Record Reviews

WLADYSLAW KOMENDAREK ~ DOTYK CHMUR GAD 041 (Barcode: 5901549197525) ~ POLAND ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 1986 - 1987 Released: 2016 This is a reissue of the second album by Polish keyboardist / composer Wladyslaw KomendarekFind albums by this artist, one of the pioneers of Polish electronic / ambient / synthesizer music. It includes the eight tracks present on the original LP and five bonus tracks, all composed by Komendarek. The music is performed using a plethora of synthesizers and drum machines, all played by the composer. The music is typical 1980s synthesizer drenched electronic / ambient music, which was popular at the time all over the world. It includes quite a lot of melodic contents, but is dominated by the droning rhythm, generated by electronic drum devices. As a result the album is less appealing than Komendarek´s debut effort, which still manages to sound interesting today. Of course synthesizer and ambient music fans should find plenty of interesting moments herein, but for me the album lacks the appeal that would drive me to listen to it on a regular basis. Admittedly synthesizer music never sounded much appealing to me, even music composed and performed by the Masters of the trade. However, the fact this album gets a proper reissue is important as part of the effort that the excellent GADFind albums on this label Records label continuously and consequently makes in order to preserve the treasures of ambitious original Polish music, saving it from being extinct and abandoned, for which it deserves our gratitude.

Updated: 17/03/2017Posted: 17/03/2017

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

WLADYSLAW KOMENDAREK ~ FRUWAJACA LALKA GAD 059 (Barcode: 5901549197785) ~ POLAND ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 1991 Released: 2017 This is a reissue of an album by Polish electronic music wizard Wladyslaw KomendarekFind albums by this artist, which was originally his first CD release. The album presents eleven original compositions, all by Komendarek, performed by him using a plethora of synthesizers and other electronic gadgets. This expanded edition adds one bonus track, which is a previously unreleased lengthy suite, over seventeen minutes in duration. Komendarek presents a collection of great electronic / ambient pieces, recorded in his secluded country house, which faithfully represent his matured capabilities as a composer and performer. The forms vary from concise pieces, some even featuring synthesized vocal parts and longer and more complex mini-suites. Stylistically there are echoes of New Wave, Krautrock and other contemporary electronic sub-genres, and of course Progressive Rock affinity, especially on the longer pieces. Komendarek is obviously up to date not only with the latest electronic gadgets and keyboards, but also with the latest music trends of the time, not forgetting his Rock and Prog roots. Listening to this music, which was created almost forty years ago, emphasizes again the fact that good music is timeless and the somewhat antiquated synthesizers / samplers sound still holds some nice surprises, especially when in the hands of a Master like Komendarek. Huge part of the music recorded around that era (the dreaded 1990s) has completely lost its relevance since, but this music still sounds fresh and inspiring, especially in comparison to the garbage that is considered as music today. Kudos, as usual, to GADFind albums on this label Records for consistently documenting and bringing back to life the Komendarek legacy, which is definitely worth being preserved and kept available. A must to all electronic / ambient music connoisseurs and Prog fanatics looking for undiscovered treasures!

