Ibrica Jusić debut LP album (1973)

More than any other artist, in my mind Ibrica Jusić embodies majestic, medieval city of Dubrovnik as he is celebrated troubadour forever associated with that town - we remember him singing under the starry skies with his guitar and a dog in a tow, perpetual lonely poet pouring his heart in music. His music persona was so firmly established from the start, that its easy to forget that he actually arrived on a scene in late 1960s when amongst schlager competition he must have been sticking out like a sore thumb. Sure, other singers like Arsen Dedić, Zvonko Špišić and Hrvoje Hegedušić broke the ice before him and established chanson as visible genre in Croatian music, but they all worked under protective umbrella of Zagreb and its recording industry, while younger Jusić had his own thing going and he remained spiritually rooted in Dubrovnik, its historical traditions and particular magic.

At the dawn of 1970s, recording company Jugoton heralded new, young generation of singers with LP albums showcasing these new talents - if older generation was generously represented on 1960s festival compilations, people like Drago Mlinarec, Josipa Lisac and Ibrica Jusić now had their own long play albums, though it must be noted that all of them paid their dues during past decade and first had to go trough festival route: some of these earlier festival tracks are included here, so this album serves more as compilation: “Celuloidni Pajac”, “Još Uvijek Ne Znam Neke Važne Stvari” and “Mačka” were all recorded at least five years before this release. Because he was always such a hardcore chanson singer, Jusić never enjoyed prominence allowed to some other, more commercial artists but it seems that he cultivated small, faithful audience who loved his poetry in music and it might be that because he worked so long under the radar, he eventually came to survive decades with impressive longevity. 

This beautiful, poetic album brings some truly inspired songs with lyrics from authors like Jacques Brel, Drago Britvić, Ivica Krajač and Zvonimir Glob - heavyweights of their time, all of them stunning, meaningful and reflective songs, sometimes backed with atmospheric, almost cinematic orchestrated arrangements though it seems Jusić actually sounds even better when he is left alone with a guitar. He seems to stand somewhere between Arsen Dedić and future duo Buco i Srđan in that particular, gentle and romantic sound so beloved by urban audience who cherished literature and poetry. Because of his repertoire and declamatory style, I grew up assuming this would not appeal to me, just to get completely converted later in life when a friend basically forced me to listen this album carefully - we had some wine next to open fire and the whole experience of poetry swirling around us was unforgettable.