Tracklist:
- the ballad of a capricious man
- two towers
- the ballad of rigor
- the seer
- two twisters
- dreams again
- the different one
- the ballad of revenge
- the well
- alhambran highlander
- dilemma
- cold realm
- rock-a-bye oddity
Musicians:
- Grzegorz Karnas - voice, hand clapping
- Radosław Nowicki - tenor saxophone
- Tomasz Kałwak - electronics
- Adam Oleś - cello
- Bogusz Wekka - percussions
Guests:
- Michał Tokaj - fender piano
Karnas is something completely different.
First of all, I know him - even personally - and his new album is something that I take into my hands with interest. This is the third that I've gotten from him, and thus far Karnas has never failed to surprise, to my great enjoyment.
Karnas penned all of the lyrics, though they might more aptly be called loose assemblages of thoughts than lyrics in the classical sense of the word. The individual pieces are not songs; sketches, or outlines would be a more accurate term. Don't look for verses or refrains here. This album simply develops as a whole, gradually, going through successive phases with a brief instrumental solo appearing from time to time, after which it ends.
Karnas produced this CD as well. The composing work was shared with Adam Oleś, who plays on the album too. The instrumentation of the accompanying group is also distinctive - although actually, it's not so much an accompanying group as it is musicians who, collectively, enable Karnas to better express his thoughts. Tenor sax, cello, and percussion instruments - that's all. Fender-Rhodes electric piano and guitar make no more than guest appearances.
I used the word "concept" earlier, and I'd like to return to it because it is the word that probably best depicts the nature of the entire album. I get the impression that Karnas knows exactly what he wants - and what's more, that he was able to realise his intentions here. This feeling emanates from the music itself, from the certainty with which he embarks upon his experimental, uncharted digressions, momentarily resuming his initial train of thought.
Karnas is an exceptionally fine singer - although that designation doesn't fully reflect the quality of the project, the whole of which he subordinates his vocal talents to. This album is the result of well over a year's work on his part, realised between 2004 and 2005, and bears witness to the fact that projects such as this one are much more than just the result of musicians casually meeting in a recording studio. I'd like to record an album of this sort myself, but I won't even attempt to do so, due to the fact that - among other things - I'm also an admirer of the common song.
Peter Lipa
Hudba
Slovakia
First of all, I know him - even personally - and his new album is something that I take into my hands with interest. This is the third that I've gotten from him, and thus far Karnas has never failed to surprise, to my great enjoyment.
Karnas penned all of the lyrics, though they might more aptly be called loose assemblages of thoughts than lyrics in the classical sense of the word. The individual pieces are not songs; sketches, or outlines would be a more accurate term. Don't look for verses or refrains here. This album simply develops as a whole, gradually, going through successive phases with a brief instrumental solo appearing from time to time, after which it ends.
Karnas produced this CD as well. The composing work was shared with Adam Oleś, who plays on the album too. The instrumentation of the accompanying group is also distinctive - although actually, it's not so much an accompanying group as it is musicians who, collectively, enable Karnas to better express his thoughts. