ZASTO NE VOLIM SNEG

This is Smak's last great album. Made just before their split in '81, it sees them explore little familiar terrain, that of alternative, avant garde music. Best examples are the title song, "Talisman" and "Maht pustinja". The title song, sung by Dado Topic who is one of the best singers ever to bless the ex-Yugoslav rock scene, is particularly strange. It is incredibly silent and slow paced but has a strong rephrain which livens things up a bit. Zoran Milanovic's excellent bass carries the song, as well as some others. "Talisman" and "Maht pustinja" are among the best and strangest instrumentals Smak has ever produced and benefit from Laza Ristovski's comeback behind the keyboards. Ristovski shines here as well as in "Balet", another nice instrumental. Tocak does more soloing here than on "Crna dama" and "Stranice naseg vremena" as well.

"Juzni voz" is the most uncharacteristical song on the album because it is the only pure rock song, with riffs so heavy they can be placed under the hard rock category. "Zajdi zajdi" is a wonderful cover of one of the most beautiful folk songs from Macedonia and "Nebeski splav" is a strong ballad with good solos from Tocak and Ristovski and a worthy closer.

This album also benefits from the absence of the screaming Arandjelovic's voice which has spoiled too many excellent moments. This is indeed a very rare achievement that can be compared with very few other records, specially in Yugoslavia and eastern Europe.