Record Reviews

LIPINY SYNDICATE ~ LIPINY SYNDICATE NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by Silesian quartet called Lipiny SyndicateFind albums by this artist, led by guitarist / composer Tomasz BienekFind albums by this artist with violinist Tomasz MuchaFind albums by this artist, bassist Simon NowakowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Ryszard RajcaFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven compositions, five of which are originals composed (in one case co-composed) by Bienek, one is a Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist composition and one is an off-shot of a BeatlesFind albums by this artist tune. The music played by Lipiny Syndicate is a surprisingly original mixture of Fusion, Folklore and Psychedelia, which is distinctly original from anything else currently being played on the Polish scene. Additionally the sound of the quartet is also completely unusual, full of reverb and echo, electric and yet full of acoustic ambience. This is some of the most bizarre sound I have heard in a long time and I absolutely love it. It is somewhat similar to the early violin-based Jazz-Rock ensembles, like Flock, Hands, Curved Air, It`s A Beautiful Day and others, which brings warm waves of nostalgia and longing to the times when music was music. Bienek´s compositions are all solid, with good melody lines, serving as ideal vehicles for the extended treatment they receive by the quartet. Mucha performs most of the Jazzy improvised parts, always playing with flair as appropriate for a virtuoso performer, with Bienek playing complex guitar chords behind him. The rhythm section sticks mostly to Rock patterns, which fit the music ideally, with the bass filling the bottom part of the spectrum with a solid foundation and the drums leading the music forward at a steady pace. There are many mini-quotations hidden within the music, taken from Silesian Folklore, Hassidic Klezmer tunes, Reggae songs and a myriad of other sources, which are delightful and humorous, proving that this music is meant to be fun. Overall this is a most likeable album, which can be listened to repeatedly and allows the listener to discover its hidden gems time after time. It is so different from most other stuff played today that it deserves to be discovered and enjoyed. Satisfaction guaranteed!

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JOLA LITERSKA ~ PROTEST SONGS (PIESNI LUTRA) NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Gospel Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is a wonderful and completely out of the ordinary album by Polish (well Silesian) vocalist Jola LiterskaFind albums by this artist, which as the title suggests presents her interpretation of eight songs composed and written by the 16th Century Protestant Reformation leader Martin LutherFind albums by this artist, who was also an accomplished composer. Literska´s concept is to interpret these songs as Protest Songs, which in many respects they were, considering the theological and social upheaval Luther´s teachings managed to create. Literska sings the songs in the Polish language and is accompanied by a small group of musicians, which includes guitarist Tomasz BienekFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej RusekFind albums by this artist and violinist Tomasz MuchaFind albums by this artist; all three also arranged the songs. Guitarist Stefan MalejkaFind albums by this artist and violinist Jacek DzwonowskiFind albums by this artist guest on a couple of tracks. Although the music has distinctive mediaeval characteristics, it sounds also amazingly contemporary, and turns out to be almost Bluesy. The arrangements, which are very delicate and minimalistic, are astoundingly effective and powerful. Literska´s beautiful vocals, which are kept within strict stylistic limitations, amaze with their simplicity and intrinsic gorgeousness. The instrumentalists make every note count and adorn the spiritual music with angelic beauty. This album is a superb example of great taste, intelligent treatment of the subject matter and divine esthetics, which combined together are simply irresistible. Even without the deeply theological layer, which is expressed by the song´s lyrics, the music has a spiritual nature and quality, which is almost never achievable by today´s musical standards. Personally I was completely smitten by this concept album, which proves the power of modesty and "less is more" approach, especially if the actual concept matter is as powerful as in this case. It takes a lot of courage to tackle such an unusual and ideologically challenging project and the fact that the result is as powerful and successful as in this case, is truly rewarding. This is definitely one of the most unusual recordings on the Polish scene in quite a while and I recommend to every music connoisseur, including those who do not know the Polish language, to try and get a copy of this gem. Silesia Rules!

