Tako - s/t (1978, Yugoslavia)

platform

The lenghthy track 'second side of me' is worth the price alone. It includes some wonderful flute passages and an opening riff somewhat similar to Aqualungs famous opening . Overall a cross between Solaris and Tull. The rest of the CdD does not reach the heights of this tarck , but its still an interesting listen. Highly recommended

Posted Monday, March 15, 2004 | Review Permalink

dark_d3@hotma

First album from this extra talented but unknown band ,there is no bad song on this album,its powerfull with great guitar riffs followed by fine and atmospheric keyboards and flutes.This album is not completely instrumental as it is for the second one,but the voices are calm and smoothy with good intelectual and dreamy lyrics(in Serbian) ,give them a chance to be heard!You wouldn't be disapointed, its a masterpiece!

Posted Monday, August 30, 2004 | Review Permalink

Proghead
(Ben Miler)
PROG REVIEWER

As it turns out Yugoslavia had their share of prog acts. SMAK, KORNI GRUPA, LEB I SOL, and this particular band, TAKO are some examples. TAKO managed only two albums, in which this self-entitled album was their debut. The band consisted of bassist/vocalist Dušan Æuæuz, keyboardist/flautist/harmonical player Ðorde Illijan, guitarist/vocalist Miroslav Dukiæ, and drummer Slobodan Felekatoviæ. Ðorde Illijan tends to use a lot of Elka Rhapsody string synth, as well as electric piano.

Some of the music tends to have a bit of a fusion influence. A couple of songs have vocals, including the opening cut "Probudi Se". It's in Serbo-Croation, so it's nice to hear the language in a prog setting. This song tends to be dominated by Illijan's Elka. "Sinteza" shows the more fusion-end of the band, especially when Illijan uses the Fender Rhodes electric piano. Perhaps my favorite is "Utapanje Sunèeve Sveltlosi U Pešèanu Memoriju", where the band goes through several changes. Again the vocals appear here. I especially like the guitar work of Miroslav Dukiæ found here. "Lena" is a short, flute-dominated piece that bears more than a passing resemblance to Hungary's SOLARIS (making me believe SOLARIS was influenced by TAKO, since SOLARIS' debut did not appear until the 1980s). "Minijatura" is another flute-dominated piece, that brings to mind JETHRO TULL. Then the album closes with the 16 minute epic "Druga Strana Mene". The CD reissue comes with a bonus cut, "Put Na Jug", which is a nice addition, this one also has vocals. I don't exactly call this album essential. For one thing, the production isn't all that great (but then I expect that, coming from a communist country), but by Eastern European standards, this is definately one of the better albums.

My rating: 3 1/2 stars

Posted Sunday, September 26, 2004 | Review Permalink

r.constant@cl

Ok, first track is a little bit morbid (boring) despite the title “wake up” but a good track. From the second track things will get… hot, “synthesis” is an excellent jazz oriented song with electric piano, organ, guitar solo, time change and even gaita,( I always try to be coherent an short on my reviews), all the record will have this great prog quality, mixing jazz and rock in a perfect way, sometimes remembering Atoll’s style (second and third song), sometimes remembering an improved Focus or the usual Jethro Tull (fourth and fifth song), And the last track before the bonus, a 16 minutes excellent song “Second side of me”, Tako means “ this way” and personality was one of the marks of prog rock when computer didn’t exist, and things were harder…not a three star but five I guess it would be a bit overkill.

Posted Friday, May 20, 2005 | Review Permalink

Seyo
(Sead S. Fetahagic)
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR

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.

Posted Monday, October 31, 2005 | Review Permalink

ljubaspriest
(Lou Trkulja)

Another Yu-prog masterpiece,together with Indexi's "Modra rijeka",Tako's self-titled debut bore almost same uncompromised non-commercial characteristics as Sarajevo's veterans,only difference being somewhat undeveloped sound,due to very short time in the studio,mere 24 hours!? Still,very strong effort for this Belgrade outfit,raw sounding,with almost gothic feel driven by vintage keyboards including tons of analogue synthesisers and fiery guitar.Basic style here is symhonic with dash of jazz- fusion,mostly instumental and structuraly not overly complex,but very captivating with some beautiful flute an synth melodies.On the other side of spectrum electric guitar riffs are almost hard-rock sounding,while rhythm section is thunderous.Having said all above,there are some weaknesses,mainly with production,but I cannot help myself to get shivers down my spine every time I hear this record.Few years back,when this album was re-released on CD by Brazilian label Rock symphony,Eurock stated in their press release that this is the best ever album to come from eastern Europe.I won't go that far,but certainly it is the one of the best.Masterpiece of progressive rock music. Five stars!

Posted Friday, November 18, 2005 | Review Permalink