Vmesje
https://straycattunes.bandcamp.com/album/vmesje (online edition only, free download)
Vmesje (Betweenings) is a place without edges and walls. It represents everything that cannot be fitted into the box or shaped and molded by rules. It is not what is once was nor what it will become. It is a place of endless possibilities and impossibilities where musics of yesterday, today and tomorrow resonate. We have gathered some for Vmesje (Betweenings), or they would have never found their way into records.
1. TA MAŠINA UBIJA FAŠISTE
Ta mašina ubija fašiste was written during the occupation of Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana, in November 2011. The title This Machine Kills Fascists is borrowed from Woody Guthrie’s guitar.
2. CATS CRADLE SONG
Cats Cradle Song was written by a Scottish Victorian physicist James Clerk Maxwell. We have chosen to put music to this particular poem because of its percussive, playful rhythm, although the lyrics are hard to grasp. It was first released on the album Music For Maxwell (Orkney Science Festival, 2014).
3. NEVER WED AN OLD MAN
Never Wed An Old Man is a traditional Scottish song called Maids When You’re Young, about a young woman with a strong emancipatory message. It’s been close to Katarina’s heart for many years.
4. YELLOWS ON THE BROOM
Yellows on the Broom is a song about the Travellers of Scotland who lived a nomadic life, often settled for a short while during the harder winter months. The lyrics show the Traveller anxious for spring and a new start to travelling. This song was written by the non-Traveller, a Glaswegian poet and singer Adam McNaughtan and is based somewhat on the book of the same title by a traveller named Betsy Whyte.
5. VENCI (feat. Sharat Chandra Shrivastava)
Venci aka gibanica with curry aka Slovene-Indian rendition of Prekmurje ballad Vsi so venci vejli (All the Wraths Are White). We were fortunate enough to collaborate with a New Delhi maestro Sharat Chandra Srivastava on a classical Indian violin on this one.
6. PISMO V KANADO (feat. Sharat Chandra Shrivastava)
Pismo v Kanado is based on a story of Katarina’s great grandparents Ivanka and Franc (the latter immigrated to Canada in the 1920s in search for a better life for the family). It was first published on the record Selivke (2012), yet this time we’ve recorded a slightly Indian flavoured version with a little help from the aforementioned violinist Sharat Chandra Srivastava.
7. SCREAMING IN SILENCE
Screaming in Silence exposes the heavy, atrocious and unrelenting times we live in. A cry of silence can be drowned out only by laughter of someone who is not afraid to face up to what it is and what will be.
8. ALL APOLOGIES (Nirvana)
All Apologies – one of Nirvana’s all time favourites. I’m still looking for my nest of salt and aqua sea foam shame.
9. LUKNJARSKA
Luknjarska was written on the way from Protestival at Cankarjev dom to home in Vič (about 15 min walk) in December 2013. Melody is borrowed from Gusarska (Pirate’s Hymn) and it is meant to be sung at protests, on the bus, at work, whilst washing dishes or putting kids to sleep.
10. NA KATERI STRANI SI?
Na kateri strani si? – A Slovenian rendition of IWW classic called Which Side Are You On? Written by Florence Reece. This version was the first of many others written by Katarina on numerous occasions, depending on current political climate. It’s always the last song at our gigs..
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MUSICIANS ON THE ALBUM:
Dejan Lapanja - guitar, ukulele, Appalachian dulcimer, drums, bass, keyboard, back vocals, arrangements for guitar, recording, mix, mastering
Katarina Juvančič - vocals, lyrics, back vocals, electric guitar, shruti box, whistle (8)
Sharat Chandra Shrivastava - violin (5,6)
Klemen Krajc - double bass (10)
Bor Zakonjšek - drums (10)
