September -

September was a Yugoslav symphonic/jazz-rock band from Ljubljana, Slovenia, that debuted with a 1976 Jugoton single. That same year, they released the RTB album Zadnja Avantura, followed by a 1977 standalone single. Lengthy September live tracks appeared on the Boom ’76 document and the Jugoton compilation Randevu S Muzikom (20 Godina Radio Novi Sad).

In 1979, September wrapped with the sophomoric full-length Domovina Moja on ZKP RTVLJ. During the band’s timeframe, keyboardist Tihomir Pop Asanović and trumpeter Petar Ugrin also maintained solo careers.

Members: Tihomir Pop Asanović (organ), Janez Bončina Benč (vocals, guitar), Braco Doblekar (saxophone, percussion), Petar Ugrin (trumpet, violin, 1975-77), Ratko Divjak (drums, 1975-77), Karel Čarli Novak (bass, 1975-77), Marjan Maliković (guitar, 1977-79), Jadran Ogrin (bass, 1977-79), Delfi Depanger (drums, 1977-79), Ante Mažuran (guitar, 1979), Dani Gančev (bass, 1979), Tone Dimnik (drums, 1979)

Background

September formed in Ljubljana in 1975 when singer-guitarist Janez Bončina and keyboardist Tihomir “Pop” Asanović teamed with multi-instrumentalist Petar Ugrin (trumpet, violin), drummer Ratko Divjak, bassist Karel “Čarli” Novak, and multi-instrumentalist Braco Doblekar (saxophone, percussion). Bončina completed the Ljubljana School for Design and enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana. He played with Helioni and Mladi Levi. His 1970–72 period with The Generals preceded his 1972 formation of Srce. Asanović finished music high school in Skopje before his teenage work with the RTV Skopje dance orchestra. He later worked with Montenegro Five, The Generals, Time, Pro Arte, and Jugoslovenska Pop Selekcija.

Ugrin graduated from the Ljubljana Academy of Music and worked with Mladi Levi and Jugoslovenska Pop Selekcija. He also played with Pop-Jazz Ljubljana, Trumpets & Rhythms Unit, the Slovenian Philharmonic, and the RTV Ljubljana Dance Orchestra. Divjak studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz and had worked in Dinamiti, BP Convention, and Time. Novak had worked in The Generals and Srce before September, then entered the group as a studio musician. Doblekar had worked in The Generals, Srce, Pro Arte, Jugoslovenska Pop Selekcija, and the RTV Ljubljana Big Band.

Bončina and Asanović drew September from the Ljubljana-Zagreb network that had already linked them through Jugoslovenska Pop Selekcija and the 1974 Asanović album Majko Zemljo. Asanović recorded that album with Bončina, Divjak, Ugrin, and Doblekar among the players. Bončina wrote the first album material, apart from “Ostavi trag,” which he wrote with Dado Topić. September debuted on Jugoton with the 1976 single “Luduj s nama” / “Mala vještica.” In February 1976, the group recorded Zadnja Avantura at Studio Akademik in Ljubljana for PGP-RTB.

Zadnja Avantura

September released their debut album, Zadnja Avantura, in April 1976 on PGP-RTB.

The album presents extended jazz-rock forms with organ-led transitions and electric-violin lead lines. The band frames the longer passages with rhythm-section accents and group arrangements. Bončina wrote the music and lyrics for six LP tracks; Dado Topić wrote the lyric for “Ostavi trag,” which adds singers Jernej Podboj and Peter Čare plus the String Ensemble of RTV Ljubljana.

“Vrijeme Gospodar” surges through bold brass, taut vocal entry, and a mid-song violin solo. “Život Nema Pravila” prowls under a theatrical lead vocal, with bass shadow and brief guitar flashes under the verse. “Potop” pivots through interlocked lead phrases, low-register figures, and hand accents under a repeated vocal pattern. “Noć Kradljivaca” glides from atmospheric keyboard color into a brighter chorus and a clipped solo break.

“Zadnja Avantura” centers the extended drum/percussion solo without breaking the ensemble pulse. “Ostavi Trag” lingers after its male-choir prelude, then drops Bončina into a slower, late-night vocal line. “Kanin” closes in Slovene with a compact vocal track and restrained ensemble finish.