Updated: 22/01/2018Posted: 22/01/2018

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

WLADYSLAW KOMENDAREK ~ HIBERNACJA NR 1 GAD 058 (Barcode: 5901549197778) ~ POLAND ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 1988 - 1990 Released: 2017 This is a reissue of the fourth album by Polish electronic music wizard Wladyslaw KomendarekFind albums by this artist, which was originally his last vinyl release before entering the digital age. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Komendarek, performed by him using a plethora of synthesizer and other electronic gadgets. This expanded edition adds two bonus tracks, one of which is the full version (over twenty minutes long) of one of the tracks and another which is a live version of the title track. By the time Komendarek recorded this album he was already a highly experienced specialist in electronic / ambient synthesizer based music, which is evident by the rich layers of sound which create this album´s contents. But beyond his obvious technical proficiency, Komendarek also consistently developed his compositional skills and the result is plainly audible here in full bloom. The music is definitely the essence of this album, not the technical wizardry and strange sounds made by electronic devices. It seems that Komendarek finally found his individual voice and vocation on this album, after years of playing with the Rock group ExodusFind albums by this artist. His earlier solo albums were somewhat hesitant and searching while here he seems sure of himself and clearly stating his ideas, which are fully developed and skillfully arranged. The whole aural atmosphere soaked in synthesizers / samplers, which disappeared completely in time, is a wonderful trip down the memory line and brings fond memories of the early days of true electronic music, before it succumbed to trance, bass & drums and other less artistic forms of musical expression. Overall this album is truly a great fun to listen to and a great document of the era. Kudos, as usual, to GADFind albums on this label Records for consistently documenting and bringing back to life the Komendarek legacy, which is definitely worth being preserved and kept available. A must to all electronic / ambient music connoisseurs!

Updated: 20/01/2018Posted: 20/01/2018

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

WLADYSLAW KOMENDAREK ~ POWROT Z MATERII MIEDZYGWIAZDOWEJ GAD 078 (Barcode: 5903068120039) ~ POLAND ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 1985 - 1988 Released: 2018 This is a reissue of a cassette only release by the Polish keyboardist / composer and electronic music maverick Wladyslaw KomendarekFind albums by this artist, which presented live recordings from his appearances at the Jarocin Rock Festivals in 1985 and 1986, originally released only in 1992. This remastered and expanded edition adds three bonus tracks, also recorded live at the same festival in 1988, previously unreleased. The music is an advanced form of psychedelic / ambient / electronic synthesizer music at its best, extremely well composed and put together, in a form of complex multilayered and extended (over twenty minutes long) suites. Considering that this music is performed live the effect is even more impressive. The bonus tracks follow more or less the same pattern, but do not attempt to present a continuous theme, standing on their own as separate pieces of music. Komendarek well deserves the title of a legend, considering his extensive musical legacy and consistent pioneering and visionary work. Even if some of this music sounds today a bit "dated" technically, it preserves well its musical concepts and the sound has a wonderful nostalgic tinge to it. Overall this is a superb reminder of what electronic music sounded like in the late 1980s, when Poland was still behind the Iron Curtain, although musically it was, certainly in the case of Komendarek, light years ahead. A must for early electronic music enthusiasts!

Updated: 29/01/2019Posted: 08/08/2018

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

WLADYSLAW KOMENDAREK ~ SZAFIROWA CHIMERA GAD 110 (Barcode: 5903068120527) ~ POLAND ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 1995 - 1996 Released: 2019 This is a reissue of an album by Polish electronic music pioneer and prolific composer / recording artists Wladyslaw KomendarekFind albums by this artist. This album represents his work form mid-1990s, which was his most fertile period. This remastered edition adds one bonus track, which was previously unreleased. Although Komendarek never managed to gain such international acclaim and recognition as other Electronic / Ambient composers / performers like VangelisFind albums by this artist or Jean-Michel JarreFind albums by this artist, but he is certainly in the same class of foremost Artists of the genre and his extensive recording legacy easily proves it. Using his impressive array of synthesizers and other electronic devices Komendarek manages to create sonic vistas of epic symphonic scope, with complex multi-layered melodic themes and polyrhythmic tempi, which are fascinating and absorbing. Some of these compositions offer an extended, suite like scope and continuity. The music on this album adds certain elements, which were not part of his earlier offerings, such as certain World Music accents and New Age meditative influences, but in retrospect the music remains typically Komendarek´s own. In retrospect the music remains as fresh and universal as it was at the time of its creation, with its intrinsic beauty and aesthetic values completely intact. For the many fans of Komendarek´s fans and for Electronic / Ambient music, which offers Artistic contents and not only gimmickry, this album is of course highly recommended. Kudos to GADFind albums on this label Records for keeping Komendarek´s work alive and available; this is the sixth reissue of his albums on the label and hopefully more are to follow soon.

