Record Reviews

WOJCIECH GOGOLEWSKI TRIO ~ MEDYTACJE WIEJSKIEGO LISTONOSZA JAZZOWEGO NOT ON LABEL 9788365344007 (Barcode: 9788365344007) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is an album by Polish Jazz piano trio led by veteran pianist / composer Wojciech GogolewskiFind albums by this artist, with bassist Pawel PantaFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam LewandowskiFind albums by this artist. As the album´s title suggests, at least to those familiar with the Polish music scene, this album is dedicated to the music by the legendary Polish Rock group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist and pays tribute to their extraordinary talents. The album presents ten songs Skaldowie created during their heyday, all composed by Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (one of the two Zielinski brothers who led the group) and arranged for Jazz trio by Gogolewski. It is of course completely impossible for someone like me, who grew up listening to the music of Skaldowie, to be in any way objective while listening to this album, and indeed I don´t intend to be objective at all. This is a marvelous piece of music in every respect, even without the tsunami of nostalgia, which floods my brain while listening to it, since it perfectly holds water just by being what it really is, i.e. an excellent piano trio album playing some superbly crafted music, beautifully recorded and perfectly executed. Of course the music of Zielinski presents some of the most incredibly weaved melodies on this planet, full of "impossible" chord changes and weird harmonies, tempi shifts and other musicological mumble-jumble, which most people have absolutely no idea about, but which simply work wonders and create some of the most beautiful songs ever written, which made our childhood and then adolescence so incredibly beautiful. Comparing Skaldowie to the BeatlesFind albums by this artist would have been mostly unfair to the Polish group, as they were light-years ahead musically. The fact that their music transfers so gracefully into the Jazz idiom is a great proof of its quality, whereas most Jazz arrangements of Beatles songs never really rise above pastiche. I am pretty sure this album should be universally appealing to every Jazz connoisseur around, even those who can´t find Poland on the map. This music is simply universal and its elegance and typical European sophistication is irresistible. I can only wholeheartedly thank the people involved in creating this masterpiece for the immense pleasure it has bestowed upon me. Perhaps some listeners, happy with what they find here, will reach out for the original Skaldowie albums, where this music originates from, to take another step on the path of exploration. Bless you all!

Updated: 11/09/2017Posted: 11/09/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MAREK GRECHUTA ~ MAREK GRECHUTA & ANAWA POMATON 724352774029 (Barcode: 724352774029) ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2000 This is the debut album by Polish singer / songwriter / poet Marek GrechutaFind albums by this artist, one of the most iconic figures on the Polish popular music scene and the most important representative of the Music & Poetry movement in Poland. This is also his first of the two albums with the group AnawaFind albums by this artist, which he founded during his student years in Krakow together with fellow architecture student, pianist / composer Jan Kanty PawluskiewiczFind albums by this artist. The version of Anawa playing on this album was sextet, which included also cellist Anna WojtowiczFind albums by this artist, viola player Tadeusz KozuchFind albums by this artist, bassist Jacek OstaszewskiFind albums by this artist and guitarist Tadeusz DziedzicFind albums by this artist. Several guest musicians also played on the album, including drummer Janusz StefanskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marek JackowskiFind albums by this artist, violinist Zbigniew PaletaFind albums by this artist and others. The album includes ten tracks, seven composed by Pawluskiewicz and three composed by Grechuta. Grechuta wrote lyrics to three of the songs and the remaining seven are by some of the Polish poets Grechuta admired: Adam MickiewiczFind albums by this artist, Julian TuwimFind albums by this artist, Leszek Aleksander MoczulskiFind albums by this artist (closely associated with the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist) and others. Musically the album is light-years ahead of its time and completely different from anything else that was happening on the Pop / Rock scene at the time in Poland or anywhere else for that matter. It amalgamates seemingly conflicting elements like contemporary Classical music, Psychedelia, chanson and cabaret, Jazz and very strong Folklore and World Music influences. In addition there is also the omnipresent Polish melancholy, emphasized by the poignant lyrics and sensitive delivery. Although the Music & Poetry movement existed in Poland earlier, mostly in the intimate cabaret environment, Grechuta took it forward making a milestone step towards perfecting the genre and no less importantly popularizing it by bringing it to huge crowds rather than to the limited Avant-Garde / intellectual audiences of small clubs and student hangouts. Grechuta is a master of his trade and his vocal delivery is simply sublime. Always somewhere in between singing and reciting, his interpretation of the lyrics is exquisitely intelligent and insightful. The entire band performs simply divinely, displaying obvious talents and sensitivity. Such combination of beautiful music performed as perfectly as here is indeed extraordinary. Therefore in retrospect this is simply one of the best Pop / Rock albums ever recorded in Poland and absolutely nothing recorded since comes even close to its perfection, except of course for the next album he recorded with the same group called "Korowod", which is considered even stronger than this one. It is completely untouched by time and constantly gets better in contrast to most music created today. It is an absolute must have for every lover of Polish music and no collection of Polish music will be complete without it. This expanded and remastered edition includes twelve bonus tracks recorded by the Polish Radio or in concert, all of excellent quality, both sonically and musically. Perfection incarnate!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