A1. “Vrijeme gospodar” [“Time, the Master”] (4:48) – Bončina
A2. “Život nema pravila” [“Life Has No Rules”] (3:47) – Bončina
A3. “Potop” [“The Flood”] (4:15) – Bončina
A4. “Noč kradljivaca” [“Night of Thieves”] (4:12) – Bončina

B1. “Zadnja avantura” [“The Last Adventure”] (6:37) – Bončina
B2. “Ostavi trag” [“Leave a Mark”] (4:05) – music: Bončina; lyrics: Topić
B3. “Kanin” [“Kanin”] (4:10) – Bončina

September recorded Zadnja Avantura in February 1976 at Studio Akademik in Ljubljana. The band produced and arranged the album with engineers Aco Razboršek and Miroslav Bevc.

The artwork by Kostja Gatnik shows small stone-like forms against a pale field. The sleeve includes photography by Jani Bavčer and Tone Stojko.

“Prle upeco ribu” / “Ljubav je prava stvar”

September released the 7-inch single “Prle upeco ribu” / “Ljubav je prava stvar” in 1977 on PGP-RTB.

The single presents the revised lineup with singer Janez Bončina Benč, keyboardist Tihomir Pop Asanović, guitarist Marjan Malikovič, bassist Jadran Ogrin, multi-instrumentalist Braco Doblekar (percussion, saxophone), and drummer Nelfi Depangher. Malikovič wrote the A-side; Bončina wrote the reverse.

A. “Prle upeco ribu” [“Prle Caught a Fish”] (3:00) – Marjan Malikovič
B. “Ljubav je prava stvar” [“Love Is the Real Thing”] (3:09) – Janez Bončina

Domovina Moja

September released their second and final studio album, Domovina Moja, in 1979 on RTV Ljubljana.

The album presents a reconfigured lineup with singer Janez Bončina Benč, keyboardist Tihomir Pop Asanović, guitarist Marjan Maliković, bassist Jadran Ogrin, multi-instrumentalist Braco Doblekar (Latin percussion, soprano saxophone), and drummer Nelfi Depangher. Bončina wrote or co-wrote six tracks.

Domovina Moja favors smoother vocal harmonies, shorter verse-refrain tracks, and a cleaner studio finish. “Čudna Vremena” stretches its opening sweep into a pronounced solo break. “Za Tvoj Rođendan” glides through a compact refrain with close harmony replies. “Mala Lady” coasts through a polished chorus and rounded lead vocal. “Florida” turns the travelogue lyric into a relaxed ensemble track with bright backing voices.

“Kolo” charges through a straight backbeat, crisp guitar figures, and an anthemic chorus about music as the central bond. “Mom Gospodinu Pristojna Pjesma” lingers over an elongated farewell theme. “Domovino Moja” closes with a broad title refrain and smooth group-vocal support.

A1. “Čudna vremena” [“Strange Times”; subtitle: “Summer Winds”] (6:25) – music: Bončina; lyrics: Levski
A2. “Za tvoj rođendan” [“For Your Birthday”; subtitle: “I’ll Come Back to You”] (3:35) – music: Ogrin/Asanović; lyrics: Bončina
A3. “Mala Lady” [“Little Lady”; subtitle: “Lady”] (3:30) – music: Asanović; lyrics: Bončina
A4. “Florida” [“Florida”] (5:48) – Bončina

B1. “Kolo” [“Circle Dance”] (5:46) – Bončina
B2. “Mom gospodinu pristojna pjesma” [“A Proper Song for My Gentleman”; subtitle: “Have to Say Goodbye”] (8:35) – music: Bončina; lyrics: Maćešić
B3. “Domovino moja” [“My Homeland”; subtitle: “Music My Music”] (3:57) – music: Asanović; lyrics: Bončina

September recorded and mixed Domovina Moja in April 1978 at Seabird Recording Studio in Edgewater, Florida. The band produced and arranged the album with engineer Dana Cornock.

RTV Ljubljana issued “Domovino moja” as a 1978 single (b/w “Za tvoj rođendan”).

Jani and Nina Bavčer designed the gatefold package. Milan Pajk photographed the sleeve, and Janko Bavčer added calligraphy.

Discography: