COMPILATION RELEASE FESTIVAL IN BELGRADE:
◥ (DRUŠTVO VOLUME 5) ◤
April 17-20:
fb.me/e/3CBZP5Sir
"The Music of the Secret Society that Owns Belgrade" is a series of compilations and festivals by Inverted Spectrum Records that aims to document and promote the alternative, underground and sub-underground music scene of Belgrade and its environs, particularly highlighting authentic, uncompromising and unorthodox musical acts. Having begun in 2018, the project has included diverse styles of music, with a focus on psychedelic and avant-garde forms of rock, pop, jazz and punk, experimental electronics, and intersections of traditional music with contemporary forms.
This is the first edition of the project that is built around a particular theme: As the previous editions had predominantly male contributors, this time we decided to systematically look into the works of female musicians and decided not to include any all-male acts: all of the contributions to this edition are musical projects where women play important roles as songwriters or as performers. This was not meant to be a symbolic act of increasing female representation in the project, but was an attempt at embracing great music that could have so far slipped under our radar for one reason or another, in the light of the fact that both conscious and unconscious negative bias towards women are widespread, a fact that might have directly or indirectly affected the content of the previous editions.
The inclusion of many new artists have also widened the stylistic scope of the project. On this edition, we have, on the one hand, a high amount of various experimental forms of pop and rock (Umbra, Zenit Zed, Halftones, Dodola, Lira Vega, Pinokio Petkom, Suzana Sumrah) and, on the other hand, more abstract and contemporary works (Ilia Belorukov & Marina Džukljev, Manja Ristić, Kumah), along with punk-rooted projects of various styles (Konvoj Bonton Bajkera, Nike Eyes, Svlak). Only two of the long-time collaborators of the project are featured in the current edition: Buzukije Dunavski (here under the name JuVeЛири) contributing with a psychedelic retro pop ballad featuring Marija Lončar from The Cyclist Conspiracy on vocals, a collaborative work that was created specifically for the compilation; and The Cyclist Conspiracy itself, this time with a heavy folk rock cover of an early 20th-century rebetiko song dug up from an old concert recording, featuring Svetlana Spajić singing in Greek. Like the previous volume, this collection also includes the music of post-war Russian émigrés who are currently active in the music scene of Serbia: The all-female psychedelic folk rock band Lucidvox, two members of which live in Belgrade at the time of this release, and the Novi Sad-based saxophonist Ilia Belorukov, captured here in a previously unreleased free improv collaboration with the pianist Marina Džukljev, their first ever release in duo form.
The release festival for the Fifth Volume will be held in Belgrade from the 17th to 20th of April in Guvernanta, KC Živa, UK Parobrod, DC Krov, and Kvaka 22, featuring 13 live acts that contributed to the compilation, along with 4 DJ sets, one lecture/workshop, and one popup kafana party. From this year on, the festival’s name also has an alternative short form, ‘DRUŠTVO’. The festival program can be found here:
fb.me/e/3CBZP5Sir
You can read more about the origins of the compilation/festival project (in Serbian) in an article published in Danas in 2023:
danas.rs/kultura/scena/vremenska-kapsula-beogradskog-andergraunda-kako-je-muzicar-iz-ankare-od-domace-scene-stvorio-kulturoloski-artefekat/
released April 16, 2024
Compiled by Işık Sarıhan, 2023-2024.
Released digitally by Inverted Spectrum Records, 16.04.2024.
Cover art: Katherine Woznicki - "Invisible" (2023)
instagram.com/amanitadodola/
Additional mastering on tracks 2, 12 and16 by Özüm İtez.
Thanks to Nikola Urošević, Buzukije Dunavski, Vukašin Đelić, Duška Rajković, Kia, Nikola Cakić, Özüm İtez, Una Miletić, Igor Horozović, Ammonite Records, Pop Depresija, and Idiotski Internat.
All rights reserved by the artists and/or the credited labels.