Updated: 14/03/2020Posted: 14/03/2020

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

WLADYSLAW KOMENDAREK ~ WLADYSLAW KOMENDAREK GAD 021 (Barcode: 5901549197273) ~ POLAND ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 1984 - 1985 Released: 2014 This is a reissue of the eponymous debut solo album by Polish keyboardist / composer Wladyslaw KomendarekFind albums by this artist, which was originally released only on cassette. The newly remastered reissue adds four bonus tracks, which were recorded at the same sessions as the eight tracks which were included on the original album. Komendarek, who was the keyboardist of the legendary Polish Prog group ExodusFind albums by this artist, recorded this music after he left the group, using only an array of synthesizers. The music was composed in a secluded location far away from "civilization" and recorded later at the Polish Radio studio in Warsaw. Komendarek, who is still active today, three decades after this music was recorded, is undoubtedly one of Poland´s most important composers of electronic music of the same status as internationally known figures such as VangelisFind albums by this artist or Jean-Michel JarreFind albums by this artist, as this album clearly shows. His versatility and imagination as a composer are simply staggering and his ability to create multi-layered sound vistas is exceptional. The compositions presented on this album are all well structured and based on solid melodic themes, which are progressively developed in time. Komendarek uses the array of synthesizers to produce a rich orchestral sound and his Jazzy improvisations keep things interesting at all times. He also manages to avoid the bombastic approach, which was often used by his contemporaries, which simply produced a wall of sound that became increasingly intolerable. This music keeps a certain level of intimacy, which allows the listener to relax and let the music slowly draw him into the sounds. Of course due to obvious technological limitations the album suffers from the dreaded 1980s synthesizer sound, which hunts most of the music created in that period. The fact that this music is not only listenable but also quite enjoyable and even challenging proves that Komendarek is definitely blessed with an unusual talent. Bringing this music back to life (who owns a cassette player these days?) is unquestionably a great idea, which produces a fascinating document of the history of Polish electronic music, which should be available to both old fans and new generation of musicians and fans as well. As usual hats off to GADFind albums on this label Records for another great idea!

Updated: 13/04/2017Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ SONDA 2 GAD 023 (Barcode: 5901549197297) ~ POLAND ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 1977 - 1986 Released: 2014 This is the second album which presents a collection of music, which was utilized as background music by the epic / cult Polish TV popular science series called "SondaFind albums with this title", which was extremely popular and run for twelve years between 1977 and 1989. The program was innovative and extremely well done and also excelled in the careful choice of its background music. This collection uses again several tracks selected from the German Sonoton music library vaults, but also includes some original Polish tracks recorded especially by Polish Radio and TV by such pioneering artists as Mikolaj HertelFind albums by this artist, Andrzej KorzynskiFind albums by this artist, Krzysztof DudaFind albums by this artist, Wladyslaw KomendarekFind albums by this artist and even the legendary Polish group SBBFind albums by this artist. The music was all composed and performed between 1976 and 1986, which of course means that it is heavily filled with synthesizer sounds, which at the time were highly fashionable. However, in contrast to most popular synthesizer soaked 1980s music, which is simply unlistenable today (and wasn´t that good to start with), the music here withstood the tides of time quite well and sounds pretty excellent today, especially as part of the nostalgia wave that surrounds past decades. The creators of this music were all top notch composers / musicians, which is plainly obvious to anyone listening to this album. Although this album is primarily a tribute to the legendary TV series, it is also a great trip revisiting some great and mostly forgotten synthesizer music from the 1970s and 1980s, which was previously unreleased and which is still relevant and worthy of being listened to. The album was again beautifully put together by GADFind albums on this label Records and its owner Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, who is setting a standard with his work for all reissue labels to follow.

Updated: 25/02/2016Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend