Record Reviews

ANGELA GABER ~ DOBRE DUCHY AURA ART 05 ~ POLAND ~ World Music & Folklore Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the second album by Polish World Music / Folk vocalist Angela GaberFind albums by this artist, recorded with a trio comprising of multi-instrumentalist Ernest DrelichFind albums by this artist, acoustic guitarist Tomasz DybalaFind albums by this artist and electric guitarist Robert Robson OnackoFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Wojciech LubertowiczFind albums by this artist, who also guests on a couple of tracks as a musician. Together the ensemble performs twelve original songs, all composed by the ensemble members with lyrics written by Gaber. Although this album preserves the Ethnic / World Music idiom of Gaber´s debut album, it is immediately apparent that it is a much more advanced and aesthetically superior product in many ways. Firstly the music is all original, which of course adds a complete new aspect and depth to it. Secondly the instrumental work on this album is much more complex and diverse, using a range of different instruments and constantly changing the atmosphere, the dynamics and the color of the sound. The music amalgamates many ethnic influences, travelling between the Eastern European melancholy and the Mediterranean, Caucasian and even Balinese rhythmic patterns and seductive movement of melody lines. The elegant balance between the folkloristic basic instrumentation and the electric guitar riffs on top is very effective and places the music right here and now rather than sounding a bit dated, as many World Music efforts unfortunately end up sounding. Of course Gaber is the focus of this album, from start to finish. Her warm voice, which she uses wisely and skillfully, is the centerpiece of this music, both when she sings lyrics and improvised vocalese. As the author of the texts, she delivers them with a heartfelt emotion and superb, highly poignant expressiveness. However, in spite of the fact that she is the leader of the ensemble, she gives the other members of the ensemble all the respect and attention necessary to create music together. This album works out as well as it does as a result of this beautiful mutual respect and teamwork. It is truly heartwarming to see (and hear) an artist taking such a leap forward in their career, like in the case of this album. This album was again financed by a crowdfunding campaign on "Polak Potrafi", which proves that determination pays off and thanks to some intelligent people (whom Gaber calls Good Souls, as in the album´s title in Polish language), who recognize the potentially great music even before it is actually completed. It is really sad to see that only very few vocal albums released on the Polish music scene are worthy of being listened to, regardless of the genre. It is not enough to have a good voice; it takes a huge heart, a deep soul and a hefty brain to make things happen. Luckily at least some vocalists in Poland have these qualities and Gaber is definitely one of them. This is a beautiful, moving, highly aesthetic music, which rewards the listener every time anew. Chapeau!

Updated: 04/01/2016Posted: 04/01/2016

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ANGELA GABER ~ ZORIA: DZIEWCZYNKA Z GWIAZD – CICHY MEMORIAL NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ World Music & Folklore Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the third album by Polish World Music singer / songwriter Angela GaberFind albums by this artist recorded with the same group of musicians who worked with her on the two previous albums: cellist Anna Maria NiemiecFind albums by this artist, guitarist Tomasz DybalaFind albums by this artist, duduk and bodhràn player Wojciech LubertowiczFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Przemyslaw PankiewiczFind albums by this artist and percussionist Mateusz SzemrajFind albums by this artist. The album presents six tracks, five of which are original songs (well one is an instrumental), with lyrics by Gaber and music co-composed by Gaber and other people. One song is a cover of a Polish Pop song. Since the playing time of the CD is only slightly above half an hour it is rather an EP than a full CD album. Musically this album continues exactly what Gaber offered on her previous releases, i.e. deeply melodic, lyrical Folk influenced music, which is highly emotional and on this album especially deeply melancholic in view of the tragic circumstances which surround it. The instrumental accompaniments are all delicate and often even minimalist, but always superbly played by the musician involved, a classic example of "less is more". Gaber´s vocals are as usual heartfelt and offer an excellent delivery both when singing lyrics or using vocalese. She is definitely one of my favorite Polish female vocalists across the genres, and personally I am sorry she does not record more frequently, which will hopefully happen in the future. Although, as already mentioned above, this album is way too short to offer a full scale picture of the potential and talents of Gaber and her cohorts, it is still a gem of an album, which for lack of a better solution can be simply put on "repeat", while we wait for the next one. In the meantime enjoy the honesty, elegant modesty and incredible musicality it offers. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 28/06/2019Posted: 28/06/2019