(01) Umbra - Što više (4:24)
(02) Zenit Zed - Čudo na dnu (4:32)
(03) Halftones - Cassiopeia (3:30)
(04) Marija Lončar & JuVeЛири - Vir (Requiem за Југославију) (6:17)
(05) Ilia Belorukov & Marina Djukljev - Mermer i graniti (5:45)
(06) Dodola - Hand (3:12)
(07) Lira Vega - Puma Alabama (6:01)
(08) Pinokio Petkom - Čizmice (4:02)
(09) Nike Eyes - ᖋ₯Ⱶᛩ₻ⱴ (3:15)
(10) Konvoj Bonton Bajkera - pesnaja | metak | logotomno (2:53)
(11) Lucidvox - Вихрь (Vihr') (4:08)
(12) The Cyclist Conspiracy - Tha Spaso Koupes (live at MKC Kombinat, 2017) (5:05)
(13) Svlak - Kraj (3:05)
(14) Suzana Sumrah - Let Me Fly Away (5:28)
(15) Manja Ristić - The letter flows down the River Kelvin (10:26)
(16) Kumah - 13:7:22 (15:44)
(01) Umbra - Što više (4:24)
Written, performed and produced by Marija Balubdžić in 2020.
Previously released on the album 'Derealized' (no label, 2022).
umbra-krem.bandcamp.com
(02) Zenit Zed - Čudo na dnu (4:32)
Composed by Kiza Radović, Branka Radović, and Vera Radović.
Lyrics by Kiza Radović.
Kiza Radović: guitar; Vera Radović: bass; Branka Radović: keyboard, vocals;
Vladimir Krkljuš: drum machine.
Arranged by Kiza Radović, Branka Radović, Vladimir Krkljuš.
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Vladimir Krkljuš.
Additional mastering by Özüm İtez (2024).
Originally released on the album 'Vrt Sekunda' (Pop Depresija, 2021).
album.link/85qnpcsh4bjvv
popdepression.bandcamp.com/album/zenit-zed-umbra
facebook.com/ZENITZED.BG
(03) Halftones - Cassiopeia (3:30)
Music by Halftones, lyrics by Suzana Sumrah.
Suzana Sumrah: vocals; Vukašin Đelić: guitar; Vlatko Džogović: bass; Nikola Gnjatović: drums.
Recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Boris Mladenović.
Recorded at Studio Šamarčina, mixed at Studio O.
Previously released on the album 'Brda Sna' (Ammonite Records, 2018).
halftones.bandcamp.com/album/brda-sna
facebook.com/profile.php?id=100036867087217
(04) Marija Lončar & JuVeЛири - Vir (Requiem за Југославију) (6:17)
Music and lyrics by Buzukije Dunavski.
Written in 1987, 2019 and 2023.
Arranged by Buzukije Dunavski and Nikola Cakić.
Buzukije Dunavski: guitar, bass, synth, programming; Marija Lončar: vocals; Nikola Cakić: programming.
Instruments recorded at Studio Donji Voždovac, vocals recorded at Vojče's place.
Mixed and mastered by Nikola Cakić.
Produced by Nikola Cakić, Işık Sarıhan and Buzukije Dunavski.
Previously unreleased; an instrumental version with a different mix and programming released as an individual digital track (no label, 2023).
dunavskibuzukije.bandcamp.com
www.instagram.com/arhivista (artwork)
(05) Ilia Belorukov & Marina Djukljev - Mermer i graniti (5:45)
Improvised by Marina Djukljev & Ilia Belorukov.
Ilia Belorukov: alto saxophone; Marina Džukljev: piano, preparations, objects.
Recorded in Novi Sad, January 2023.
Previously unreleased.
marinadzukljev.bandcamp.com
linktr.ee/iliabelorukov
(06) Dodola - Hand (3:12)
Music and lyrics by Katherine Woznicki.
Katherine Woznicki: vocals, synths; Milan Đurić: additional synths, drum programming; B. Zdravković: bass.
Recorded by Milan Đurić (vocals), Katherine Woznicki (instruments) and Nikola Cakić (instruments, Studio Montaña.)
Previously released on the album 'How to Make it Rain' (no label, 2022).
dodolasings.bandcamp.com
facebook.com/DodolaSings
instagram.com/amanitadodola (artwork)
(07) Lira Vega - Puma Alabama (6:01)
Music and Lyrics by Zoja Borovčanin and Vladimir Đorđević.
