For the first post in 2010 we have asked our good friend Kacper Kapsa aka Pnk.Discorp to provide us with an insight into the rich musical heritage of his native country Poland. And what he came up with is nothing short of amazing!

Czary Mary Polish Grooves Mix selected and mixed by Pnk.Discorp
(czary mary means abracadabra)

1. Akademia Pana Kleksa – Kosmiczny prolog (Cosmic Prologue)
The song originates from the cult film series about Ambroży Kleks and his academy for male youth. The soundtrack was created by Andrzej Korzyński and has many futuristic references. Cosmic Prologue opens the first part of Kleks’s adventures.

2. Papa Dance – Narodziny Szejka (Sheik’s Birthday)
Papa Dance’s career has always been a balancing act between music and kitsch. Except for their debut album, which this song stems from, in which they have represented the second category – kitsch.

3. Alex Band – A w schronisku bal (And at the hotel there’s a ball)
A funk orchestra supported with Zuzu’s vocals. I did the “In a light edit” especially for this set.

4. Lombard – Diamentowa Kula (Diamond Ball)
A song from their debut album – ‘Death to discotheque’. The LP was an incredible success and led to nationwide media attention, mainly thanks to the hits sung by the female vocalist. This one is exceptionally performed by Grzegorz Stróżniak – the founder of the band. The version used here is an edit which you can download from my Soundcloud site.

5. Małgorzata Ostrowska – Meluzyna
Another piece from Mr. Kleks’s collection. This one is from the second part of his adventures. The song is sung by previously mentioned female vocalist of Lombard. Meluzyna is one the most perfect songs in the history of Polish music. If it was released now by e.g. Aeroplane it would certainly be a hit.

6. Arp Life – Baby Bump
Arp Life is the studio Project of Andrzej Korzyński (the author of Mr. Kleks’s Academy soundtrack). It was created at the close of the 70’s. Unfortunately, the band released only one album – Jumbo Jet. Of course, the track is taken from this album but the author of the re-edit is one the most talented Polish producers: Maciej Zambon.

7. Budka Suflera – Noc komety (The Night of the Comet)
Another edit by Zambon, who is a DJ and a member of Kukabara Soundsystem. He also edits, re-mixes and promotes Polish pieces of music. He just does a good job. Here: edit of the piece by Budka Suflera – most likely the ugliest band of the world.

8. Republika – Halucinations
Republic and their charismatic leader Grzegorz Ciechowski were one of the most talented bands of the 80’s. Their music was packed with literary references and association to psychedelic music.

9. Czerwone Gitary – Coda
‘Coda’ closes the LP ‘Rytm Ziemi’ (the Rhythm of the Earth). An regular rhythm, distorted Moog, and everything else exemplary for a band famous for mawkish songs à la the Beatles. This song bears no traces of this mawkish character though.

Download: MGM06 – Pnk.Discorp
 

Pnk.Discorp is playing our Cosmic Dancer night on February 20 alongside Maximilian Skiba who has just finished a record with Kathy Diamond for Gomma Dance Tracks.

And here’s an interview with Pnk.Discorp we did in preparation of the show.

Q: Where exactly in Poland are you from?
A: I live in Czestochowa in south Poland. The town is known for the famous Pauline monastery of Jasna Góra that is the home of the Black Madonna painting, a shrine to the Virgin Mary. Every year, millions of pilgrims from all over the world come to Częstochowa to see it.

Q: When did you get involved in music and escpecially in electronic music?
A: I started to get interested in music when I was about 15 or 16 years old. At first I was into rock music, later I discovered LCD Soundsystem and then fell in love with
NY label DFA. That was six years ago.

Q: What is the club scene like in Czetochowa?
A: The club scene is dominated by mainstream music. We’ve got lots of discotheques and some rock clubs, but we’ve got only two clubs with electronic and funky music. Best place in town is Rura Club with regular parties in the field of hip-hop, disco, house. The biggest names who played there have been Oliver Koletzki, Ozgur Can and Catz’n’Dogs.

