Album Review

Spin-Off by Juraj Schweigert & The Groove Time

Eclectic just short of whiplash, ‘Spin-Off’ offers a listening experience that flies through musical styles and emotion. Juraj Schweigert started playing harmonica in his early twenties, and since then has mastered the instrument both in depth and breadth, the versatility of his skill made clear through his albums, where he’s constantly moving to and from different musical genres. He released his first album, ‘Novelty Shop’, in 2015, which was nominated for best self-produced CD by the Blues Foundation, based in Memphis. Now in his second album, Schweigert and his band ‘The Groove Time'’ collaborate with other talented Slovak musicians, such as Lenka Molčányiova playing the alto sax and ALBUM REVIEW Stanislav Palúch playing the fiddle. Together, they create a captivating exploration of the Sophia Ramirez Editorial Team fusions between blues, country, jazz and more, bringing the listener along on a trip across musical boundaries. In one moment, the listener enjoys the easy-going singing and slow, mellow sound of ‘Every Four Seconds’ - in the next, the discordant ‘Miss Chief’ delights with its fast-paced rhythm and wild harmonica solos. As the music races from funk to reggae to country, the album ties itself together with its innovative melding of instrumentals and vocals. Take, for instance, the opening song: with ‘Nobody’s Talkin’,’ the album swings into an upbeat melding of instrumentals and voice. The rich tone of Schweigert’s harmonica complements the vocals as if it too were singing. And though it momentarily drops the vocals, the title track ‘Spin-Off’ keeps up the excitement, spotlighting the interplay between the playful harmonica and other instruments that lay a lively beat. In short, ‘Spin-Off’ is a pot-pourri album that’s over too soon.