Zoja Borovčanin: vocals, synth, programming; Vladimir Đorđević: guitar, synth, programming; Radeta Vulić: hi-hat.
Recorded and produced by Boris Mladenović.
Percussions recorded at Hill River Studio.
Mastered by Radan Đorđević Rahmanee.
Previously released on the album Posledice Rada I (Pop Depresija, 2022).
Realized with the help of the Sokoj Cultural Grants Fund.
liravega.bandcamp.com
facebook.com/liravegabend
(08) Pinokio Petkom - Čizmice (4:02)
Music and lyrics by Pinokio Petkom.
Aleksandar Krstić: drums; Lili: synth; Bralien: synth, vocals; Zoran Kokanović: bass; Vladimir Voolikitsch: vocals.
Recorded in March 2024.
Previously unreleased.
soundcloud.com/user-345036299
(09) Nike Eyes - ᖋ₯Ⱶᛩ₻ⱴ (3:15)
Music and lyrics by Nike Eyes.
Previously released on an untitled album (Kabinet 913, 2017).
youtube.com/@nikeeyes8894
(10) Konvoj Bonton Bajkera - pesnaja | metak | logotomno (2:53)
Music and lyrics by Konvoj Bonton Bajkera.
Recorded by Nikola Jovanović in Klanica, January 2022. Mixed in Vitebsk 1920.
Previously released on the album 'Brabonjera' as three subsequent pieces (Idiotski Internat, 2022).
konvojbontonbajkera.bandcamp.com/album/brabonjera
(11) Lucidvox - Вихрь (Vihr') (4:08)
Music and lyrics by Lucidvox.
Alina Evseeva: vocals, flute; Nadezhda Samodurova: drums; Galla Guintovt: guitar; and Anna Moskvitina: bass.
Previously released on the EP 'Dym' (no label, 2017).
lucidvox-band.bandcamp.com
facebook.com/lucidvox
(12) The Cyclist Conspiracy - Tha Spaso Koupes (live at MKC Kombinat, 2017) (5:05)
Music and lyrics: Unknown, possibly originating from Izmir.
Arranged by The Cyclist Conspiracy.
Svetlana Spajić: vocals; Nikola Urošević: guitar; Milos Miljković, guitar; Milos Vukčević, bass; Dragan Mirković, drums.
Recorded live at MKC Kombinat, Belgrade, 2017.
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Milos Miljković.
Additional mastering by Özüm İtez (2024).
Previously released as an individual digital track (no label, 2018).
thecyclistconspiracy.bandcamp.com
invertedspectrumrecords.bandcamp.com/album/el-beso-de-la-muerte
facebook.com/TheCyclistConspiracy
(13) Svlak - Kraj (3:05)
Music and lyrics by Svlak.
(Inspired by the album 'Ja sum zemja' by Noviot Pochetok, more precisely by the song Otrov.)
Duška: bass, vocals; Aleksa: guitar; Sloba: drums.
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Danilo Jovičić at Studio 11, Belgrade.
Originally released on the EP 'Demo' (no label, 2022).
svlakband.bandcamp.com/album/demo
facebook.com/Svlakpunk
(14) Suzana Sumrah - Let Me Fly Away (5:28)
Music and lyrics by Suzana Sumrah.
Suzana Sumrah: guitar, vocals, electronics.
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Suzana Sumrah during quarantine.
Previously released on the album 'Bird Bourgeois' (no label, 2020).
facebook.com/ssumrahmamacita
suzanasumrah.bandcamp.com/album/bird-bourgeois
(15) Manja Ristić - The letter flows down the River Kelvin (10:26)
Recorded, composed, and edited by Manja Ristić.
Mastered at LaPlant Studio.
Previously released on the album 'The Return of Medea' (no label, 2022).
manjaristic.bandcamp.com
(16) Kumah - 13:7:22 (15:44)
Composed and performed by Vanja Dabić on synthesizer.
Additional mastering by Özüm İtez (2024).
Previously released as an individual digital track (no label, 2023).
soundcloud.com/kuumaah
