KARAVAN - IZVORNE SNIMKE 1975/1976

In this period the band consisted of the lead vocalist Seid Memic "Vajta", keyboardist, arranger and composer Gabor Lendjel, guitarist Vedad Hadziabdic and drummer Senad Begovic. Original bassist Ivica Propadalo participated in the first two singles issued in early 1975, "Karavan (Caravan)/U.F.O." and "Kolika je Jahorina planina (The Great Mountain of Jahorina)/Kovaci srece (The Blacksmiths of Fortune)", after which Sanin Karic replaced him on bass guitar. The album "Ho-ruk" is almost entirely included, minus the traditional cover of "Od Olova do Trnova", thus providing a necessary insight into the most progressive rock release of the group.

Overall musical style is quite consistent and unique throughout this CD, and it is largely confined within the sphere of so- called "progressive hard rock" or "heavy prog", if you will. Gabor Lendjel's keyboards (mainly Hammond and occasional Moog synths) are usually forefront instruments (modeled after the inspiration from ATOMIC ROOSTER or URIAH HEEP) although the lack of elaborated arrangements is often heard. Hadziabdic is not a guitar-giant, but his heavy riffs and wild solos (DEEP PURPLE's Blackmore is the obvious template) are often effective providing bursts of energy to the music. Out of this picture come: an odd early reggae elements in the opening title track "Karavan" (remember - this is only months after Bob Marley released his "Natty Dread" masterpiece!), naive but sort of sympathetic space-rock synth effects in "U.F.O.", traditional Bosnian sevdah heavy rock cover "Kolika je Jahorina planina", vaudevillian orchestral pop smash hit "Zivot je maskenbal" (Life Is But A Masquerade), or the American Southern/Country rock influences in "Stap" (The Stick). With several slow-tempo semi-acoustic ballads, this collection is very good as an overview of the largely forgotten ex-Yugoslav band.

"Karavan - Izvorne snimke 1975/76" is a worthy CD update of an earlier Jugoton (former name of Croatia Records) release from 1981, "Teska industrija i S. M. Vajta", which was issued in the period of Vajta's commercial peak as solo artist (he even took part in Eurosong contest in 1981!), and which contained only 10 tracks. In this way, the contemporary collectors of former Yugoslavian prog rock or classic rock scene of the 1970s have an opportunity to enrich their collections with this valuable release.

PERSONAL RATING: 3,5/5

P.A. RATING: 4/5