“Trypolis” is a story dazzlingly told: with moving lyrics, delivered (i.e. shouted) in Marcin Pryt’s trademark style, musically complex, but coherent and distinctive at the same time. If the idea of concept albums may be kept alive, it’s on records such as this one: thought-out, fine-tuned, with texts that match the music, memorable on both the formal and emotional levels.
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This alpaca is electrified
“Loading 7%” by Delay_ok is micro-music – created at home, using a limited number of instruments. At the same time, though, the macro aspect is there too – the sound is very spatial, full of diverse layers and interlacing ideas. Joanna Duda on “Keen” interweaves various threads, piecing them together into a colourful mosaic, which may seem incongruent at first sight, but thanks to how subtly and craftily subsequent tracks are pieced together, the record sounds coherent and convincing.
Improvisation is not dead yet
Bloor seem to be consistent to the extreme – playing with verve and freshness, avoiding routine. “Drolleries” show that the point of departure and listening to each other are key, together with a form that is not excessively long, so as not to become tiring. This is a vibrating and resonating album, which combines the anger of punk with a courageous look at jazz, repetitions, raw sound and improvisation.
The Polish School of Electronics
Two new records by Bartosz Kruczyński: “Selected Media 2014-2018” is a tour-de-force of his composing skills and blending various aesthetics into a coherent and toned down functional music format, which can function autonomously. “Pulses” – made with Sasha Zakrevska – in turn, shows his skills in playing live, improvising and building spacious aesthetics.
Tuareg disco and electronic cumbia
Columbian Romperayo on “Que Jue?” offers such a colourful, contemporary, and unrestrained interpretation of cumbia, while Hama on “Houmeissa” makes an entirely different story: cosmic, multi-layered music, which builds a bridge between tradition and futurist sounds.
Drones* or LSD
Calineczka’s recordings are an intriguing phenomenon – worth a listen, both from the standpoint of sound-art and music – that resonates within the space, but also affects the human body.
The other side of drums
In spite of its near mathematical precision, Sequence is light and spontaneous. The simplicity and self-limitation are captivating, as is the palette of sounds offered by the drums, which Rattle are able to spontaneously and beautifully reveal to us anew.
Music with a past
Sejny Klezmer Theatre Orchestra is firmly rooted in the past, but also keeps an eye out for the present – a present that is still fluid in terms of the global multiculturalism.
Gqom in pop
Sho Madjozi sounds best in parts that draw on contemporary influences from her native Limpopo and gqom, like in the aforementioned “Hutu” or “Kona”, with its fresh blend of shangaan electro. These tracks are distinctive and sassy, offering a lighter, wilder and definitely more pop-oriented take at gqom.