Updated: 11/02/2018Posted: 11/02/2018

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MAREK MCCARRON MOTYKA ~ BURNS NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Blues Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is an album by veteran Polish Blues vocalist / guitarist / songwriter Marek McCarron MotykaFind albums by this artist recorded in a trio format with guitarist Tomasz BienekFind albums by this artist and bassist Jacek RaciborskiFind albums by this artist. Banjo player Partyk FilipowiczFind albums by this artist guests on selected tracks. The album presents eleven original songs co-composed by the trio members, all featuring lyrics by the 18th Century Romantic Scottish poet Robert BurnsFind albums by this artist, translated into the Silesian language by Miroslaw SyniawaFind albums by this artist. At first look the entire enterprise looked entirely weird; Scottish poetry translated into Silesian and framed into a Blues setting? But after taking a deep breath, reading the liner notes and placing the album into the CD player everything started to make perfect sense. Poetry is obviously universal and manages to cross time and language barriers, and since human emotions are basically common to all of us, Motyka’s affinity to the Scotsman’s words are not that bizarre after all. As to the Blues setting, well the southern Polish region of Upper Silesia (where I was born) is well recognized as the cradle of the Polish Blues and many of the leading Polish Blues musicians originate from there. And even the McCarron nickname has a good explanation for the insiders ;) The music is, not surprisingly, traditional Blues, acoustic and raw, wonderfully sung by Motyka, who has the vocal qualities ideal for the genre, and the guitars only accompaniment adds to the authenticity of the sound. If one disregards the language, this sound almost like an early, almost field recording. Of course this album is way beyond copying the original, but a genuine, heartfelt Blues statement, full of emotion and expression. The instrumental work is also exactly what is required to make this music sound honest and unpretentious. Overall this is a very original and interesting statement, with a cross-cultural message and a nice dose of Blues, which should make all lovers of the genre happy. Silesia rules, which goes without saying!

Updated: 13/08/2021Posted: 13/08/2021

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MAREK MCCARRON MOTYKA TRIO ~ CALENDAE: KOLEDY GORNOSLASKIE NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ World Music & Folklore Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 It’s a bit strange to write about an Xmas Carrols album in the middle of summer, but I can’t have my Upper Silesian buddies waiting, and I got it only now, so what the heck. Of course if one does not understand Polish, or rather the Silesian dialect, one would have never guessed this is a Carrols album, as it sounds more like a Country / Blues outing, which of course is an absolute blast. Vocalist / guitarist Marek McCarron MotykaFind albums by this artist, lead guitarist / multi-instrumentalist Tomasz BienekFind albums by this artist and bass guitarist Jacek RaciborskiFind albums by this artist usually play Blues together and already recorded the “BurnsFind albums with this title” album three years earlier, but they have an eclectic attitude and on this album decided to collect thirteen traditional Carrols from Upper Silesia and apply some up to date arrangements to them, preserving the original lyrics and basic melodies. The resulting album music is absolutely delightful, offering an excellent way to preserve the traditional music in a contemporary way. Thanks to these new arrangements, the traditional Carrols are saved from oblivion, but at the same time offer first rate entertainment and above all good time. The vocals and performances are perfect for the format, and Bienek’s guitar work could easily turn heads. Personally I had a great time listening to this music and I am sure many people, who love music without prejudice, should like it as well. Overall, this is a multi-purpose piece of music, which both serves to preserve Folkloristic musical traditions and provide great fun to contemporary listeners, even those not speaking the language. Of course for people hailing from Upper Silesia, this album has an added value, but it definitely offers universal artistic and aesthetic values. Well done, my Friends!

Updated: 29/05/2024Posted: 29/05/2024

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PARTY SAHNE ~ PARTY SAHNE NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the debut album by Polish / Silesian trio called Party SahneFind albums by this artist, which comprises of guitarist Tomasz BienekFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej RusekFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz ImielskiFind albums by this artist. French horn player Michal ZdrzalekFind albums by this artist plays on four tracks and vocalists Jola LiterskaFind albums by this artist and Marek McCarron MotykaFind albums by this artist also participate, each on one track, as does the rapper DonoFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original tracks, six of which were composed by Bienek and three are from different sources. The album is dedicated to Rusek, who tragically fell victim to the Covid-19 pandemic during the recording of the album. The music is an idiosyncratic amalgam of Rock, Fusion, Blues and Ambient elements, which characterize Bienek’s earlier recording projects. His excellent guitar playing, which eschews flashy displays of vanity and stays focused and pretty minimalist, is captivating and heartfelt. The solid rhythm section drives the music forward, adding a Funky Groove and solid ground for the guitar solo parts. The French horn melodic layer is a wonderful idea and fits the rest of the music like a glove. Overall, this is a splendid and highly entertaining album, which offers a diverse mixture of highly melodic, well-constructed music, which is superbly executed by all the musicians involved. There is nothing pretentious or hyper-cerebral in this music, just pure solid musical contents and an honest statement. It’s a great pleasure to follow my Silesian musical friends, who never disappoint. Highly recommended!

Updated: 23/07/2022Posted: 23/07/2022

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