Record Reviews

WERONIKA GROZDEW & MUSOS ~ WANDERING SONGS FOR TUNE 0167 (Barcode: 5906395808809) ~ POLAND ~ World Music & Folklore Recorded: 2021 - 2023 Released: 2024 This is an album by Polish vocalist / ethnomusicologist Weronika GrozdewFind albums by this artist, a prominent activist on the local scene with impressive academic career, but also a great performer and of course Folklore Music lover. She is accompanied by an instrumental ensemble fondly named MusosFind albums by this artist, which includes dulcimer player Marta MaslankaFind albums by this artist, violinists Dorota Blaszczynska-MogilskaFind albums by this artist and Kacper MaliszFind albums by this artist, violist Alexandra Demowska-MadejskaFind albums by this artist, cellist Bartlomiej PalygaFind albums by this artist, bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist and percussionist Wojciech LubertowiczFind albums by this artist. A few additional guests appear on selected tracks, including the celebrated vocalist Grazyna AuguscikFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, with songs originating from various sources, including Greece, Bulgaria and of course Poland, several of which were written by Polish folk violinist Bartosz NiedzwieckiFind albums by this artist. Four of the songs were arranged by accordionist / composer Jaroslaw BesterFind albums by this artist. The music presents a stunning collection of Folk songs, which although originating from diverse origins and being a random collection, form a perfectly coherent continuity, brilliantly sung and played by everybody involved, including some virtuosic voice modulations and other tricks of the trade. The album perfectly demonstrates the fact that beneath the seemingly naïve and simplistic Folklore music there is a great aesthetic depth and often musical complexity, which puts to shame much more “prestigious” music genres. The album shows an absolute love and admiration of all the participants towards the music and the absolute seriousness it is treated by them. I was particularly impressed by the superb parts played by Pulcyn, who is usually associated with the Polish Jazz scene. His steady pulsations hold the music together perfectly. But the string quartet also does an amazing job by setting the melodic / harmonic background, which often becomes quite tricky. Auguscik adds a lengthy improvised vocalese on one tune, which is a knockout. I am happy to see the For TuneFind albums on this label Records label becoming a steady supporter of Folk Music recordings, which are consistently of the highest quality and sadly badly missing on the Polish scene. Their “green” series is certainly a mark of quality in that respect, and deserve both attention and support. Overall, this is a beautiful vocal Folk Music album, which offers an ambitious stream of wonderful songs, excellently supported and accompanied by the instrumental ensemble, all of which offers a brilliant listening experience and for Folk Music lovers a truly heavenly moment of joy.

Updated: 28/03/2024Posted: 28/03/2024

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