Kak – Kak-Ola

Some artistic work flows seamlessly from one era to another, while other music gets locked into the times of its creation. Sadly for most of us, music that gets locked into a time frame often never seeing the light of day again ... 'less of course you stumble upon it, or though some cross referencing you manage to make a discovery. Perhaps I might encourage you to remember that, to quote Neil Young “... a trip is not a fall,” and suggest that you stumble across the short body of work proudly laid down during the 1960’s by the very psychedelic rock garage band Kak.

Many groups of this era were plagued by extended guitar riffs, haunted by electric blues posturing, and hampered by mellow harmonies, though not Kak. Kak were very much an original band, riding the same rails as Moby Grape, Country Joe & The Fish and early Big Brother. Their sound was pure, based on simple chord changes and structure, hinting at tasteful progressive rock, and melodic alternative country, all flavored and wrapped in the splendor of the psychedelic 60’s.

Gary Yoder, the leader and primary song writer for the group went onto join a little band you might remember, who known as Blue Cheer. Kak are all over the map musically, and had they been given the time, and given themselves the time, they may have become a force to be reckoned with ... but such is the story of rock and roll. This album Kak-Ola is the one to lay your hands on. The first nine tracks are taken directly from their first outing Kak, with the rest of the tracks flowing from studio out takes, acoustic renditions of the electric songs, and a couple of unreleased numbers.

Kak has influenced many, simply listen to “Golgothma,” from the “Trieulogy: Golgothma / Mirage / Rain,” and try and tell me that Lynrd Skynrd didn’t lift their whole career from this single song. You’re going to find quite a few other surprises as well, which should please you know end.

I’m not going to tell you that this is the best body of work, but then I don’t want to turn you off either. Kak are very confusing, yet their music isn’t. It’s tasteful, melodic, original, and speaks directly of the times from which it comes. It’s one of those releases where you pick the songs you dig and let the rest go ... though avoiding songs like “Lemonaide Kid” (obviously about an LSD dealer), “Disbelievin’,” “Trieulogy ...,” along with several others will prove all but impossible.

So hit the black light, find that hit of Orange Barrel and dig what Kak have brought to the table for you.

*** The Fun Facts: In 1966, high school students Gary Lee Yoder and Dehner Patten were first introduced to one another when Patten replaced Bob Daigl in Yoder’s band, The Hideaways. Within that same year The Hideaways dissolved, where Yoder and Patten started the band The Oxford Circle. Gary Lee Yoder, the was the band’s principal songwriter, so when Oxford Circle dissolved, he went on to form Kak and briefly showed up in a later version of Blue Cheer.

As to the band’s name: Kak is a South African word, often meaning taboo, though is commonly slang for manure or dung.

Review by Jenell Kesler