RETROSPEKTIVA

The term "compilation" does not mean the same for INDEXI and any other band; while the majority of the bands have a habit to publish albums, INDEXI published only singles (with no more than two notable exceptions in the form of studio albums), and therefore a compilation published at the right time and a right place could be considered an album.

I have the same, "album" impression for "Retrospektiva" - not only because of peculiar band's discography facts, but for overall sound, atmosphere and focus.

I have found this tape in my grandmother's car - she is not progressive rock fan by no means, but INDEX were always very eclectic, diverse and - why deny it? - quite approachable to an average listener. The tape was in very bad condition; an ugly, non-transparent, black piece of plastic with an orange sticker, so typical for "Diskoton" (and other) publishing companies. So, I can't comment the production or sound quality: the tape was full of mud and the sound was dull and comparable to an average Gentle Giant live bootleg.

And yet I highly enjoyed this tape, playing it over and over again.

The compilation consists of 11 pieces, and there's only one song that doesn't fit perfectly and that is "Ispili Smo Zlatan Pehar" ("We emptied a golden cup") which is just a folksy easy listening piece, but it provides an enjoyable listening with high-level musicianship nevertheless.

All the other songs are excellent rock numbers; some of them are glancing at prog territories; some of them are just good rock love ballads - "Pruzam ruke", "Volim Te", "Ti si mi bila naj, naj", "Predaj se srce" are ballads indeed, but INDEXI were the best ballad writers in business, and while the piano background will resemble THE BEATLES heritage, the arrangement, lyrics, guitars and overall sounds are pure and uniquely an INDEXI trademark.

The rest of the songs will make smile upon a face of a prog rock purist; "Prazne noci a beskrajni dani" really rocks in it's parts, while same vintage synth wizardry was utilised as percussion tool; "Da sam ja netko" is another brilliant number with excellent criticism on society and human kind in general (these guys just loved to criticise society and greedy humans), with strong DEEP PURPLE/URIAH HEEP overtones.

There are two more ballads ("U tebi se zena radja" and "Bila si ti, bila je ljubav") which are not just pleasant listening because the band pushed the term of balladry on another level - and these two are highly atmospheric, beautiful, undoubtedly artsy, with gorgeous and soulful Davorin's voice.

"Svijet u kojem zivim" is another prog tune, with brilliant guitar, very catchy (and proggy) chorus and that distinctive, unique band's sound - raw and polished at the same time.

For the end I would like to focus one's attention on "I pad je let" - perhaps not the best tune here, certainly the most interesting one. It's got silly but remarkable lyrics - about humankind's greed again - and unique atmosphere made by slow, rock-solid, rolling rhythm emphasised with monstrous raw and grinding synthesizer line; a sharp Clavinet-like sound (slightly detuned in solo!).

At the end of the day, this is an excellent addition to any progressive rock or seventies rock collection.