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Trollheart · 01-12-2021, 05:09 AM

Well so far our little trip through part of the former Yugoslavia has been very rewarding. Let’s try one more before we finish up for now. We’ve heard prog metal and post rock, so while it’s not my favourite sub-genre, and in a lead-up to prepare me for a new section I’ll be showcasing in 2021, let’s try a jazz fusion band, hmm?

These guys look like they may fit the bill.
Artist: Eyot
Sub-genre(s): Jazz Fusion
Formed: 2001
City: Nis
Members: - Sladjan Milenovic (guitar), Dejan Ilijic (piano), Marko Stojiljkovic (bass), Milos Vojvodic (drums)
Discography: Horizon (2010), Drifters (2013), Similarity (2014), Innate (2017), 557799 (2020)

I’ve checked they’re on Spotify, so we’re ready to go. Let’s choose, oh I don’t know, the middle album, so that would be this one.

Album title: Similarity
Artist: Eyot
Nationality: Serbian
Year: 2014
Chronology: 4
The Trollheart Factor: 0

Track Listing: How Shall the Dust Storm Start?/Druids/Similarity/Pools of Purple Light/New Passover/Nirvana/Walking On the Thin Ice With Iron Shoes/Blessing

Comments: As I say, this could be an ordeal for me. I’m no lover of fusion, jazz or otherwise, and my dislike for the “j” word is well documented here, but I do want to try to stretch out to encompass all of prog’s sub-genres, especially the ones I haven’t had any or much experience with, later on in the new year, so this will be, if you like, a proving ground, a toe in the water, a taste of things to come. Hey, maybe I won’t hate it, but even if I do, it’s probably unfair of me to continue to ignore those areas of prog that don’t particularly appeal to me. I’m sure my one reader would like the chance to make up his mind for himself on that score, so I’m going to try to do my best to explore the “forgotten corners” of prog (at least, forgotten in my case) come 2021.

For now, let’s hit play and see how we do with this one.

Okay that’s unbelievable. Un-be-****ing-lievable! I chose this album at random from their discography and it’s the ONLY ONE Spotify does not have! Damn them! Neither are Youtube interested!

Okay, I’ve managed to get it by other means. Bloody hell. I wouldn’t have bothered, only I had gone and written out the track list, and it looks quite interesting so I wanted to hear it. Perhaps I’ll live to regret that. We’ll see. But at least I have it now.

So it’s thick bass and ripply piano to get us underway, mid-tempo piece and gets pretty rocky along the way. Definitely not boring, so that’s a start. Slower for “Druids”, again mostly piano-driven with a kind of recurring motif running through it. Nice. The title track seems a little low in the mix, it’s not until the piano comes in that you really get to hear any proper music. It sure takes off though once it gets going, with powerful snarly guitar, insistent piano and synth right out of Genesis circa 1983. Another uptempo piano-driven track in “Pools of Purple Light”, and you know what? It’s very hard to describe this kind of music so I’m just going to sit back and enjoy jazz fusion music that doesn’t suck there I said it, and I’ll point out any interesting things that occur to me along the way.

Yeah that’s pretty much it. “Nirvana” and “New Passover” are faster, more energetic numbers while “Walking On the Thin Ice With Iron Shoes” (never a recommended action!) is slower and more laconic, very laid back, and “Blessing”, which closes the album, has a nice slow easy shuffle to it.

Track(s) I liked: Everything

Track(s) I didn't like: Nothing

One standout: n/a

One rotten apple: n/a

Overall impression: Considering my dislike of jazz and fusion, this was extremely enjoyable. Never at any point did I feel like switching off, or wishing the track would end. I’d listen to more of this for sure.

Rating: 9.8/10

Future Plan: Jazz fusion, look out! I’m coming for ya! As for this band, definitely would listen to more of their music. May even be downloading as we speak…

And that does it for part one of our visit to the former Yugoslavia. We’re far from done with Serbia though, so keep an eye on this space as we will be back.

