FunkFreak75 High quality power J-R Fuse from Yugoslavia. Like a cross between RETURN To FOREVER and FOCUS after Jan Akkerman left.



1. "Svadba" (4:08) intricate multi-motif weave full of surprising shifts and turns and a lot of tension (coming from contrasting scales and melody lines). Very interesting and creative! (9.33333/10)

2. "Galeb" (3:56) a little smoother and more straightforward than the previous song--like a BRAND X song for the first minute, then there is a shift for the piano to lead. Excellent! (9.75/10)

3. "Ciganka" (3:03) perhaps the only weak, schlocky song on the album. (8.66667/10)

4. "Zedj" (3:30) ending with Dimitar Cokorovski's solo: one of his shining moments of glory. (9.25/10)

5. "Fatamorgana" (4:02) syrupy lush music in the vein of Focus Con Proby. (8.875/10)

6. "Cokor ritam" (0:59) a drum solo: A good one. Another shining moment for Dimitar. (4.5/5)

7. "A bila je tako draga" (4:06) Guitarist Arian Dema's electric guitar tone reminds me of Eef Elbers' on Focus Con Proby. Dragisa Sodatovic's keyboard work is definitely smooth and melodic and bass player Vladimir Jankulovski is very adventurous: covering a lot of the fretboard with ease and excellent melodic sense. (8.87510)

8. "Letnja ljubav" (3:25) jumping out to a Sunday drive in the countryside with the top down, Dragisa, Arian, and Valdimir do a remarkable job of holding the melody lines tightly together, each one pulling their weight harmonically and rhythmically--which makes it an absolutely delightful song to listen to. An alternative to the disco beat might have been preferred, but, here we are. (9.25/10)

9. "Vodopad" (2:41) heavy distorted guitars with weird synthesizer bubbles opens this before the band rockets out of the muck with a high speed journey of fire and abandon. Great rock guitar with thick support from Dragisa's multiple keyboards. Vlad and Dimitar are pretty tight, too. (9.25/10)

10. "Jutro i noc" (3:55) Smooth Jazz with a Chick Corea-like Latin foundation and stop-and-go rhythm track. Why Dragisa is mixed so far forward and Arian so far into the back I don't know: to give it that Chick Corea feel? RTF and FOCUS are again strongly felt throughout this wonderful composition. (9.25/10)

11. "Tako treba" (5:50) opening with Mr. Rogers-like electric piano play is not usually a good sign, but the way the band bursts out of the malaise with power and force helps to erase all worries and doubt. At the same time this song more than any other truly feels as if it's Dragisa's--at least until Arian comes out with his high-clipping machine gun in the fourth minute. Dimitar's weakest song. (9/10)

Total Time: 39:35

As John Davies has pointed out, the drummer (and recording of such) is, for me, the weak link cuz the guitarist, bassist, and keyboard operator all deserve superlatives. Dimitar Cokorovski is not bad he's just not up to speed with the others--though, again, part of my dissatisfaction could very well be coming from the way his drums (and particularly his snare) sound/are recorded.

A/five stars; a masterpiece of high-energy virtuosic performances of very interesting and creative compositions.

seyo This is a very good fusion album, the only DEN ZA DEN ever recorded.

Due to total neglect by the public they soon disbanded after its release. Music style and instrumental line up of this album are quite similar to that of LEB I SOL's early career. "Den za den" almost sounds like a "lost" fourth LEB I SOL album. In 1980 LEB I SOL dropped keyboardist and continued as standard rock trio. If they recorded another pure fusion album after the acclaimed "Rucni rad" from 1979, it may have sounded like "Den za den".

Speculations aside, this is a worthy album of furious tempo. None of the tracks is longer than 5 minutes and they are all instrumental. Arian Dema's guitar work is powerful, fast and competent. Still, sometimes seems to have too excessive solo technique at the cost of melodies. He seems to be influenced by John McLaughlin. The SF-like "crucifixion" cover design is one of the more memorable ones in ex-YU.

Although "Den za den" more than often sounds like a LEB I SOL copycat, it is quite a rewarding listen and if you are a fusion fan you should not miss it.