Saturday, February 23, 2008
Waglewski, Fisz and Emade's Meska Muzyka (PL)
Wojtek, Bartosz and Piotr.... father, two sons and Meska Muzyka.

Wojtek Waglewski, composer, vocalist, guitarist and producer, an institution within Polish music, .....; Bartek, a.k.a. Fisz, painter, radio dj and hip-hop artist; and Piotrek "Emade" Waglewski, dj, producer and percussionist; together with guests Marcin Masecki on keyboards, Bartek "Boruta" Leczycki on harmonica and Envee on tambourine, released Meska Muzyka, a record that gathers 15 tracks with some of the most interesting music this country has seen recently.

After working together on Maria Peszek's debut album and some Voo Voo releases, Wojtek, Fisz and Emade got together again, to sign this first record on their own.
As part of the Strefa Inne Brzmienia series, these three set foot on a musical journey that would take them into the world of country music, blues and rock, coloured by some of the most interesting new urban sounds, where sounds from other locations and projects would inspire their music.

With Wojtek assuming a big share of the lyrics, music and vocals (alone he signed 9 tracks out of 15), Fisz and Emade were left with vocals and lyrics for 6 other songs (Fisz) and production (Emade). In result, 50 minutes of music that will keep you close to your stereo system for long long time, and have you hit replay quite often.

Whereas Fisz brought to this record part of his music experiments and vision (Majty, the high-speed adrenaline Sport, the blues-flavoured Badminton and the slow runner Wakacje), Wojtek Waglewski perfumed it with his voice and guitar that walks with us side by side, during these fifty minutes (Dziob Pingwina, Wladca Kol, Niezmiennie,.....) but this scent is not guitar alone! Emade's percussion gives Meska Muzyka more character and consistancy, not forgeting Boruta's harmonica and Marcin's keyboards.

Meska Muzyka comes together with a 40 page booklet containing interviews with Wojtek, Fisz and Emade, lyrics, photos by Tomek Sikora and drawings by Fisz himself.

Get the album right here.

[previews]
Trafiony

Meska Muzyka live....

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posted by SKL @ 11:01 PM   2 comments
Monday, February 04, 2008
Under the Radar with ..... Walter Benjamin (PT)
On the first 2008's Under the Radar edition we take some time with a new project that is taking over the alternative radio airwaves in Portugal, conquering more and more fans everywhere.

Walter Benjamin (1892 - 1940) was a German Marxist literary critic, essayist, translator, and philosopher....

Walter Benjamin is also the Lisbon-based folk artist that recently saw the release of his debut full lenght album, The National Crisis, after the 2007's EP The Dog Follows the Bull.

Being part of Jesus, the Misunderstood and Goodbye Toulouse, Walter decided to embark on this new adventure all by himself as these songs had more meaning outside these two bands.

Defining himself as a normal person that loves music and that sometimes, gets his yellow hat on, and starts singing some songs, Walter continues this 2008 the folk "golden era" that Mazgani and Sean Riley & The Slowriders unveiled last year.

These are beautifully written delicate songs, crowded with weeping melodies, sounding melancholic and sad, even though sometimes they shine as much as a nice Summer day. Together with his "cheap" acoustic guitar, the tear dropping piano notes, percussion, synths and other instruments, were are told little and personal stories, mainly on matters of love and death, flavoured with slow paced trembling vocals and a touch of Uncle Sam's folk tunes.

With influences ranging from The Magnetic Fields and Lambchop, down to Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen and Elliott Smith, among many others, Walter Benjamin, the musician, is surely a name to keep an eye on.

The National Crisis, a strongly recommended album, can be bought at Merzbau and enjoyed right here. His first EP, The Dog Follows The Bull can be downloaded right here, free of charge.

For more, drop by Walter's MySpace and listen to the superb Paris.

"..... I want to kill you so much....
..that it even hurts...."

photo by Vera Marmelo.

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posted by SKL @ 2:09 PM   0 comments