LEB I SOL

This is an important band from Yougoslavia that made some of the best Progressive music in East Europe. This live album don't give the high quality of this musicians but we can listen some good music. This album have some comercial musics but have some great guitar performances. Some Jazz fusion context give the quality of this live performance. We can find some Deep Purple parts and some Steve Vai performances, (not with the quality of this musicians) but, in a East coutry and in a live performance with low music material, it's a great thing. If you have some patience you like this album. Not the most beautiful of this super-band but a good album that we can made an ideia of the quality of this band members. I give 4 stars

Possibly, one of the best album of Leb i Sol, Macedonian band. If two previous works were more filled with Balkan world melodies and rhythms, this third one is mostly jazz fusion album.

Strongly influenced by genre leaders, the album contains well balanced music with sound, where one can find RTF,Mahavishnu Orchestra,symphonic prog traces. Sound recorded at very good level, with rich bass line and airy rounded electric guitar. Electronic keyboards play their important mission in common sound as well.

Album's opener is quite pop-oriented song with vocals, but then you will hear many instrumental fusion pieces. If there are some Macedonian motives in instrumental compositions, another characteristic moment is very melodic,soulful and rounded "Slavic" sound ( you often can hear it in music of mostly each Eastern European band). Similar nuances are quite usual in music of some French bands,or RPI.

In some compositions guest sax player added its instrument's voice, but sax sounds quite in traditions of pop-jazz. Great work,if a bit too soft and safe for my taste.

Another great fusion album from 70-s, no way masterpiece, but possibly one of the best genre's example from former Yugoslavia.

Three and half, rounded to 4.

Leb I Sol - s/t (1977)

From Yuguslavie came a bit to late this perfect jazzrock/fusion group Leb I Sol, Bread and Salt. For a change I will discribe this album by what it has to offer and what it does not have to offer.

Leb I Sol is a four piece band; electric guitar, bass, keys and drums. There are some songs on the albums in which the guitarist Vlatko Stefanovski does some rewarding vocal duties. All other tracks are heavy uptempo melodic jazzrock tracks with all instruments playing on the main position. These guys seem to have played some time together! Especially the solo's of guitarist Vletko are amazing! How come I've never heard his name? Since this is the Leb I sol debut he must have played even better the years after '77. He has the speed, he's got rythm, some nice original recognisable ideas for solo's and he's never out of pitch. The keys are also played very well, as are drum and bass. The main reason I came to like this album so much is the fact it's an melodic jazzrock album with Balkan influences. The tracks rock, are technically evolved (still a bit naive sometimes, but I tend to like that), have solo's of most of the instruments. As if they weren't blessed enough the song writing potential is very high! Here Leb I Sol uses its melodic talent to meet with some nice vocals (in Yugaslavion..?) that actually fit very well. The line between jazzrocker and song is very straight, but this formula seems to work very well. On some of the tracks one can also hear a mellotron.

What does this record not have? Ugly McLaughlin: I-think-I-can-do-everything solo's, no unefficient Corea songwriting, no useless solo'ing, no headaching toneshredding. Sorry for being so critical about Mahavishnu and Forever, but they've gone to far to be likable for me on about 30% of every record they made.

In fact, I want to hear side two every time I listen to this record. Leb I Sol has the talent of most of it's English predecessors, but they have Focus. It sounds like they are in control and not their ego's. This is why this is such a great fusion record, it's what I've been searching for al along!

Conclusion. Absolute musthave for fusion/jazzrock listeners. A great addition for all progressive music listeners, for it has enough melodic themes to enjoy for everyone. Four stars, I want more of this!

The Yugoslavian version of RTF??? Wow I have been a prog head for years since I was about 12 yrs old and haven't heard these guys til this week.... the first 3 albums are just awesome. And you cant not think about rtf when you hear the exchange of solos between the keys and guitar in certain songs. The sound they produce is great and I wish there were tons of bands like this..... These guys easily became one of my favorites in such a short time and with little listening. Will definitely be in the cd player at all times for a while.

Not Vlatko Stefanovski in line-up but with Bodan Arsovski. This is important and determinant for me.