MAREK GRECHUTA / ANAWA ~ KOROWOD POMATON 724352774227 (Barcode: 724352774227) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2000 This is the second album by Polish singer / songwriter / poet Marek GrechutaFind albums by this artist, one of the most iconic figures on the Polish popular music scene and the most important representative of the Music & Poetry movement in Poland. This is also his second and last album with the group AnawaFind albums by this artist, which he founded during his student years in Krakow together with fellow architecture student, pianist / composer Jan Kanty PawluskiewiczFind albums by this artist. Anawa was an octet, an unusually large ensemble on the Pop scene, and included also bassist / flautist Jacek OstaszewskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marek JackowskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Eugeniusz MakowkaFind albums by this artist, cellist Anna WojtowiczFind albums by this artist, viola player Tadeusz KozuchFind albums by this artist and violinist Zbigniew PaletaFind albums by this artist. The album includes nine tracks, five composed by Pawluskiewicz (including one instrumental), three composed by Grechuta and one by Jackowski (the instrumental intro opening the album). Grechuta wrote lyrics to three of the songs and the remaining four are by some of the Polish poets Grechuta admired: Jan ZychFind albums by this artist, Konstanty Ildefons GalczynskiFind albums by this artist, Leszek Aleksander MoczulskiFind albums by this artist (closely associated with the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist) and Tadeusz SliwiakFind albums by this artist. Musically the albums is light-years ahead of its time and completely different from anything else that was happening on the Pop / Prog scene at the time in Poland or anywhere else for that matter. It amalgamates seemingly conflicting elements like contemporary Classical music, Psychedelia, chanson and cabaret, Jazz and very strong Folklore and World Music influences. Anawa was among the earliest ensembles to be influenced by World Music and it´s not surprising that Ostaszewski and Jackowski would soon after create OssianFind albums by this artist, the first full-fledged World Music ensemble in Poland. In addition there is also the omnipresent Polish melancholy, emphasized by the poignant lyrics and sensitive delivery. The short instrumental suite composed by Pawluskiewicz is an absolute masterpiece and a timeless gem in its own right. Grechuta is a master of his trade and his vocal delivery is simply sublime. Always somewhere in between singing and reciting, his interpretation of the lyrics is exquisitely intelligent and insightful. The entire band performs simply divinely, displaying obvious talents and sensitivity. Such combination of beautiful music performed as perfectly as here is indeed extraordinary. Therefore in retrospect this is simply one of the best Pop / Prog albums ever recorded in Poland and absolutely nothing recorded since comes even close to its perfection. It is completely untouched by time and constantly gets better in contrast to most music created today. It is an absolute must have for every lover of Polish music and no collection of Polish music will be complete without it. This expanded and remastered edition includes eight bonus tracks recorded by the Polish Radio, all of excellent quality, both sonically and musically. Perfection incarnate!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

ANNA MARIA JOPEK / BRANFORD MARSALIS ~ ULOTNE AMJ 001 (Barcode: 5906395769315) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 - 2017 Released: 2018 Every new release by the Polish Diva Anna Maria JopekFind albums by this artist is a celebration of Culture and a major musical event on an international scale, especially so when it involves a revered Jazz superstar like saxophonist Branford MarsalisFind albums by this artist. Jopek, famous for her consistent independent Artistic vision, managed to create her own universe, where she does not need to compare or compete with the rest of the world, which enables her complete freedom of expression and self-determination, which only very few Artists worldwide were able to achieve over time. Recording an album with Marsalis was a dream, which Jopek held on to since the time she heard him playing with StingFind albums by this artist, which of course was a huge influence on every true music lover at the time. The incredible chemistry that Sting and Marsalis demonstrated was an extremely tall order to follow, but Jopek never eschewed a challenge and this album proves that the realization of that dream was indeed worthwhile waiting for. The album was recorded during two separate recording sessions, twenty one months apart, which considering the busy schedule that Jopek and Marsalis are both entangled in, is not as surprising as it might sound. The somewhat esoteric group of musicians includes percussionist Mino CineluFind albums by this artist, pianists Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist (who was also in charge of arrangements and conducting) and Marcin WasilewskiFind albums by this artist, multi-instrumentalist Piotr NazarukFind albums by this artist, bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist (violinists Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist and Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist). Polish Folklore Guru Maria PomianowskaFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents ten tracks on the "formal" first CD and four additional tracks (one of which is an alternate version of a track on the album) on the "bonus" second CD. The songs are mostly originals, written by Jopek or co-written with her spouse Marcin KydrynskiFind albums by this artist, one song is by Herdzin, one by Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist (see below), one by Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (SkaldowieFind albums by this artist) and one by Harry KandelFind albums by this artist with the rest being originally traditional Polish Folklore songs. Musically the album marks a return to Jopek´s established modus operandi, which combines Polish Folklore and original songwriting, spiced with Jazzy arrangements and of course dominated by her highly original expressionism. The music is deeply soaked in Polish lyricism and melancholy and her decision to sing in the Polish language emphasizes these elements even further. Marsalis plunges into this Slavic environment with vigor and determination, as if Eastern European sensitivities were his second nature, which is quite remarkable. It proves not only his openness and ability to embrace diverse Cultures, but also his incredible musicality, which enables him to feel completely at home in this Slavic musical setting. It also proves, perhaps more importantly, that music is universal, as is human soul, and ethnic boundaries can be crossed and amalgamated on the collective plane. Jopek, Marsalis and all the musicians involved in the recording of this album are of course veteran professionals in addition to their individual Artistic abilities, which results in the music being perfectly and incredibly sensitively executed. This music requires total dedication and every single note played by every musician at every given moment must be precisely articulated to achieve the desired effect. Luckily this team rises to the challenge admirably. The delicate and wonderfully written string arrangements performed by the Atoms add a superbly "angelic" aura to the overall sound and the folkloristic elements by Nazaruk spice the proceedings splendidly. Marsalis plays a series of breathtaking solos throughout the album, exactly as expected of course and Jopek, as always, manages to create goose bumps all over the listener´s body regardless if she sings lyrics or awe-inspiring vocalese. When selecting the material for this album, Jopek requested the permission of Tomasz Stanko to use his beautiful ballad "A Farewell To MariaFind albums with this title", originally used in the soundtrack of a movie of the same name, as she was sure Marsalis would be able to embrace the lyricism of this incredible melody and create a marvelous solo while performing it. She was right of course and this track is definitely one of the highlights of this album, and at the same time it constitutes a mournful tribute to Stanko, who passed away before the album was released. Another interesting piece is the excellent arrangement of the classic Harry Kandel (born in Lwow) Klezmer tune "A Night In The Garden Of Eden", which features Jopek´s hair-raising vocalese. Of course Klezmer music has always been an integral part of the Polish Folklore tapestry, in which the Jewish contribution was invaluable. Overall this album is a Masterpiece from start to finish, which is no news to the numerous Jopek´s fans. There is not one moment on this album, which is not inspirational and eloquent, heartwarming and heartfelt. Both deeply Polish and at the same time universally appealing this music knows no stylistic or Cultural boundaries. It is beautiful and sensitive and at the same time deeply emotional, soul-searching and introspective. In short, this album delivers everything one expects to hear when Great Artists are involved. Thank you, as always, my Dear!