01-12-2021, 05:09 AM	#69 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Well so far our little trip through part of the former Yugoslavia has been very rewarding. Let’s try one more before we finish up for now. We’ve heard prog metal and post rock, so while it’s not my favourite sub-genre, and in a lead-up to prepare me for a new section I’ll be showcasing in 2021, let’s try a jazz fusion band, hmm? These guys look like they may fit the bill. Artist: Eyot Sub-genre(s): Jazz Fusion Formed: 2001 City: Nis Members: - Sladjan Milenovic (guitar), Dejan Ilijic (piano), Marko Stojiljkovic (bass), Milos Vojvodic (drums) Discography: Horizon (2010), Drifters (2013), Similarity (2014), Innate (2017), 557799 (2020) I’ve checked they’re on Spotify, so we’re ready to go. Let’s choose, oh I don’t know, the middle album, so that would be this one. Album title: Similarity Artist: Eyot Nationality: Serbian Year: 2014 Chronology: 4 The Trollheart Factor: 0 Track Listing: How Shall the Dust Storm Start?/Druids/Similarity/Pools of Purple Light/New Passover/Nirvana/Walking On the Thin Ice With Iron Shoes/Blessing Comments: As I say, this could be an ordeal for me. I’m no lover of fusion, jazz or otherwise, and my dislike for the “j” word is well documented here, but I do want to try to stretch out to encompass all of prog’s sub-genres, especially the ones I haven’t had any or much experience with, later on in the new year, so this will be, if you like, a proving ground, a toe in the water, a taste of things to come. Hey, maybe I won’t hate it, but even if I do, it’s probably unfair of me to continue to ignore those areas of prog that don’t particularly appeal to me. I’m sure my one reader would like the chance to make up his mind for himself on that score, so I’m going to try to do my best to explore the “forgotten corners” of prog (at least, forgotten in my case) come 2021. For now, let’s hit play and see how we do with this one. Okay that’s unbelievable. Un-be-**ing-lievable! I chose this album at random from their discography and it’s the ONLY ONE Spotify does not have! Damn them! Neither are Youtube interested! Okay, I’ve managed to get it by other means. Bloody hell. I wouldn’t have bothered, only I had gone and written out the track list, and it looks quite interesting so I wanted to hear it. Perhaps I’ll live to regret that. We’ll see. But at least I have it now. So it’s thick bass and ripply piano to get us underway, mid-tempo piece and gets pretty rocky along the way. Definitely not boring, so that’s a start. Slower for “Druids”, again mostly piano-driven with a kind of recurring motif running through it. Nice. The title track seems a little low in the mix, it’s not until the piano comes in that you really get to hear any proper music. It sure takes off though once it gets going, with powerful snarly guitar, insistent piano and synth right out of Genesis circa 1983. Another uptempo piano-driven track in “Pools of Purple Light”, and you know what? It’s very hard to describe this kind of music so I’m just going to sit back and enjoy jazz fusion music that doesn’t suck there I said it, and I’ll point out any interesting things that occur to me along the way. Yeah that’s pretty much it. “Nirvana” and “New Passover” are faster, more energetic numbers while “Walking On the Thin Ice With Iron Shoes” (never a recommended action!) is slower and more laconic, very laid back, and “Blessing”, which closes the album, has a nice slow easy shuffle to it. Track(s) I liked: Everything Track(s) I didn't like: Nothing One standout: n/a One rotten apple: n/a Overall impression: Considering my dislike of jazz and fusion, this was extremely enjoyable. Never at any point did I feel like switching off, or wishing the track would end. I’d listen to more of this for sure. Rating: 9.8/10 Future Plan:** Jazz fusion, look out! I’m coming for ya! As for this band, definitely would listen to more of their music. May even be downloading as we speak… And that does it for part one of our visit to the former Yugoslavia. We’re far from done with Serbia though, so keep an eye on this space as we will be back. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018