals. Perhaps, this is their most eclectic work to date in terms of style, as they seem to effortlessly switch between so many different genres, like classical, jazz, avant-garde, cabaret, pop,…
The only part of the album that Non Credo’s inexperience is evident is in choosing the song sequence. They put all the tracks with the lyrics in the first part of Reluctant Hosts, while the second part contains some ambient and experimental passages. On their two following releases they would remedy this and combine the tracks more wisely, but there’s an explanation for why the sequence is like it is here as well. All the songs from the second part are basically bonus tracks that were recorded as soundtracks to a few movies.
Apart from the one shortcoming I mentioned (for which there’s still a good reason), Non Credo’s debut is nothing short of excellent. There are no signs of immaturity, the music is well crafted and cleaver as always. The lyrics again stand out, as does the wacky (and serious) music. Joe and Kira made an incredible album with Reluctant Hosts, one that transcends genre classification. This album shows the enthusiasm of musicians eager to explore new musical worlds and the craftsmanship of experienced composers. Non Credo has to be heard to be believed!
Postava
Joseph Berardi – bubnjevi, udaraljke, klavijature, harmonika, violončelo
Kira Vollman – vokal, bas, klarinet, klavijature
Gosti: Jesse Jacobson – gitara, bas na Thank You Mommy, Jerome Faulkner – sintisajzeri na Thank You Mommy, Bill Rhea – violina na Beguiled
Produkcija
Non Credo
Popis skladbi
1. Why?
2. Tell Me What You Dream
3. Looking In The Windows
4. Ask The Bearded Lady
5. Beguiled
6. Stiff We Walk
7. Hair Of Dog
8. Descent Point
9. Thank You Mommy
10. Dint Of Thrift
11. Tied To The Mast
12. Filare
13. Gumshoe
14. Death Of A Swan
15. Cleavage And Pearls
16. A Bed For Birds
17. Forks & Spoons
18. Oval Dip
19. Traces Of Ether
20. Scent Of Night Sweats
21. Flatfoot
22. Gumshoe
23. Liquid Measures
24. Stigmata H2O