Updated: 08/12/2018Posted: 08/12/2018

CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

KA1 ~ ODDECH NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 1254464499323) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the second album by the young Polish ensemble KA1Find albums by this artist (well almost as the debut was only an EP), which is fronted by a double (male and female) vocal duo of Damian CalkaFind albums by this artist (who is also in charge of most of the lyrics) and Monika WierbilowiczFind albums by this artist (in charge of the rest of the lyrics). Other members include bassist Artur PruzinskiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Arcadius MauritzFind albums by this artist, drummer Mariusz SkodowskiFind albums by this artist, trumpeter / guitarist Jakub SudolFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marek EliasFind albums by this artist, guitarist Edgar MakaraFind albums by this artist (the different guitarists play on different tunes of course) and finally saxophonist Andrzej ZubrFind albums by this artist. Two of the tracks feature a choir (no less than the choir of the faculty of Physics of the Warsaw University, which as a former Physics student makes me smile and which definitely should be called "The Swinging Atoms Choir"). The album presents nine original songs, eight of which are credited collectively to the ensemble and one is by Calka. The music is a surprisingly delightful amalgam of Jazz-Rock Fusion, Art Rock, Prog and Groove, which although sounding fresh and contemporary has also a delightful retro ambience, which creates an illusion of the album being recorded somewhere in the early 1970s and remotely resembling the early albums by the legendary SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, which I hope will be accepted as a warm compliment, as it is sincerely meant as one. Both the vocal and the instrumental parts are executed superbly. The double vocal lead is a nifty trick, sadly rarely used today, but deadly effective. The male and female vocals compliment each other ideally and create a pleasant harmony. Thank God the lyrics are in Polish avoiding the ridicule of singing in English, a trap which unfortunately so many Polish ensembles fall into. The instrumental parts are inventive and quite diverse, with many short, but excellent soli performed by the guitarists, the trumpeter and the keyboardist, with nice brass arrangements spread along the way and of course the use of a choir is a genius touch, a proverbial cherry on top. The rhythm section is Funky and keeps the pulse flowing smoothly. In short this is one sweet piece of a stylish, well made musical pie, which is impossible to resist. Overall this is a complete surprise and certainly one of the nicest pieces of music originating in Poland that landed on my desk in 2019, which although being on the lighter side of the musical spectrum, offers depth, refined aesthetics and a lot of passion and talent. I have had this playing on "repeat" for the entire afternoon, and I am pretty sure every true music lover will do the same upon getting his hands on a copy. Thank you Lady and Gentlemen for the gift of music!

Updated: 01/06/2019Posted: 01/06/2019

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

LIZARD ~ W GALERII CZASU (21ST ANNIVERSARY EDITION) AUDIO CAVE 2018/003 (Barcode: 5905669566469) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1996 Released: 2018 This is a reissue of the debut album by the Polish Progressive Rock group LizardFind albums by this artist, newly remastered for this edition. At the time of the recording the lineup of the group included vocalist Damian BydlinskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Miroslaw WorekFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Andrzej JanczaFind albums by this artist, bassist Janusz TanistraFind albums by this artist and drummer Mariusz SzulakowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, three of which are multi-part mini suites. The music is composed by Bydlinski or co-composed / composed by him and / or other band members and all lyrics (in Polish) are by Bydlinski. This album was already reissued before with added bonus tracks. Since Prog by definition includes a layer of improvisation it is therefore closely related musically to the Jazz / Fusion idioms. However, in contrast to Polish Jazz, which is a flourishing genre and often considered as perhaps the most creative on the international scale in the last two decades, Polish Prog never achieved the same success. The "original" wave of Prog (1960 / 1970s) almost completely missed Poland except for the Fusion oriented SBBFind albums by this artist and Pop / Rock oriented SkaldowieFind albums by this artist making fairly significant statements. The Neo-Prog (starting in 1990s) didn´t do much better overall, and with the exception of QuidamFind albums by this artist (debut album released in 1996), Lizard (debut album released in 1997) and RiversideFind albums by this artist (debut album released in 2004), not much else happened. All the above mentioned bands produced a series of albums, which over time showed a deterioration in their quality, and in time either disbanded or left the Prog idiom completely. Over time there were quite a few other bands out there, none of which made a truly significant statement, on the world scale. To be perfectly honest, the Neo-Prog genre was a bad idea to start with anyway. It was a priori derivative, almost completely unoriginal and often criminally boring. The idea of bringing back to life a musical genre that burnt itself out during its original period of activity is by definition absurd. Having said all that, the early albums by the three abovementioned groups (Quidam, Lizard, Riverside), including this one, have their merits. Musically "W Galerii Czasu" is an archetypal Neo-Prog album, with lengthy multi-part tracks, which offer several melody lines within one track and theatrical vocals. In this case the melodies are solid and interesting enough to make the album quite listenable. The instrumental work is fine, but not exceptional, well balanced and overall coherent. The vocals are somewhat monotonous and the vocal range is limited, but at least the vocalist sticks to singing in Polish, so the listener is not subjected to the bad English accent torture. The album aged well and lost nothing of its initial fine form, but again Neo-Prog did not move an inch since its conception, so this is not surprising. Overall it is still a very good listening experience, especially for the Prog Heads that are still around. For the sake of nostalgia and the great remastered sound, I can wholeheartedly recommend it!

