Ostavi Sve

Ostavi Sve

"Ostavi Sve" is a song that captures the dark, moody atmosphere of 1980s synth-pop. The track, by the legendary Belgrade group Max & Intro, was recorded in late 1984 in studio Druga Maca for the group's debut 12" release on the PGP label. It was one of only two tracks that made it onto the "We Design The Future" single, alongside "Beogradska Devojka," and it has since become a cult favourite among fans of Yugoslav new wave and synth-pop.

The song opens with a picture of a night walk. "Odlazim u no? i palim cigaru / Mra?no lice ?eka iza ugla / Podse?am na tebe, i ka?em / To sam ja! / Senka tvoja me prati / Ogledalo me uvek pla?i / Mra?no..." I go into the night and light a cigarette, a dark face waits around the corner. I remind myself of you, and I say, that is me! Your shadow follows me, the mirror always scares me, dark... It is a song about identity, about the feeling of being haunted by someone from your past, and about the difficulty of knowing who you are when you are constantly reminded of who you used to be.

The production is classic 1980s synth-pop, with driving synthesizers and a dark, atmospheric sound. The song has a cinematic quality, the kind of track that feels like it belongs in a film. It is a song that has aged remarkably well, and it is easy to hear why it has remained popular for so many years.

In 2024, the song was included on the compilation "Max And Intro-Return To The Future 1984-1994," a special edition released in cooperation with PGP-RTS to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the group's work. The compilation collects 12 tracks of the legendary Belgrade synth-pop group on high-quality 180-gram vinyl, remastered from the original master tapes.

For a reviewer, "Ostavi Sve" is a reminder of the power of 1980s synth-pop. It is a song that is both dark and beautiful, a track that captures the mood of a generation. Max & Intro were one of the most important groups in the Yugoslav new wave scene, and this song is a perfect example of why. It is a timeless piece of music, and it deserves to be heard.