TEK: NIS 1994

In between different incarnations of SMAK during the 1990s, Točak and Kepa led a parallel instrumental jam session career which was crowned with their collaboration on the film soundtrack "Byzantine Blue". In this period the group assumed the name TEK, which could be read as "Točak & Kepa", as well as "Točak, Milan and Kepa" if you carefully look at the rotated middle "E" and read it as "M".

A series of live gigs was performed across Serbia, Slovenia and Macedonia when they presented the instrumental material composed for the film, as well as some other compositions. This CD was recorded in Ni?, Serbia gig during 1994. It combines the tenets of progressive rock, jazz improvisation and blues expression. There are several notable jazz covers (Miles Davies, McCoy Tyner...) and a somewhat funny intake of the classic "Hit the Road Jack", best known for its Ray Charles version. The bulk of the disk contains however the tracks from "Byzantine Blue" soundtrack, which sound a bit rawer but also slightly less interesting than the studio versions.

One hour of instrumental music, no matter how nicely performed (and there is no question about the TEK's instrumental and performing abilities), can be a bit too much if you are not a peer musician or a dedicated fan. "Ni? 1994" is a good, standard presentation of Točak's musical career in mid-1990s but nothing truly remarkable to be recommended for average prog listener. If you already own or extensively listened to "Byzantine Blue" studio album, you may skip this one.

PERSONAL RATING: 3/5

P.A. RATING: 3/5