Updated: 21/09/2021Posted: 04/07/2018

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JECEK PELC ~ ON THE ROAD JACEK PELC RECORDS 006 (Barcode: 5908254159572) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Funk Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is a wonderful live album by Polish Jazz / Fusion drummer / composer / bandleader Jacek PelcFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with saxophonist Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Bartosz HadalaFind albums by this artist (resident in Canada) and Italian bassist Maurizio RolliFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, six of which are original compositions by Pelc and one is an arrangement of a famous Pop song by the group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, dedicated to the memory of the great Polish guitarist / composer Jaroslaw SmietanaFind albums by this artist, with whom Pelc played for many years. The music is a mixture of mainstream Jazz and Funk / Groove, with excellent melody lines and superb rhythmic approach. As such it is easily accessible to a wide range of Jazz and Fusion listeners, who enjoy sophisticated individual contributions by the band members, which are the highlight of this album. All four instrumentalists really play their hearts out, each contributing several outstanding solos and the quartet performs like a well oiled reliable mechanism, which never fails. Rolli is the great surprise on this album, as his virtuosic performances are simply breathtaking both when he plays his wonderfully structured solos and when he amicably accompanies his fellow band members. His electric bass performances are among the finest one can find anywhere on record in recent years. Pelc also does a great job behind the drums, playing very intensively but at the same time not overriding the other band members. He is one of the most melodic / musical drummers on the Polish Jazz scene, something I recently had an opportunity to witness in person. Overall this is an honest, extremely well played Jazz / Funk album, which is a great fun to listen to, and which will hopefully reach many fans of the genre around the world, as it truly deserves. It proves that the veteran Polish Jazz scene is still alive and kicking, contrary to the general media trend, which often tends to overlook or plainly forget these wonderful musicians. Fans of virtuosic electric bass playing and students of the instrument simply must grab a copy of this album to realize what this instrument can do in the right hands. Well done!

Updated: 04/10/2016Posted: 04/10/2016

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ KRYWAN SESSIONS 1971-1973 – COMPLETE GERMAN RADIO RECORDINGS KAMELEON 17 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1971 - 1973 Released: 2012 This album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist) presents an alternate version of their great Prog magnum opus "Krywan, KrywanFind albums with this title" recorded and released originally in Poland. These recordings were made in East Berlin for the East German AmigaFind albums on this label label to be used on the local market (a common practice in those days in the Socialist Countries) and were supposed to feature German lyrics. However, only two of the five songs on this album are sung in German and the remaining three songs are sung in the original Polish versions. The other group members on this album are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. As expected, these versions of the material appearing on the original album are quite different, since the extended instrumental parts were mostly improvised and improvisations hardly ever sound the same. Also slightly different arrangements and instrumentations are used here as opposed to the original. In addition the sound and ambience of these recordings are again different from the original. Overall this is quite a rare case of a seminal album being recorded twice in two different versions. Considering the fact that "Krywan, Krywan" is considered as one of the most important recording of the East European Prog scene, the existence of an alternate version of the album is a most welcome event to the many fans of the group in general and hardcore aficionados of this release in particular. This album is perhaps not as essential as the original, but many Prog fans all over the world will find it a worthy addition to their collection. Warmly recommended!

Updated: 16/05/2016Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ KRYWAN, KRYWAN (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 07 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2011 This is the seventh album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential East European ensembles, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist). The other group members on this album are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. Congas player Jozef GawrychFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. The album was recorded practically live in the studio during one all-night session with only a few overdubs recorded later. This album is the first full-fledged Prog album by the group and features mostly instrumental music, with the vocal parts being kept in the background. It introduces the group members as improvisers, who use the basic musical themes as a vehicle to present extended improvisations, which made each live performance of this music different every time it was played. This was a completely new direction for the group, which up to this point excelled in meticulous arrangements, which were superbly musical but severely limited the abilities of the group members to express their own statements. The original LP consisted of just five tracks, with the title track being a fully developed suite, which occupied the entire A-side of the LP and lasted for almost 18 minutes. Although the entire album was not a concept album per se, the folkloristic themes and Classical music quotation constitute a unifying factor, which in retrospect turns the album into a concept album of sorts. The group uses the music of the Polish Highlanders (Gorals) as influence to most of the themes presented on this album. The musical approach is sometimes similar to what Emerson, Lake and Palmer presented on their early albums, but Skaldowie were unaware of these developments occurring behind the Iron Curtain. Soon after it was released this album turned into East European Rock icon and was sought after by Rock / Prog fans in all the ex-Socialist countries, influencing countless musicians who lived in these countries and propagated the idea of Progressive Rock to new territories. It is also the most popular Polish Prog (original Prog, not Neo-Prog) album among the genre´s fans around the world. This edition adds eleven bonus tracks, seven of which are instrumentals recorded by West German Radio and the other four are the original LP´s B-side songs recorded by Polish Radio. The sound and musical quality of the bonuses is perfect and the overall product value of this expanded edition is truly commendable. This is an essential piece of Polish Rock / Prog history and a must have for every Polish music fan. The music stands the test of time beautifully and one wishes music like this was done by some of the contemporary Prog outfits, rather than repeating the obsessive doodling that seems to occupy their space-time continuum. A true gem!

