Hailing from Scotland, experimental 4 piece Vukovi have slowly and surely been making waves in the music world. March 10th sees the band finally release their self titled debut album.
Opening track, La Di Da, which debuted as a single in 2016, is a track that doesn’t hold back. Instantly kicking in with lead singer Janine’s punchy vocals and raw guitar sounds, it has an unpolished edge that feels a little vulnerable and a more real than some of the more polished and over produced rock records.
Speaking on the track, singer Janine says, “There are a lot of emotions throughout the song. There’s vulnerability, and there’s resistance. It took time to come together, and it had to live on the back burner for a while. But one night I gave in to the niggling that kept demanding I go back to it. I remember the moment it came together; me and Hamish (Reilly, guitars) in my flat drinking pretentious cocktails, laptop, tiny amp, guitar.” For an opening track, it’s pretty hard hitting.
The album as a whole has a real mixture of sounds to it and it is a little difficult to place Vukovi genre wise, which may not be a terrible thing. Weirdo has a more bounce along indie-pop-rock edge to it whilst tracks such as Boy George and Target Practice are much heavier and full of metal-esque guitar riffs.
Closing track Colour Me In is the real standout of the album though. It instantly feels like this would be a favourite of many. The guitar and vocal sounds are much more atmospheric and there is a sense of emotion and a much more heartfelt feeling behind it in comparison to other parts of the album.
With themes of depression, drug abuse and suicide running throughout, the quirky sounds are masking a darker edge; but it is sure to resonate with many and provide a lighter relief. The band may not be what you are expecting, but they’re worth a chance.
Vukovi are set to feature across many festival line ups this summer and continue to build on growing their fan base and continue to make waves as a an exciting and quirky band in the music world today.