TAKO

TAKO were a band out of Yugoslavia who released two studio albums, this is their self titled debut from 1978. It's mostly instrumental but what vocals we get are well done and in their own native language.

"Probudi Se" sounds really good early on as we get a lazy beat and a dreamy sound as vocals join in. It does get fuller. Check out the guitar letting it rip before 2 minutes when the vocals stop. More of that guitar later.Good tune. "Sinteza" opens with piano, drums and guitar standing out. Guitar to the fore after 1 1/2 minutes and it's almost Gilmour-like but not quite.The sound changes 3 minutes in as we get some scorching harmonica. "Utapanse Sunceve Svetlosti U Pescanu Memoriju" has these outbursts of sound that come and go. Check out the drumming after 2 minutes.Then the guitar starts to lead. Nice. Keyboards before 3 1/2 minutes then the guitar returns after 4 minutes. Vocals a minute later. "Lena" opens with piano, drums then guitar. Flute after 1 1/2 minutes. It's the guitar's turn before 3 minutes. Flute is back after 4 minutes.

"Minijatura" opens with flute and a beat.It picks up before a minute then settles back late. "Druga Strana Mene" is the 16 1/2 minute epic. It has this bombastic intro then it kicks into gear before a minute. A nice heavy sound here, then the synths roll in. Some spirited flute comes and goes. A calm before 3 1/2 minutes then the guitar starts to make some noise after 4 minutes. The flute takes over with spacey synths and a beat. A change after 7 1/2 minutes which reminds me of Oldfield. Another change after 11 minutes with prominant piano. Organ and flute create a melancholic mood late. "Put Na Jug" has lots going on early. Piano a minute in then it settles to a spacey soundscape. Vocals join in and it picks up with guitar 2 1/2 minutes in. Nice. The piano is back replacing the guitar late.

I wasn't blown away by this album by any means but there's enough here to give it 4 stars I believe.