Updated: 21/09/2021Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ LISTY SPIEWAJACE KAMELEON 15 ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1967 - 1972 Released: 2012 This album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist) collects their recordings for the Polish Radio and TV, which were featured in two episodes of the TV series called "Listy Spiewajace (Singing Letters)". They span the early days of the group between 1967 and 1969 and were performed by the early lineups. All these songs feature lyrics by poetess Agnieszka OsieckaFind albums by this artist and the songs in the first episode of the series were composed by Adam SlawinskiFind albums by this artist, and are a rare example of songs performed by Skaldowie, which were not written by the group members. The songs in the second episode were all composed by Andrzej Zielinski. The bonus tracks present additional Polish Radio and TV recordings (and one West German Radio recording), which feature a couple of songs in different versions and arrangements from those appearing in the original TV episodes and other songs. The original music presents the group as great performers of sophistical Pop material and their leader as superb craftsman of such songs. Although not their most popular or strongest material, this album includes many fabulous moments, which deserve to be remembered. The beautiful lyrics by Osiecka also add a poetic dimension to these songs. The fans of the group will find this album as an integral part of their legacy, but otherwise it has only a marginal importance as far as Polish popular music is concerned. Nevertheless that fabulous late 1960s / early 1970s sound is simply irresistible. Worth investigation!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ LIVE IN GERMANY 1974 KAMELEON 24 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 Released: 2012 This album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist) presents a complete live performance of the group in Cologne, Germany, which was recorded and broadcasted by the WDR. The other group members on this album are: bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. The group´s guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist did not play on this concert for health reasons, so this is a rare opportunity to hear the group as a quartet. The music includes the more Prog and Jazz-Rock material by the group, which is performed in extended form, with long instrumental solos. A few shorter well known songs are also included in different arrangements. The most interesting piece is the early version of the group´ opus "Stworzenia Swiata Czesc DrugaFind albums with this title", which lasts for almost twenty minutes. The studio version of this piece was only recorded a couple years later and released on record another two years later. Although the sound quality of this recording is not ideal, it is quite listenable and considering the fact that almost no other live recordings from that period exist, it is of enormous importance to the group´s fans and followers. Andrzej Zielinski plays some superb Hammond and Fender piano parts, trying to cover up for the missing guitar parts. Overall this is an interesting piece of Polish Rock / Prog history and will be warmly received by connoisseurs of that scene and of course a must to the diehard fans of the band. Worth investigating!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ NIE DOMYKAJMY DRZWI (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 12 ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1988 Released: 2012 This is the twelfth album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential East European ensembles, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist). This album is the first recording by the group, which does not feature the group´s leader Andrzej Zielinski, who at the time was resident in the USA. The other group members on this album are: keyboardist Grzegorz GorkiewiczFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Wiktor KierzkowskiFind albums by this artist. This album was recorded in autumn 1988, almost nine years after the group recorded their previous album. Poland went through dramatic political upheavals during the 1980s, including the Martial Law period and strikes led by the Solidarity movement. When the Martial Law was declared the group was touring the USA and they decided to stay there until the situation clears. Gradually they returned to Poland, with Andrzej Zielinski delaying his return for longest. Those members who returned decided to re-activate the group in 1987, which eventually led to the recording of this album. With the absence of Andrzej Zielinski the composing duties fell upon Jacek Zielinski and Konrad Ratynski, and they added a keyboardist to retain the traditional keyboard oriented sound. Musically the album pretty much continues the musical tradition of the original group, with strong melodies and elegant arrangements. Although an attempt was made to use self-penned lyrics, eventually the decision to return to lyrics written by Polish poets was made. Although the album does suffer a bit from the dreaded synthesizer sound of the 1980s, it is overall quite impressive, especially due to the superb songwriting. Re-activating the group after almost a decade long break and without its leader was a very bold step, which in retrospect worked way beyond the initial expectations. This album was the last release by the group on the state owned Polskie Nagrania / MuzaFind albums on this label label and their last recording before the Socialist regime in Poland gave way to the democratic Third Republic. Unfortunately it was also the last album for over a decade and a half before the group started to record again the mid-2000. This edition adds seven bonus tracks, all of which are radio versions of the songs present on the original album. This is an important document of Polish Rock history and a must have for every Polish music fan. Most of the music stands the test of time quite well and is definitely worth revisiting.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ OD WSCHODU DO ZACHODU SLONCA (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 04 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2012 This is the fourth album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential groups during the Golden Decade east of the Iron Curtain. Founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, trumpeter, percussionist), Skaldowie epitomized everything that was great about the Polish scene in the late 1960s / early 1970s, which struggled against all odds with economic hardships, political censorship and relative isolation from the Western centers of musical progress at the time. Considering those objective adversities, their achievements were simply phenomenal and the music they created remains a symbol of human genius and creativity overcoming all limitations. The album was recorded in early 1970, shortly after the group returned from their US / Canadian tour, bringing with them the Hammond organ, which was Andrzej Zielinski´s dream since many years. Obviously the album features the Hammond extensively, and its sound was about to become the group´s trademark in years to come. The other group members are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. Musically the album clearly marks the group´s transition from sophisticated Pop, Psychedelia and Baroque Rock into the realms of Progressive Rock, which was exploding with creativity at the time. The tracks are longer than before and feature extensive instrumental passages, complicated arrangement involving orchestra and choir and the entire album is soaked in the Hammond sound. Zielinski´s incredible talent to compose breathtakingly beautiful melodies and his arrangement skills, which involved vocal harmonies, unexpected tempo changes and multi-themed songs, as well as catchy riffs, which made this music, in spite of its complexity and sophistication, accessible to a wide range of audiences. Skaldowie also used excellent lyrics, which were written by the great lyricist Leszek Aleksander MoczulskiFind albums by this artist, who cooperated with the group for many years. Luckily they were never tempted to sing in English and stuck with their native tongue. Of course the Polish lyrics are lost to listeners not speaking the language, but the music is definitely strong enough to stand on its own and Skaldowie achieved a worldwide following despite the language barrier. This expanded edition includes ten bonus tracks (doubling the original album´s length), partly radio recordings and partly rare recordings they made in Czechoslovakia and East Germany. The bonus tracks all have excellent quality and are a valuable addition to the original album. This is a perfect piece of Rock music, if there ever was one. Of course the destiny placed the group at the right time at the wrong place. Had they been active in UK or US they would have been a Rock icon, no doubt, but alas it was not to be. Nevertheless they made a tremendous contribution to East European music and many of their albums are absolute gems, this one included. Essential!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ PASTORALKI KAMELEON 16 ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1967 - 1992 Released: 2013 This album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist) collects their recordings for the Polish Radio and TV, which were seasonal Christmas songs. Of course these were not traditional Christmas carols, but original songs composed by Andrzej Zielinski with text by the poet Ernest BryllFind albums by this artist. They span mostly the early days of the group between 1967 and 1972, except for three songs recorded much later. Most of these songs were never previously released on records, except for four of them, which were released as the EP called "PastoralkiFind albums with this title" by Polskie NagraniaFind albums on this label / MuzaFind albums on this label. Two of the songs feature female vocalists: Maryla RodowiczFind albums by this artist and Lucja PrusFind albums by this artist. Some of the songs appear here more than once in different versions. These songs show again the superb diversity of the group, which was up for any challenge they were presented with, always showing their upper hand. They include many superb melodies, some quite intricate and of course all are executed perfectly. The fans of the group will find this album as an integral part of their legacy, but otherwise it has only a marginal importance as far as Polish popular music is concerned. Nevertheless that fabulous late 1960s / early 1970s sound is simply irresistible. Worth investigation!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ PIESN NAD PIESNIAMI, CZYLI BALLADA CZLOWIEKA O MILOSCI POLSKIE RADIO 1437 (Barcode: 5907812244378) ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1980 - 1981 Released: 2011 Although not a "proper" SkaldowieFind albums by this artist album per se, this recording presents the group taking part in a very special artistic project created by the legendary Polish cabaret "Piwnica Pod Baranami" in Krakow. Skaldowie, one of the most influential East European ensembles, were founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist and composer) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and composer). The other group members at the time were: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Wiktor KierzkowskiFind albums by this artist. Jacek Zielinski composed a cycle of songs to the lyrics written by Wieslaw DymnyFind albums by this artist, who himself performed at the cabaret and was famous for his witty lyrics. But the lyrics used here show his lyrical / poetic side as well. The songs were performed by the group and several additional vocalists, who were regular members of the cabaret. The entire project can be seen as a typical Jazz & Poetry project, although in this case the music was performed by a Rock group, with a strong Jazz orientation. The song cycle was also recorded by the Polish Radio in the winter of 1980 / 1981 and celebrating the 30th anniversary of the recording, was released on record for the first time. In retrospect this album is one of the best albums ever that Skaldowie recorded during their long career. It also shows that Jacek Zielinski was also quite an accomplished composer, which was never apparent on the formal recordings of the group, where Andrzej Zielinski was almost exclusively in charge of the composing. The actual performances are brilliant from start to end, in a much more informal atmosphere than the album recorded by the group and of better sound quality. The music is versatile and cross-genre, moving freely between Rock, Jazz, Chanson, Pop and of course Cabaret. Of course the complete experience of this recording is very much language dependent, even more so than on the regular albums by the group. But considering the fact that Skaldowie have a wide following among fans, who do not speak Polish, this one should be no exception, especially in view of its brilliant quality and artistic merit. This is an important document of Polish Rock history and Polish Culture in general and should be a must have for every Polish music fan. It stands the test of time with flying colors and is definitely worth revisiting. Brilliant stuff!

