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 ~ OPOWIESCI Z ZIEMI AURA ART 03 ~ POLAND ~ World Music & Folklore Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013 This is the debut album by Polish World Music / Folk vocalist Angela GaberFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with multi-instrumentalist Lukasz SabatFind albums by this artist and Kazakhstani guitarist Aleksander CzikmakowFind albums by this artist. Of the eleven songs included on the album, nine are traditional folklore songs and two are composed by Czikmakow, one of which has lyrics written by Gaber. Although seemingly just another World Music gathering, this album is full of beautiful moments and surprising arrangements, which turn it into a splendid debut effort. The origins of these songs include Poland, Ukraine, Serbia, Russia and Gypsy Music, which are sung in their native tongues, but the instrumental arrangements often transport them to different parts of the World, sometimes quite far away from their origin. Sabat´s wonderful duduk parts have a distinctive Caucasian / Middle Eastern feel which immediately takes the Slavic songs on a carpet ride way to the east. Gaber´s voice has a nice, worm tonality and sounds perfect in this folksy environment, but really explodes to its full capacity when she starts to improvise and sing vocalese and produces unconventional sounds, which are truly amazing. Sadly these advanced vocal techniques are an exception rather than the rule on this album and hopefully will be explored to a much grater extent on her future endeavors. The last five tracks on the album are all much less constrained and spacey, with a greater freedom of expression and embrace both vocal and instrumental improvisation, and as a result prove to be much more interesting than the preceding tracks. If the whole album was kept in similar atmosphere and artistic direction, it would have turned into an exceptional one. The album has a beautifully designed cover art and an interesting sound quality, which is really down to earth in its authenticity, without being overproduced. The album was (at least partially) financed by the Polish crowdfunding portal "Polak Potrafi", which of course is a great idea, which I always recommend during mu Music Business lectures. Overall this is a most impressive debut effort, which promises great things to come, as well as placing Gaber on the list of Polish vocalists to watch and support. Well done lass!

Updated: 03/01/2016Posted: 03/01/2016

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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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INSZA ~ ...DLA NN... NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by Polish duo InszaFind albums by this artist, which comprises of vocalist / multi-instrumentalist Lukasz SabatFind albums by this artist and keyboardist / saxophonist Wojciech InglotFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions by the duo, one of which is repeated twice, the second time as a bonus track. The lyrics, in Polish and English, include self-penned material and four poems by contemporary Polish poets. The music is an original amalgam of Alternative Pop, World Music and strong Jazzy influences. Although melody based, it allows for vocalese and instrumental improvisation, which are intelligent and very original. There is a huge stylistic diversity, which might be perceived as incoherent, but to say the truth it is completely coherent in the large picture. The duo manages to create a unique "style", which is idiosyncratic and open-minded at the same time. The music is also completely contemporary, using electronics and sound effects, drum machines and studio effects with utmost delicacy and aesthetic care, avoiding overusing these devices to completely eclipse whatever musical contents that might be there, as is done in most contemporary productions. The use of the wonderful duduk, one of my personally preferred musical instruments, is as effective on this album as previously displayed by Sabat on the Angela GaberFind albums by this artist´s "Opowiesci Z ZiemiFind albums with this title" album, which is also warmly recommended! Sabat´s vocal performances are also very impressive and he is surely a vocalist / musician worth following in the future. Overall this is a strong debut album, which shows great potential and is a most pleasurable listening experience. I am already waiting impatiently for their next effort!

Updated: 01/11/2019Posted: 24/02/2017

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