Certainly Leb I Sol is one of my preferred band but this album not conquest me. This because 'I Taka Nataka' is too modern, for the first and because without Balkan Folk elements in first plan. Good the idea of distorted electric bass but I think that in this case this is an abuse of power that in this album is unnecessary, also if pleasant and beautiful. The great problem is that this album sound too with Rock elements and with few real Jazz elements: more technical Rock with Jazz magic is the style of this album (Certainly the songs are complicated and not Rock...) and this for me is not good. But this is the main ingredient also of old Leb I Sol, also that in the old Leb I Sol the Balkan Folk elements are grafted into the music in a very interesting manner.

Certainly 'I Taka Nataka' is a good album for contemporary Prog standards. But for me 'I Taka Nataka' is too modern. Although interesting and enjoyable while analytically listening.

The original line-up of LEB I SOL marked the 30th anniversary with a series of concerts held in autumn 2006 throughout former Yugoslav republics. Quality of these performances confirmed loyalty of both old and new fans as captured on a CD/DVD release of "Live in Macedonia".

Since their modest beginning in 1976, LEB I SOL had risen to the status of one of the most accomplished and creative rock bands in the former Yugoslavia, while their fusion of local folk music with contemporary jazz-rock performance was their signature sound. After five studio albums and a double live set "Akustična trauma" (issued on PGP RTB label from Belgrade), at the peak of popularity the band signed a contract with Jugoton record label in Zagreb that would continue until the end of the 1980s and gradual demise of their group work in early 1990s.

The box set "Leb i Sol Kolekcija 1983-1989", released in 2007, contains CD reissues of five albums recorded during this period. The first in the series "Kalabalak" (1983) with its title song and the memorable instrumental "Bistra voda" announced a fruitful cooperation between these "ethno-fusion" oriented Macedonian guys and the Croatian label. The following "Tangenta" (1984) was produced by the innovative Canterbury school musician Kevin Ayers (SOFT MACHINE) and assisted in studio by the famous keyboardist Lazar Ristovski (SMAK, BIJELO DUGME), while the first decade of LEB I SOL was concluded with the LP "Zvučni zid" (1986). The latter title contained soundtracks for theatre, film and TV production and marked the return of the original drummer Garo Tavitijan, replacing Dragoljub Đuričić.

The fourth title "Kao kakao" (1987) was the first album with all tracks containing vocals, including the smash hits and live favourites - the title track and "Skopje", while the fifth and the last studio album "Putujemo" (1989) was produced in a similar style, this time having another hit "Čukni vo drvo".

"Kolekcija 1983-1989" represents a half of the entire opus of LEB I SOL and, while not all purist jazz- rock fans supported their "commercialisation" and break onto the mainstream rock scene that happened during this period, the musical quality, performance and overall place of LEB I SOL in the Yugoslav popular music in this period was remarkable. Therefore this collection, although a bit bulky package, is recommended especially if you can find it at reasonable price (like for instance at Croart CD webshop where it may be purchased for 200 HRK, roughly 25 EUR). For details on each album contained in this box set, please refer to the separate album pages here at Prog Archives.

PERSONAL RATING: 3/5

P.A. RATING: 3/5

After the successful 2006 reunion tour marking the 30th anniversary that was crowned with 2CD/DVD release of Live in Macedonia, many fans waited to see what was going to happen with LEB I SOL and whether they were going to record new material and continue the success story. So, the decision by Vlatko Stefanovski to not take part in the further LEB I SOL projects shocked many. Although never a bandleader in the strict sense, he was after all the guitar hero, an amazing instrumentalist, composer and performer (and occasional lead vocalist too) whom many strongly identified with the band. If the absence of Stefanovski justified the scepticism over the band's future, then the same decision by drummer Tavitijan that followed stirred serious doubts over whether we could any more talk about LEB I SOL as such! If both Arsovski and Dimusevski are legally entitled to carry on with the LEB I SOL name since they were original members since 1976, the very absence of the unique percussive sounds and rhythms of Tavitijan and of the Stefanovski's weeping guitar soli suggested that musically the new band would sound rather different.

The album I taka nataka (En. And So On) was released in early 2008 by Serbian label PGP RTS and later by Croatia Records. Among several special guests, notable is the appearance of former KORNI GRUPA and TIME vocalist Dado Topić, otherwise pursuing a not always successful solo career. Indeed, the question was whether the album would attract even less listeners if Topić name had not been featured on the album cover for obvious marketing purposes.