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ PODROZ MAGICZNA KAMELEON 19 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1973 - 1978 Released: 2012 This album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist) presents four recordings of instrumental Symphonic Prog pieces recorded during the 1970s, all previously unreleased, which of course is a major event for the many fans of the group. The other group members on this album are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. Two Polish Symphonic Orchestras and one German Radio Orchestra and two Big Bands are utilized in the recording as well as choir in one case. Two guest guitarists: Pawel BirulaFind albums by this artist and Andrzej PuczynskiFind albums by this artist participate in the title track. Andrzej Zielinski composed and arranged three of the pieces and Jan OleszkowiczFind albums by this artist composed the remaining one. The title piece (and the first track on the album) is the longest and most complex composition, lasting over half an hour. It was commission as a ballet suite, which was performed on and filmed by Polish TV. The suite is subdivided into twelve themes, flowing each other and presenting a coherent musical continuum. The music combines influences from Classical music, World Music (mostly Middle Eastern and Spanish motifs), Jazz and of course Prog and is simply exquisite. The second piece, which was recorded in West Germany for the WDR is a shorter suite utilizing extensively the brass section of the Radio Big Band, which results in Jazz-Rock oriented music similar to that performed by Brass-Rock bands like ChicagoFind albums by this artist, Blood, Sweat & TearsFind albums by this artist and others. The third piece is another suite, comprising of pieces which were used as the soundtrack for a film comedy, directed by Andrzej KondriatukFind albums by this artist entitled "Jak To Sie Robi (How Is It Done)". The last piece is an ambitious concerto for a Rock group and Orchestra, similar to other such endeavors tried previously, like Jon LordFind albums by this artist´s (Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist) "Concerto For Group And OrchestraFind albums with this title", which pioneered this style. This recording was the first event of the kind in Poland and Skaldowie was the only group that could perform it, due to their musical education and ability to read music fluently. Overall this album presents some superb instrumental music, very versatile but all of the highest quality, which shows previously unknown sides of the group and emphasizes their highly artistic ambitions. Andrzej Zielinski is portrayed not only as an extraordinary songwriter, but also as an ambitious composer of extended musical works. The musicality, intelligence and open-mindedness heard on this album are simply exceptional. The bonus DVD presents the filmed performance of the ballet suite, which is the title track of this album. This album is an absolute must for all the many fans of the group around the world and might surprise many by its wealth of ideas and musical beauty. Definitely worth investigating!

