As already mentioned in the comments on the "Charts 2025", there is some truth to the fact that many pretty good ones will be there in 2025. DubAlbums have been released. In some ways, it was a huge tidal wave that swept over us. Dubhas spilled over heads. And that's why it almost happened that "Balkans Dub System"With his album of the same name, he went unnoticed in the flood of music. Had I known that behind the "Balkan" Dub Had the name “System” concealed a new project by the very busy and versatile Croatian multi-instrumentalist Ognjen Zecevic, aka Egoless, this wouldn't have happened to me. Egoless has been active in the music industry since 2007. He initially joined the band Stillness from the Split-Zagreb region. This was followed by almost twenty years of an impressive career in the global bass, Dub- and Dubstep-dancing scene. His performances at Seasplash in Istria and in some of the UK's best clubs, as well as a tour of American and Canadian cities, made him known across the Atlantic. With his album "DubAfter “ternal”, he landed at the renowned British sound system label Deep Medi Music, which is owned by London’s leading DubStep-Innovator Mala is operated by Digital Mystikz. In Croatia, “Dubternal” was awarded the Elektor and Ambassador prizes for Album of the Year.
Shortly after all the awards, a new concept began to take shape for Egoless. This concept emerged precisely at the crossroads of East and West, with its turbulent history, complex past, and nomadic peoples. The Balkans have always been a melting pot of diverse cultures, shaped by centuries of migration, conflict, and vibrant exchange. From this diversity of traditions, languages, and religions arose the space for Egoless's new musical vision. The result is a seven-track album deeply rooted in the musical traditions of the Balkans and the Middle East. The new project and self-titled album by Ognjen Zecevic is titled "Balkan." Dub “System” cleverly combines roots Dub, Oriental Dub and world music into an acoustic fusion with traditional Balkan instruments, including the saz, santur, duduk, ney, kaval, darbuka, and bendir. The only additional musician was Roko Margeta, who played the Turkish ney and the Macedonian kaval, while all other instruments were played and mixed by Egoless himself.
Okay, projects like this aren't entirely new. We're familiar with similar sounds from Moreno Visini, aka The Spy from Cairo, but I still really like this album. Partly because it's simply something special.
2 replies to “Balkans Dub System: Balkan Dub System"
The rhythmic foundation really gets under my skin. There are occasional little excursions into jazz territory. For me, that sounds a bit odd, but they seem to have realized it themselves and always manage to get back into the groove very quickly. Based on my many years of listening to... DubI know from experience that instruments played with too much "ambition" ultimately drive me up the wall. So far, that's been the case with "Balkan". Dub The system isn't quite the same. I just don't want, can't, and don't need this "Wuwuzela" for summoning deaf snakes, which to me sounds like a mix of oboe, clarinet, and maybe even alto saxophone. It annoys me! But it doesn't happen here very often. Unfortunately, I can't DubI can't enjoy it, even if the thing is only used for a relatively short time, because my whole body tenses up whenever I have to hear that honking. Musicians are only human, otherwise they'd realize that this kind of thing is no good. It's a harshly worded statement, but it makes it even clearer that you can't discuss this with me. I can enjoy the most amazing effects, but if sounds bore into my ear, I have to get out of there.
Okay, enough "bad vibes." I always find my highlight on the albums pretty quickly, and here it's "Dogoda," closely followed by... nope, that's about it. Too much "Wuwuzela." Here and there, and on "Devil's Feast"...
It starts right away. Even the beautiful accordion can't save it then. I enjoy listening to many things, but often just one piece of gristle in the sausage is enough to ruin the whole meal.
"Dogoda" could – in my opinion – fit perfectly on a Spy from Cairo album. Actually, the other tracks here would too, but I also can't listen to the entire albums (in this case, I can even say records) in one day. I have my highlights there as well, and they're fantastic, just like "Dogoda." But to be honest, it's also a little too short for me. DubTinsel. But that depends on the day.
Okay, all clear so far... Lemmi
Ogi is an incredibly friendly and very talented musician whose career I've been happily following for some time. He's currently offering a 25% discount on his self-released productions on Bandcamp until February 4th to help him rebuild his studio after being laid off. > Code: "helpbuildthestudio25" Chiggedychecktma!
Very soon, by the way, he will be releasing his Jean-Michel Jarre – Oxygene versions in dub Publish there. Eyes peeled!