Now, onto the music! Composition credits are equally divided between Dimusevski and Arsovski, with one obligatory cover of a Macedonian traditional song. Dimitar Bozikov (guitar) and Srđan Dunkić (drums) were recruited as replacements and while competent players; they simply could not fill the gaping hole left after the departure of the two absentees. That said, the music is far from bad - jazz rock fans will especially like the elements of the old, classic fusion sound of the early three albums as in the opener Leb i igri (Bread and Games or in Latin Panem et circenses) with swirling piano and guitar soli reminiscent of Stefanovski. Dimusevski's keyboards and piano are dominant instruments and listening to the album for several times it appears to me that he was probably the driving force behind the continuing LEB I SOL project. He left the band in 1980 after Ručni rad and returned only in 1989 for the recording sessions of the last studio LP Putujemo, thus he missed the entire decade when the band were most popular and commercially successful in ex-Yugoslavia. So I guess he was more eager now to contribute to LEB I SOL name than Arsovski and Stefanovski who both had successful solo careers in the meantime.

Arsovski's Astrolab with a slow-paced beat, tribal percussive elements and excellent guitar-ambient sound and Dimusevski's Paramatma with its dark symphonic and jazz touches played with piano lead riff, bass solo, synth flourishes and wonderful kaval (Bulgarian flute used across the Balkans) courtesy of Slobodan Trkulja, are the highlights of the album. Sandwiched between them is a Topić's excellent singing of the traditional Si zaljubiv edno mome (A Young Lad Fell in Love) which is produced in a hit-like manner (and it was video-clipped too for TV broadcast). This is the third appearance of this song on a LEB I SOL album - previous two were live versions on Live in New York and Live in Macedonia - but this time the lyrics and vocals were included. The remainder of the disc is somewhat close to unpretentious but lame lounge jazz without much originality and cause. Exception might be the closer, a gentle love ballad Sakam da ti dojdam (I Would Like to Come to Your Place) with some really nice kaval sounds and guest appearance of a renowned Serbian actor Sergej Trifunović who recites the lyrics over the phone to a loved one, although it borders on banality. Another singing task Topić did not perform well - It's Warming Up is an undistinguished blues- rock with some funky synths and completely unnecessary English lyrics - it's downright filler.

I taka nataka will equally disappoint some old LEB I SOL fans who simply hate to see the band without half of the original membership and probably be enjoyed by some others who are less orthodox, along with younger listeners who only heard about the legends from their elder peers. This is a decent and quite listenable jazz-ethno-fusion with slight retro feel, but not too essential in the career of the band.

PERSONAL RATING: 3,5/5

P.A. RATING: 3/5

— First review of this album —

Re-union of LEB I SOL - Fusion at its best!!!

LEB I SOL re-united in 2006 in its original quartet line-up, after almost 15 years of inactivity. Extended tour was scheduled across Macedonia and former Yugoslav countries and the result was a DVD and this 2CD live set. To my disappointment, the most part of the Bosnian tour in early 2007 was cancelled due to management problems, so I had to be content with these two releases.

The quartet line-up (Stefanovski-guitar/vocal, Arsovski-bass, Tavitijan-drums, Dimusevski-keyboards) was responsible for the first three album masterpieces of these ex-Yugoslav and Macedonian ethno- jazz fusion virtuosos, so hearing (and seeing) them in concert is a spectacle in its own right. Previous live albums (Akusticna trauma, Live in New York) either did not feature Tavitijan and/or Dimusevski, or in the case of Live Anthology (where the quartet was complete) the repertoire was focused on their later pop-oriented material. So Live in Macedonia finally captures all the best moments of their strong, impeccable, technically perfect yet emotional and musically potent performances of folk-impregnated jazz-rock fusion.

The album opens with a new studio song, a re-arrangement of traditional Raspukala Sar-planina (Broken Down Shar Mountain) which was also aired as a promo video clip. Material is roughly divided between their early classic fusion of the first four albums on Disc 1 and the more relaxed and laid-back soft rock sound of the late 1980s on Disc 2, including such crowd-pleasers as mega hits Kalabalak, Cuvam Noc Od Budnih (Guarding the Night from the Awakened), Mamurni Ljudi (Hangover People), Kao Kakao (Like Cacao), Skopje and Cukni Vo Drvo (Knock on Wood). The acme of the album comes with three songs not recorded on any previous studio album - all folk traditionals arranged by the band in a fusion vein - Uci me majko karaj me (Teach Me Mother, Warn Me), A Bre Makedonce (Oh My Macedonian Boy) and Si Zaljubiv Edno Mome (A Young Lad Fell In Love). The latter one was here premiered before its inclusion on the following studio album Itakanataka in 2008. Finally Country theme from the movie Smeker ends this show in a perfect way.

