Oko was a band formed in 1972 in Ljubljana in Slovenia, at the time belonging to the Yugoslav Federation united by singer and guitarist Pavel Kavec. Initially the trio was completed with Miro Tomassini on bass and Jani Tutta on drums, replaced in 1973 by Dragan Gajič. In this first phase they started to propose more Heavy Blues sounds, mixing Hard Rock and late 60s influences, to then insert more Jazz Rock traits. When the bassist and drummer joined another Yugoslav Prog band Jutro, drummer Tone Dimnik and bassist Franjo Martinec came in their place. With this new lineup Kavec, Dimnik and Martinec record the first 7 ” “Vse Sem Dal Ti” via RTV Ljubljana. After the release of the single they start working on their debut LP, but the band again loses the rhythm session. Avant-Garde band Buldozer, while Martinec decided to leave the world of music, replaced at the end of 1976 by drummer Zlatko Klun (ex Boomerang) and bassist Igor Bosnjak (who had already played in the promotional tour of the album). The album was released in 1976 for the Yugoslavian label Jugoton, reaching nowadays a high rating in its original version of the time. Unfortunately the limited success of the disc did not allow the band to reach the hoped-for success and in 1978 they disbanded definitively.In the early 90’s Pavel Kavec with drummer Gajič, his son Mitja on bass and other guests released the album “Hočes z menoj” in 1993 via Corona label, under the name Pavel Kavec & Prijatelji. In 2000 under the name Oko they released “Live December 2000” containing covers by Jimi Hendrix, recorded with the lineup composed by Kavec, Marko Bertoncelj on drums and Ernie Mendillo on bass. This was the last appearance in the music business by the band, which in its history has sadly always remained unknown outside its country of origin. Kavec who has however also played in other bands such as Boomerang, Yeti Experience and Skarabeji has achieved a certain notoriety. Like many other Prog bands and not only of the time they would have deserved better luck, but the numerous lineup changes and the poor sponsorship outside the ex-Yugoslavia did not allow this band to establish itself internationally. The original version of the LP reaches prices above 500 Euros, while the vinyl reissue for Jugoton is easier to find at low cost, cheaper than the first CD reissue of the Max Plus, also with a minimum price of 100 Euros. , high cipher for a CD. The band’s recordings are of Heavy Prog matrix, with Kavec having a Hendrixian approach to the guitar, while the continuous changes of rhythm session have changed the imprint on the sound over the years, proposing more Jazzy traits in the central part, always of Progressive matrix. a band that enters by right in this weekly editorial on the Hidden Rarities of Progressive Rock and more, an album that is available on the market, but that should be further enhanced by the public and made known, the sound is solid and with good ideas.
Discography
Oko
[1975] Vse Sem Dal Ti 7″ (RTV Ljubljana)
[1976] Raskorak (Jugoton)
[2001] Live December 2000 (Not on label)
Pavel Kavec & Prijatelji
[1993] Hočes z menoj (Corona)
Lineup (on the “Raskorak album)
Pavel Kavec / Guitar, Vocal
Tone Dimnik / Drums
Franjo Martinec / Bass
Guest:
Andrej Konjajev / Keyboards
Miha Vipotnik / Percussion
Zlatko Manojlović / Vocal (6)