Pauza Magazine Winter & Spring 2006 | Page 21

P a g e 2 1 P A U 3 A ! A Short Guide to Recent Macedonian Rock By: Doug Urqhart – MAK 9 Here are 7 recommendations from the newest albums of the Macedonian rock pool: 1. Blla Blla Blla – Balkanishe Oversky Balkanishe Re-form. Five years since their debut title album, these Albanian/Macedonian rockers have finally released a second album. The wait was definitely warranted. Their eclectic Balkan folk sounds take on a hipper form with more freedom of the guitar, diverse artists, and even techno beats. Best songs go to E lash pas token, with Bjork-like vocals from Mimoza Ahmeti, and Air Condition, a catchy song with brilliant violin tunes it’s the only track with some non-Albanian lyrics (two English words from the title). Hands down my favorite album I’ve heard so far in this country, I still have no clue what the lyrics mean. They prove rock has no boundaries. 2. Mooger Fooger – Mooger Fooger. Here’s perhaps the hottest band Skopje has to offer at the moment. Some papers say the best. These guys play guitar rock with a lot of roll. The album is inspirational and melodic. The best songs are ?? ?????? ???????????? and Oki trash. Don’t expect to learn much Macedonian from these guys, lyrics come second to guitar and most of the songs are in English. This feelgood music is great for relaxing on long winding bus rides. 3. ??.?? – ?????? ?? ??????????? ???. You can’t talk about rock in Skopje with mentioning ??.??. Vasko sings live at Life Radio for the last time as the one member ??.??. His lyrics are honest and direct about his attitudes in his home country and city of Skopje. He says and sings what’s on his mind whether or not his public agrees with it. If rock is a measure of freedom of expression, this is a good sign for Macedonia. The