This live set shows why LEB I SOL were frequently praised as one of the finest jazz rock bands ever, not only in the regional (ex-YU) context but internationally too. Relatively small number of reviews of their albums here at PA indicates that the Western and the Worldwide audience is yet to discover this beautiful music. Why not start with this amazing 2CD?!

PERSONAL RATING: 5/5

P.A. RATING: 5/5

During my last visit to former Yugoslavia this past summer,I snatched this very nicely done mini-lp style box set,containing 5 albums from mid 80's commercial era of Leb i Sol.From a purely technical standpoint it's hard to find objection to this package with a huge and clean production,polished sound and almost jaw-dropping musicianship.For the person not familiar with the works of this band on first five albums,this can be considered as a very good straight pop-rock band,with the slight hints of jazziness in their sound.Also,first of five titles in this set,Kalabalakalbum is actualy very good,mostly instrumental,and still on a path of fiery fusion of previous albums,only more rockier,kinda like early Steve Morse Band.Interestingly enough,every subsequent album is more commercial,with more vocal songs,save for the Zvucni zid album,wich is a collection of unconnected pieces band made for movies or theater.Kao kakao is full blown top five commercial album filled with catchy pop-rock tunes,that rulled FMradio waves during 80's in Yugoslavia and remained best selling record for the band.Real hard-core proghead won't be able to find much thrill on this box-set,yet it's still worth investigating,Vlatko Stefanovski on guitar is just unbelievably talented,worth checking it out for that alone.

This is an excellent retrospective of Leb i Sol's career. You get 34 songs on 2 discs, chronologically spanning the band's entire discography. There are a few songs missing in my personal opinion, yet this collection is very good.

CD 1 presents the first 4 albums and includes the best tracks Leb i Sol has ever made. You get a shorter/faster (?) version of Aber dojde Donke, a rendition of an old Macedonian song. Devetka comes in, along with other songs from their self-titled debut. There's only one thing I complain about - Kokoska appears in an edited version, without the opening drum solo! Song no. 6 (Jovano Jovanke) is another Macedonian traditional, beautifully arranged and performed and one of my favourite LiS songs. Their best release, Leb i Sol II, is almost entirely presented. My favourites include Akupunktura, Kako ti drago (Bodan's work on bass), Dikijeva igra (Garo's work on drums) and Marija - but it's really tough to choose. The band has moved to a more-jazz-than-rock sound on the album Rucni Rad. You'll find examples of this term here, through Rebus. Finally, the 4th album Beskonacno is presented with only two songs (fretless-tinged Skakavac and Ziva rana, respectively), which is a great shame! Stomacne vijuge are apparently missing more than anything else.

CD 2 presents the band's later career, more radio-friendly and rock-oriented. Already on the beginning of the disc, there is another injustice. Sledovanje was presented with only 1 track (a vocal track, even). Somehow, the excellent instrumentals Mirko and Mile pop Jordanov didn't make it here. Kalabalak and Tangenta are presented with OK songs, notably Bistra voda and Pretposlednji valcer, while the soundtrack-collection Zvuci zid is presented with Country (Jovano Jovanke from CD 1 is from this album, too). And here comes the main problem. Whoever chose the songs for this compilation apparently considered Kao kakao their most important album of the second phase. So you have quite a lot of songs from this release. While Mamurni ljudi and Cuvam noc od budnih are OK, you have Autoput with its boring chorus and completely senseless Skopje. The album's successor, Putujemo, was even worse. Thank God there's only 2 songs off of it. The collection's closer is Uci me majko, karaj me ... (yet another traditional) from their final release Live in New York. Probably the only song from the mentioned album worth hearing.

I believe Anthology is an excellent choice to get to know Leb i Sol's music. Recommended for anyone who likes jazz-rock instrumentals with a soul, as well as anyone who find ethnic influences in rock interesting.