The album “Vlati (Blades of Grass)“ marks Vladimir Nikić’s second release for WMAS Records, following the acclaimed “Veština senčenja“ (2013), and also succeeding his self-released debut “Čestita nedelja“ (2002). It offers a deepened artistic reflection situated between Balkan musical heritage and contemporary expression. Reflective, contemplative and introspective, yet gentle and restrained, this release continues Nikić’s search for an authentic and distinctive musical voice. As noted by Selena Rakočević, Nikić moves within a “transnational, timeless and supra-geographical musical fusion,” drawing simultaneously from the Balkan folkloric fundus and from 20th-century Western traditions such as jazz and fusion. The meditative accordion preludes in “I duša mi...” and “Trapava kobila,” along with the occasionally makam-inflected clarinet passages in “Bajkal,” “Ovlaš,” “Sestra Klara” and “Ide, ide pa stane,” create a soundscape where the archetypal and the contemporary naturally intertwine. Aleksandar Mitrović Acart observes that “Vlati“ offers a “new reading and listening of the Balkans,” evoking the impression of music “that has always existed,” yet gathered and grounded by Nikić within a local microcosm. At its core lies a sense of spiritual composure and spacious musical breathing, shaped by subtle dynamics and carefully sculpted phrasing. In its closing moments, the jazz sensibility becomes more pronounced through the traditional “Aber dojde, Donke” and the bonus track “How insensitive,” reinforcing the melancholic and spiritual dimension of the release. “Vlati“ is a subtle yet powerful document of inner and musical maturation.

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