TAKO

TAKO (Eng. "That Way") was one of those rare ex-Yugoslavian symphonic prog bands that did not engage in mainstream pop-rock and were truly devoted to play "non- commercial" music. They formed in 1975 and recorded several demos in the studio of Belgrade Radio station. Since 1977 they established the line-up consisting of: Dusan Cucuz-bass, Djordje Ilijin-keyboards and flute, Miroslav Dukic-guitar and Slobodan Felekatovic-drums. In August 1977 TAKO played as support to mega-sellers BIJELO DUGME at their famous "Hajducka cesma" open-air concert in front of some 100 000 fans. At this period they experimented with quadrophenia sound system during joint live gigs with S VREMENA NA VREME, another popular progressive folk rock band. Recording companies were reluctant to sign them up due to their alleged "non- commercial" potentials, but finally RTV Ljubljana label decided to give them opportunity and they recorded the eponymous debut in 1978.

Songwriting is co-authored by Cucuz, Ilijin and Dukic, while the album carries six uneven compositions with obvious influences from the classic symphonic prog and jazz-rock standards. The opener "Probudi se" is excellent vocal track sounding a bit like PINK FLOYD or ELOY. "Sinteza" is more into jazz-rock with nice piano parts and there is a strange blues-like section with harmonica. "Utapanje sunceve svetlosti u pescanu memoriju" is also quite interesting piece with several different parts and chilling closing vocal section where the lyrics are influenced by Eastern philosophy (Buddhist?). "Lena" is an easy piece with flute but here the band starts loosing direction, which will continue in the extended suite-like "Druga strana mene" - a 16-minutes improvisation that offers zero really interesting ideas and above all is a very boring listen. The closing number "Minijatura" is a sort of homage to JETHRO TULL, and here you can listen to wonderful double-flute solo, in a manner similar to Ian Anderson's.

This album is quite interesting ex-Yugoslavian prog rock although its compositions are under-developed and sometimes not fully realised. I can still recommend it to prog lovers, especially to the fans of JETHRO TULL, CAMEL or FOCUS, but I would not call it an essential work. Still, closer to 4 than to 3 stars.