SMAK

Though essentially not the best SMAK album (the following Crna Dama could take that title), this one is still my favourite. It blends various music styles into one. There's blues, jazz-rock, even hard rock at times. Of course, the most significant thing in the band's sound is the guitar. R. M. Tocak, easily one of the best and most original guitarists in former Yugoslavia, plays some great riffs and solos. And there is some classical guitar parts as well. The rhythm section Milanovic - Stojanovic (nicknamed Kepa) works together perfectly, while the marvelous Lazar Ristovski provides an excellent atmosphere with his organ. Some would say, the high-pitched falsetto of Boris Arandjelovic is irritating and not understandable. My opinion is, the guy has a great voice and rules comparing to the 90's singer, Dejan Najdanovic.

The album's opener Perle (Pearls) starts with a little guitar solo, and turns into an interesting tune. The following Mracni mol could easily be the most radio-oriented here, yet it's OK. Blues u parku (Blues in the Park) is a 7-minute heavy blues thing, while Biska 2 (an instrumental) showcases one of the best Tocak's riffs. The B-side consists of only one song, the 19-minute Put od balona (Biska 20) (which means The Baloon Path!). SMAK proves their ability to improvise on this one, yet with a theme constantly recurring in the song.

All in all, one of the best debut albums in overall Yugoslavian rock'n'roll. A progressive and still hard, this is very interesting stuff.