Q: Is Clubbing in Poland focused on Warszawa or do you have some proper pop cities? Can you recommend some regions or cities apart from your hometown?
A: Indeed, there are clubs in Warszawa which have sufficient means to do parties with well-known names. Holy Ghost!, Mark E and Juan Maclean played there last year. But, you know…it’s the capital. At the moment the most interesting clubbing city in Poland is Poznan. They’ve got a lot of clubs there with open-mind owners and great DJ-Teams or producers. For instance the Kukuabara Soundsystem. They have clubnight called ‘The Disco’ and invite artist like the Permanent Vacation-guys or Sally Shapiro. And there are some nice festivals in summer. I can really recommend the ‘Audioriver’ Festival in Plock where you can find lots of different styles of electronic music.

Q: Can you tell us something about the International Music Festival ‘Astigmatic’ where Max was awared ‘Newcomer of the Year’ back in 2005.
Does it still exist?
A: Well.. I would like to know as well…Last year I bought a release affiliated to the festival with classic chopin music reworked by guys like The Glimmers, Morgan Geist
or Munk. Great record! But what is happening with the festival. God only knows:-D

Q: From your experience: What does a Polish audience distinguishes from the ones abroad?
A: I think that the Polish audience is more enthusiastic and maybe a bit more crazy than audiences abroad. But I think that people abroad are more open for new
music and styles and they don’t go to party because is trendy but because they want to have fun.

Q: And what are you up to next? Can we expect new releases?
A: At the moment I am finishing a mix tape featuring some classic polish big beat songs from the 60’s and
70’s called Piastesli where I try to showcase what happened in the music scene at the time. I have dug out a lot of forgotten and rare songs. The mix will be available over at
RVNG. In the near future I’m also planning to start up a net label with Zambon form Kukabara called ‘Very Polish Cut-Outs’. On there you will find a number of mixes and edits – but only polish ones. It will be hot! What’s else? Lots of edits!

Q: What are you looking forward the most during your stay in Dresden (except of the party)?
A: I love Dresden! I came down to Cosmic Dancer when Tim Sweeney played here. A fantastic party and a beautiful city. Last time round I didn’t manage to visit the old
railway station. I’m looking forward to do it this time but I’m waiting for a guide… I’m also looking forward to check out all the record shops. Do you have any?

Q: How was life for a polish musician before the fall of the Iron Curtain? Was there a heavy censorship? Could a musician deviate from the communist path without being afraid of reprisals?
A: For everyone who is interested in Polish music I would recommend the BBC documentary about polish 80’s punk festival Jarocin called My Blood Your Blood. It shows exactly what happened during those weird times: That your weren’t allowed to listen to any western music for example or lyrics of songs that needed to be changed because the violated governmental guidelines. At the time musicians who tried do music that deviated from the norm always had trouble with security services. But lot of people still did and became famous heroes in the underground. I hope that these times will be never forgotten.

Q: It seems that there was a prospering, internationally successful Disco and Funk scene in 70’s Poland. Who are the key artists and what do you think makes them special for foreign listeners?
A: As already mentioned it happened to be a strange time, but ideal for Polish music. Why that is so? Perhaps the Iron Curtain prevented bad sounds penetrating in from the other side. In the past we’ve had loads of talented musicians, who perhaps did not only think about their five minutes of fame. When I listen to Polish music now I see an intersection between good and bad times. Unfortunately that happend all before I was born. After this polish songs began to become increasingly commercial.
The Polish taste – at beginning of 90’s was obsessed with all sorts of new styles – like disco polo (the polish version of Eurodance, translator’s note). It was terrible.

Q: Were there any musicians involved in the Solidarność-movement?
A: Yes, Solidarność had its own bard – Jacek Kaczmarski. He was a songwriter and wrote amazing lyrics. He gave people faith in better days to come. I remember the tapes from my dad, which he recorded on Kaczmarski concerts.

Q: And how’s life today for a musician doing electronic music? Is there a chance to make a living of it? Do you have subsidies like an artists’ social insurance?
A: Poland isn’t Utopia. I’m lucky because I’ve got a nice job and I can make music and play parties. But I know a guy who makes french electro, has releases on European labels but still has to work in supermarket. In major cities this situation is changing. You can probably try to make a living from making music.
Regarding subsidies. You can get some, but it isn’t easy. The Government isn’t as helpful as we like it to be. For example I’ve got the possibility to release my mix, but then I would need to get a license for all of the songs used. The expenditure of licensing however is greater than the expected revenue. Any question? Nobody said it was easy…

Posted by C Moroder 01.01.10 | 12:01 am | Guest Mix