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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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MARIA POMIANOWSKA & FRIENDS ~ DANCE OF SUKA FOR TUNE 0169 (Barcode: 5906395808830) ~ POLAND ~ World Music & Folklore Recorded: 2020 Released: 2024 This is an album by Polish World Music / Folklore magician Maria PomianowskaFind albums by this artist, recorded with four of her musical friends: Karolina HulbujFind albums by this artist, who plays the cello and wspak (a viola like instrument, but with reversed symmetry), Sebastian WypychFind albums by this artist, who plays the double bass, Arad EmamgholiFind albums by this artist, a Kurd living in Warsaw, who plays the daf (a Middle Eastern frame drum) and Wojciech LubertowiczFind albums by this artist, who also plays frame drums. This superb quintet recorded in the midst of the Pandemic twelve tracks of completely unique music, two of which are contemporary compositions by Pomianowska and ten are new interpretations / arrangements of dances composed between the 13th and 17th Century. This album is a companion to the album “The Voice Of SukaFind albums with this title”, recorded by Pomianowska in 2016 and also released on the For TuneFind albums on this label Records label. Pomianowska plays on the instrument known as suka, a vertically played fiddle (or knee fiddle), close in sound to violin, which was part of the Polish musical tradition for centuries and almost forgotten in time, and now thanks to her dedication, brought back to “active duty” with great success. On this album she uses two variants the suka, as well as an old fiddle. The music is an exceptional amalgam between Classical Medieval and Baroque compositions and Folkloristic influences, which encompass a wide range of diverse sources, between Eastern European and Middle Eastern Cultures. Somehow Pomianowska manages to amalgamate all those seemingly completely separate elements into a coherent oneness, which is not only beautiful but also very clever, exciting and aesthetically pleasing. Listening to the album seems to be a wide magic carpet ride above countries, on one side, and a time machine trip on the other, constantly moving between one musical environment to another, almost making the listener dizzy at times, but inducing a wide smile at the same time. Of course people familiar with the many sources of the music, will also enjoy the familiarity, but those to whom everything here is previously unheard, the joy of surprise should be even more exciting. Overall, this is a wonderful piece of music, which splendidly combines many stylistically different types of music and different Cultural heritages into a comprehensible and enjoyable musical experience, with the unique signature of Pomianowska, who is taking the world by storm. I envy you your stamina, Maria my Friend, and thank you for your creativity. Godspeed in these crazy times!

Updated: 29/06/2024Posted: 29/06/2024

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TWO I AM ~ LAND ART NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5908252860807) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by Polish duo called Two I AmFind albums by this artist, which consists of vocalist / songwriter Barbara BlaszczykFind albums by this artist and keyboardist Przemyslaw PankiewiczFind albums by this artist. Cajon player Wojciech LubertowiczFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents seven tracks, six of which are original compositions by Blaszczyk and one is a standard. Four of the tracks feature lyrics, one in Polish and three in English. The music was arranged and produced by Pankiewicz. The music absolutely escapes classification, and for lack of a better option I see it as a Jazz-World Fusion, as it amalgamates Jazzy moods and improvisations with strong Polish Folklore inspirations. But regardless of which definition one wants to apply here, the music is absolutely brilliant from start to finish. The intimate vocal / keyboards setting is perfect in this case and lacks absolutely nothing to make this music work. Blaszczyk offers beautiful voice parts in a wide palette of vocalese and singing, while Pankiewicz provides sensitive and imaginative accompaniment, delicately emphasizing the vocal parts and managing to work out some impressive solo parts as well. The music is like a breath of fresh air, deeply melancholic and highly melodic but at the same time spacey and open enough to include improvisation and leave something for the listener´s imagination. Personally I prefer when Blaszczyk uses vocalese and honestly think that using lyrics, especially those in English, degrades the result on the whole, but it certainly is not fatal. Overall this is an exceptional debut effort, which leaves the listener wishing for more, which hopefully will arrive soon. It proves that the young generation of Polish Jazz musicians is open to explore and bravely take the path less travelled. Congratulations are in order!

Updated: 04/04/2020Posted: 28/03/2020

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ZAWARTKO / PIASECKI ~ WAGABUNDA NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the second album by the Polish Jazz duo comprising of vocalist Magdalena ZawartkoFind albums by this artist and bassist Grzegorz PiaseckiFind albums by this artist, recorded with other Polish Jazz musicians: saxophonists Tomasz PruchnickiFind albums by this artist and Tomasz WendtFind albums by this artist, pianist Robert JarmuzekFind albums by this artist, multi-instrumentalist Wojciech LubertowiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz PalkaFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all co-composed by the duo. Returning after seven years, which passed since their debut album was recorded, the duo continues exactly where they left off, creating a beautiful amalgam of Jazz with Folkloristic themes, which span the Eastern World from Middle East and up to Asian planes. The wonderful melodic themes are richly encrusted with Jazz improvisations and exotic instrumentation, creating a most pleasant listening experience. Zawartko uses her voice like an instrument and becomes in integral part of the overall sound, rather than a soloist, although she does sing lyrics occasionally as well. Piasecki plays superb bass parts, which are the driving force of the album, Jarmuzek supplies the harmonic layers, the sax players add fiery soloing, Palka carries the polyrhythmic pulsations and Lubertowicz is in charge of the exotic sounds of the duduk and percussions, all working together to achieve the sensation of a dreamy flying carpet ride. Of course such Jazz-World Fusion albums have been recorded many times before, this one simply has everything working for it and offers such universal aesthetics, that it can be enjoyed and loved anywhere on this planet. Its subtle Polish roots become only audible in the melancholic melody themes, but even melancholy can be felt equally anywhere on this small globe we share. The long wait for the sophomore effort by the duo proved to be worth waiting for and it is a delightful album by every standard. It’s time to enjoy the music and hopefully we won’t have to wait for the follow up for another proverbial seven years. Thank you for the music and well done!

Updated: 18/08/2021Posted: 17/08/2021

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