Record Reviews

NIEMEN ~ RUSSISCHE LIEDER GREEN TREE 121 (Barcode: 4015689001213) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1973 Released: 2004 This is the 3rd album recorded by Polish singer / keyboardist / composer / lyricist / poet Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist as part of his 4 albums deal with CBSFind albums on this label. It was the last of the albums to be recorded in Germany and is the must unusual of all of his albums ever recorded. “Russische LiederFind albums with this title” (or “Russian Songs” in English) take Niemen back to his childhood and give him an opportunity to re-examine his musical roots. He was born is a small village in Bielorussia, near the Niemen river (his artistic pseudonym “Niemen” comes from that river’s name, his real name being Czeslaw Wydrzycki). His family was Polish (before WW II large parts of Bielorussia and Ukraine were part of the Polish State) and they immigrated to Poland in the late 1950s. As a highly sensitive and musical child, Niemen was exposed to a wide range of Russian music, both classical and folklore, which undoubtedly became deeply embedded into his musical personality and a well trained ear can often hear echoes of these influences in his later work. On this album Niemen performs 10 Russian folk songs, all arranged and performed by his own. He plays several instruments and overlays vocal tracks to achieve an effect of transcribing the original material into contemporary setting. Although almost completely detached from his usual Prog and Jazz-Rock output, this is a fascinating album, especially in view of the fact that the song’s musical treatment is highly original and unusual. Although some of Niemen’s fans found this album difficult to swallow, any sensitive music lover will recognize the artistic value of this recording. This reissue includes also 2 bonus tracks taken from the CBS single, which includes a single version of the “Strange Is This WorldFind albums with this title” title track and a non-album track – both extremely rare. Definitely worth investigating.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend