Darko Rundek & Cargo Orkestar

Darko Rundek's musical career started in the beginning of the '80s as singer, then author-composer in the band Haustor in Zagreb.

Haustor was a rock band with a brass section, who were open to reggae, Croatian, South American and African folk influences, which brought out four studio-recorded albums during the '80s and which disbanded in 1990. During this time, it was top of the rock scene in the former Yugoslavia, had several hits and performed numerous concerts to thousands of spectators.

At the same time Darko Rundek gained his diploma in directing at the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb, directed several plays, radio dramas and radio documentaries for which he composed the music. He also played bass regularly for a Zagreb-based group, Cul de sac, who performed improvised music.

In 1991 he came to Paris and devoted himself mainly to theatre music. In 1995 a compilation and an live album of Haustor was released.

In '97 Darko Rundek presented his first album under the name Apocalypso with the collaboration of about 20 musicians, a true kaleidoscope of different styles, and which was widely appreciated by public and critics alike.

In 2000 U Sirokom Svijetu (In a wide world ) was released, this was a more intimate album which delved deeper into traditional folk music.

In 2002 the album Ruke (Hands) was recorded in France with musicians who came together to form Rundek Cargo Orkestar and who co-wrote some of the compositions. —Courtesy Calabash Music