The musician, theater composer, producer and author NIKOLAJ EFENDI from Carinthia delivers with his new album “Dovolj” (dramatic pause) in an impressive form the antithesis to every musical standstill.
If you take a look at Nikolaj Efendi’s work so far, it becomes clear that he has never stuck to a single direction and has always come up with the same sound. The Carinthian Slovene is someone who feels at home in a wide variety of musical contexts and who is therefore constantly urged to redefine his artistic work and expression. His new album “Dovolj” also follows this line, on which the busy artist once again reveals a changed musical face.
‘Dovolj’ (Slovenian: ‘enough’) is Nikolaj Efendi’s album on which he probably strays furthest from what we’ve heard from him to date. And the reason is not so much that the album’s songs are in Slovene throughout. Of course, this aspect is also responsible for the very own coloring of this release. No, the free-spirited songwriter also knows how to set his own highly interesting musical accents.
More than ever before, Nikolaj Efendi is moving into electronic realms. Instead of loud guitars and driving rhythms, subtle synth pads reign supreme, reduced and decelerating beats, minimalistic electronic gimmicks and deep basses, which – interwoven – form a trip-hop-like sound carpet, which above all has an effect through its dense atmosphere. The artist, born in Klagenfurt in 1986, paints his songs into seemingly fragile soundscapes, which – carried by a melancholic and thoughtful undertone – create an incredible atmosphere and convey gripping depth.
With “Dovolj” Nikolaj Efendi presents an album that grows more and more the more you listen to it. The songs simply unfold this mysterious power that magically attracts and creates these special shivers of emotion. A gripping listening experience.
Michael Ternai
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Links:
Nikolaj Effendi
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Nikolaj Efendi (bandcamp)
dramatic pause