CD+DVD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ REZERWAT MILOSCI (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 10 ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1979 Released: 2012 This is the tenth album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential East European ensembles, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist). The other group members on this album are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. This album was recorded in March 1979, almost three years after the group recorded their previous album. Musically it reflects the dramatic change the Pop / Rock music went through in the late 1970s, with ambitious Progressive Rock being replaced by Punk, Disco and other brainless music forms. Skaldowie struggled to maintain their musical quality in spite that hostile musical climate. The album includes songs with a common motive, which in this case is love, composed by Andrzej Zielinski with one exception, where the song is composed by Konrad Ratynski. For the first time one of the songs features a guest vocalist Stanislaw WeglorzFind albums by this artist, who has vocal qualities remarkably similar to those of the legendary Niemen. As usual the lyrics were written by Polish poets the group cooperated with for many years. Some of the songs have excellent vocal, strings and brass arrangements, and overall this album is probably the most "produced" album the group ever made. With the synthesizer stepping up to take the leading role in the Rock world, the sound becomes more dense and complex and with the addition of the orchestral arrangements, this album is more similar to the lush productions popular in the US than to the more simplistic and rough sound of Polish Rock. This edition adds eight bonus tracks, some of which are radio versions of the songs present on the original album and other material which was only recorded by the radio. Three of these tracks feature the vocals of Stanislaw Weglorz. This is an important document of Polish Rock history and a must have for every Polish music fan. Most of the music stands the test of time quite well and is definitely worth revisiting.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ STWORZENIA SWIATA CZESC DRUGA (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 09 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1976 Released: 2011 This is the ninth album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential East European ensembles, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist). The other group members on this album are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. Percussionist Jozef GawrychFind albums by this artist guests on three tracks and a string orchestra is also utilized in the recordings. This album is the second full-fledged Prog album by the group and follows up in the steps of the "Krywan, KrywanFind albums with this title" magnum opus. The original LP consisted of just five tracks, with the title track being a fully developed suite, which occupied the entire A-side of the LP and lasted for almost 20 minutes. The group uses again the music of the Polish Highlanders (Gorals) as influence to some of the themes presented on this album. The musical approach is similar to what other Prog groups were doing at the time in Western Europe, but is years ahead of the East European scene, where Skaldowie were definitely one of the top acts at the time. Similar to the release of "Krywan, Krywan", which was accompanied by the release of the "Wszystkim ZakochanymFind albums with this title" album containing Pop oriented but still excellent material, also in this case Skaldowie released a second album almost simultaneously called "Szanujmy WspomnieniaFind albums with this title", which also presented the less complex side of the group´s music. This edition adds six bonus tracks, four of which are Polish Radio recordings and the remaining two are studio recordings, one previously unreleased and the other released as a single in Czechoslovakia. The sound and musical quality of the bonuses is perfect and the overall product value of this expanded edition is truly commendable. This is an essential piece of Polish Rock / Prog history and a must have for every Polish music fan. The music stands the test of time beautifully and one wishes music like this was done by some of the contemporary Prog outfits, rather than repeating the obsessive doodling that seems to occupy their space-time continuum. A true gem!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ SZANUJMY WSPOMNIENIA (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 08 ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1976 Released: 2012 This is the eighth album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential East European ensembles, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist). The other group members on this album are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. This album was recorded in June 1976 just a month before the group recorded their second Progressive Rock album "Stworzenia Swiata Czesc DrugaFind albums with this title". It includes more song oriented material Andrzej Zielinski composed since the recording of their previous album four years earlier. It features the synthesizer for the first time in addition to the Hammond organ used extensively by the group earlier on. It also features, for the first time, one song written by Ratynski. It is the second time Skaldowie released two albums almost simultaneously, one with Pop / Rock material and the other with more ambitious Prog material. This collection of songs again proves the incredible versatility and talent of Andrzej Zielinski and the group as a whole, which crosses genres, styles and moods, always with elegance and panache. As usually they use excellent lyrics written by Polish poets. The songs are performed with charm and everlasting joy of music, which always were a part of the phenomenon called Skaldowie. This edition adds eleven bonus tracks, ten of which are radio versions of the songs present on the original album and the last comes from the group´s private vaults. This is an essential piece of Polish Rock history and a must have for every Polish music fan. The music stands the test of time beautifully and one can only wish music like this was done today. A true gem!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ TY (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 05 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2011 This is the fifth album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential groups during the Golden Decade east of the Iron Curtain. Founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, trumpeter, guitarist, percussionist), Skaldowie epitomized everything that was great about the Polish scene in the late 1960s / early 1970s, which struggled against all odds with economic hardships, political censorship and relative isolation from the Western centers of musical progress at the time. Considering those objective adversities, their achievements were simply phenomenal and the music they created remains a symbol of human genius and creativity overcoming all limitations. The album was recorded in early 1970 just three months after the group recorded their previous album "Od Wschodu Do Zachodu SloncaFind albums with this title". It features the Hammond organ extensively, which the group managed to bring over from the US and its sound was about to become the group´s trademark in years to come. The other group members are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. Musically the album combines their earlier work in the realms of sophisticated Pop, Psychedelia and Baroque Rock and the new territory of Progressive Rock, which was exploding with creativity at the time. The tracks are longer than before and feature extensive instrumental passages, complicated arrangement involving orchestra and choir and the entire album is soaked in the Hammond sound. Zielinski´s incredible talent to compose breathtakingly beautiful melodies and his arrangement skills, which involved vocal harmonies, unexpected tempo changes and multi-themed songs, as well as catchy riffs, which made this music, in spite of its complexity and sophistication, accessible to a wide range of audiences. Skaldowie also used excellent lyrics, which were written by the great lyricists like Leszek Aleksander MoczulskiFind albums by this artist, who cooperated with the group for many years, Wojciech MlynarskiFind albums by this artist or the poetess Agnieszka OsieckaFind albums by this artist. Luckily they were never tempted to sing in English and stuck with their native tongue. Of course the Polish lyrics are lost to listeners not speaking the language, but the music is definitely strong enough to stand on its own and Skaldowie achieved a worldwide following despite the language barrier. This expanded edition includes ten bonus tracks (doubling the original album´s length), partly radio recordings and partly other studio material. The bonus tracks all have excellent quality and are a valuable addition to the original album. This is a perfect piece of Rock music, if there ever was one. Of course the destiny placed the group at the right time at the wrong place. Had they been active in UK or US they would have been a Rock icon, no doubt, but alas it was not to be. Nevertheless they made a tremendous contribution to East European music and many of their albums are absolute gems, this one included. Essential!