Even though it generated a classic of ex-YU pop music, such as "Tvoje nježne godine", this double album marked the end of Arsen Dedić's golden era, selling less than his previous works. In spite of this, today it can be considered his definitive artistic triumph, with a brilliant alternation of baroque pop, chanson, local folk, and adventurous jazz arrangements. In fact, some songs are way ahead of their time, like "Ana je Ana", an early mix of pop and world music, with is beautiful fuzzy guitars and Middle East-influenced orchestral lines, or "Mirni podstanar", which tells the story of a murder over a creepy, dissonant instrumental background, five years before the start of Scott Walker's experimental phase. Don't let the length of the tracklist put you off; these 22 songs deserve your utmost attention.
Maria Peszek is a Polish singer, actress, and writer. This is her third album and it reached no. 1 on the local charts. Its lyrics against patriotism and catholicism generated a string of controversies. Songs are dominated by frantic synthesizer sounds, hypnotic rhythms, and powerful bass lines. My favourite is probably the electronic punk anthem "Sorry Polsko", but there are other notable ones, such as "Wyścigówka" and "Pan nie jest moim pasterzem", with its dramatic crescendo.
"Masakra" was a strong comeback for Republika, after some disappointing albums. My favourite tracks are “Gramy dalej”, with its dreamy keyboards, the title track, with its electro-industrial beats, and “Odchodząc”, a romantic single with acoustic guitars. I also like downtempo numbers such as “Raz na milion lat” and “Przeczekajmy noc”. Even though it "only" reached no. 18 on the Polish charts at the time, "Masakra" has then become a classic. Today it is considered the band's third best album, after their Eighties milestones.
The most bizarre album in Grzegorz Ciechowski's career. An exciting, funny mix of samples, processed sounds, new age atmospheres, alternative dance beats, recorder solos, funk guitars, and old melodies taken from the Polish folk tradition. You are not going to find anything similar, that's for sure. (Unexpectedly, this album did quite well in the charts, reaching no. 5 in Poland).
After a short career in mediocre pop band Dezire, Ania Rusowicz started her solo career. Her first album, "Mój Big-Bit" (2011), contained some covers from the repertoire of her mother, Ada Rusowicz. I prefer by far this second one, produced by Emadeand consisting entirely of original material. The tracklist is made of twelve beautiful songs which incorporate surf rock guitars, Farfisa organ, orchestral arrangements, and rhythm tricks. Among many influences you can hear traces of psychedelic rock, Polish folk music, Ennio Morricone, and Middle-Eastern melodies.
