After his debut album Awakening (2011), Milan Stanisavljević sets himself to a sound quest on his new record. Though mature as a composer, he is still in a state of artistic reverie.
The choice to stay with the same band enables three friends-musicians to build on a sound that seems to be already firmly established. But Milan's lyrical voicings create a new atmosphere here, grasping the essence of emotional states in an utmost articulate way.
Milan Nikolić on bass and Andjelko Stupar on drums give the leader of the band a solid support in formal compositions that nonetheless leave plenty of space for individual expressions. The trio acts as a homogenous entity, each complementing and emphasizing the strength of the other.
Their journey through reminiscent scapes is framed by a tribute to "old school", traditional compositional trends on the one hand, and a complement to the greats with Monk's Pannonica on the other. In-between listener is enraptured in carefully built impressions in the set of songs, each with its own subtle characteristics. From an easy summer story of Lantana's Breeze, with all unexpected turns that a night by the seaside might bring, to a relaxed waltz through the city on a Sunday afternoon in Too Late with both Milan Stanisavljević's and Milan Nikolić's curious explorations of the harmonies. Andjelko Stupar, who gets his groove up in inspiring dialogue with Milan's eloquent piano interpretation in Pannonica, tackles quite a few ideas in the fast tempo Furia and one can't wait to hear them flourish in a live performance.
Milan takes time to evolve his lyrical themes, creating multiple expressions scoping from hesitation and expectation of the unknown to hope, curiosity, determination ... Down to Earth Song for J and meditative Quiet Mountain are maybe the best examples of this virtue in an album that strives to embrace an overall positive and relaxed view on life.
Tina Lešničar, Delo