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ WSZYSTKIM ZAKOCHANYM (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 06 ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2013 This is the sixth album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential groups during the Golden Decade east of the Iron Curtain. Founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist), Skaldowie epitomized everything that was great about the Polish scene in the late 1960s / early 1970s, which struggled against all odds with economic hardships, political censorship and relative isolation from the Western centers of musical development at the time. Considering those objective adversities, their achievements were simply phenomenal and the music they created remains a symbol of human genius and creativity overcoming all limitations. This album was recorded in May 1972 just a week before the group recorded their Progressive Rock Magnum Opus "Krywan, KrywanFind albums with this title". It includes more song oriented material Andrzej Zielinski composed since the recording of their previous album two years earlier. It features the Hammond organ extensively, which the group managed to bring over from the US and its sound was about to become the group´s trademark in years to come, but also some quiet songs with almost acoustic accompaniment. The other group members are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. The group was about to repeat in the future the same practice of releasing two albums almost simultaneously, one with song oriented material (like this one) and the other with Progressive Rock material. Musically the album combines their earlier work in the realms of sophisticated Pop, Psychedelia and Baroque Rock and the new territory of Progressive Rock, which was exploding with creativity at the time. Zielinski´s incredible talent to compose breathtakingly beautiful melodies and his arrangement skills, which involved vocal harmonies, unexpected tempo changes and multi-themed songs, as well as catchy riffs, which made this music, in spite of its complexity and sophistication, accessible to a wide range of audiences. Skaldowie also used excellent lyrics, which were written by the great lyricists like Leszek Aleksander MoczulskiFind albums by this artist, who cooperated with the group for many years or the poetesses Agnieszka OsieckaFind albums by this artist and Wislawa SzymborskaFind albums by this artist (the future Nobel Prize Laureate). This expanded edition includes ten bonus tracks (doubling the original album´s length), partly radio recordings and partly alternate studio material. The bonus tracks all have excellent quality and are a valuable addition to the original album. This is a perfect piece of Rock music, if there ever was one. Of course the destiny placed the group at the right time at the wrong place. Had they been active in UK or US they would have been a Rock icon, no doubt, but alas it was not to be. Nevertheless they made a tremendous contribution to East European music and many of their albums are absolute gems, this one included.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ WSZYSTKO MI MOWI ZE MNIE KTOS POKOCHAL (EXPANDED EDITION) KAMELEON 02 ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1967 - 1968 Released: 2013 This is the second album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, one of the most influential groups during the Golden Decade east of the Iron Curtain. Founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, trumpeter, percussionist), Skaldowie epitomized everything that was great about the Polish scene in the late 1960s / early 1970s, which struggled against all odds with economic hardships, political censorship and relative isolation from the Western centers of musical progress at the time. Considering those objective adversities, their achievements were simply phenomenal and the music they created remains a symbol of human genius and creativity overcoming all limitations. The album was recorded in partly in 1967 and than completed in 1968, while the personnel of the group was still unsteady and included: guitarists Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, Marek JamrozyFind albums by this artist and Feliks NaglickiFind albums by this artist, bassists Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and Tadeusz GogoszFind albums by this artist, and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. The female vocal group AlibabkiFind albums by this artist accompanies the group on several tracks. Musically the album clearly shows the group´s stylistic development from the debut album, full of sophisticated Pop, Psychedelia and Baroque Rock. The beautiful arrangements involving orchestra and choir by Andrzej Zielinski, who also composed all but one of the album´s songs, are outstanding. He presents incredible talent to compose breathtakingly beautiful melodies and his arrangement skills, which involved vocal harmonies, unexpected tempo changes and multi-themed songs, as well as catchy riffs, which made this music, in spite of its complexity and sophistication, accessible to a wide range of audiences. Skaldowie used excellent lyrics, which were written by the best Polish lyricists at the time, like Leszek Aleksander MoczulskiFind albums by this artist, Agnieszka OsieckaFind albums by this artist, and Wojciech MlynarskiFind albums by this artist, Luckily they were never tempted to sing in English and stuck with their native tongue. Of course the Polish lyrics are lost to listeners not speaking the language, but the music is definitely strong enough to stand on its own and Skaldowie achieved a worldwide following despite the language barrier. This expanded edition includes thirteen bonus tracks (more than doubling the original album´s length), all of which are radio recordings. The bonus tracks all have excellent quality and are a valuable addition to the original album. This is almost a perfect piece of Pop / Rock music, a status they were about to reach in their next albums. Of course the destiny placed the group at the right time at the wrong place. Had they been active in UK or US they would have been a Rock icon, no doubt, but alas it was not to be. Nevertheless they made a tremendous contribution to East European music and many of their albums are absolute gems, this one included.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ Z BIEGIEM LAT POLSKIE RADIO 1327-1328 (Barcode: 5907812243272) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1972 - 1980 Released: 2010 Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist made a rapid transition from Pop / Rock to Progressive Rock and in the 1970s they were the best and most creative Prog outfit behind the Iron Curtain. Led by brothers Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist – vocalist / keyboardist / composer and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist – vocalist / multi-instrumentalist / composer the group´s lineup changed somewhat over time but remained always in absolute peak form. Andrzej Zielinski is blessed by an incredible talent, which enables him to compose quality music, which appears simple enough to the listener, in spite of its complex harmonic structure. His compositions over the years add up to a magnificent song book, which has few parallels. This brilliant album presents for the first time a collection of sings by the group, recorded in the 1970s by the Polish Radio, all previously unreleased. It includes the entire unreleased album, which the group planned to release in 1981, but never did, due to their decision to stay in the US, where they toured when the Martial Law was declared in Poland in 1981. The music lost absolutely nothing of its quality and merit over the years and for the numerous fans of the group this is a major event. Prog fans from all over the world have a rare opportunity to listen to this music for the first time and realize it is as good as anything else recorded at the time in Western Europe. Brilliant stuff!

CD 2 Recommend To A Friend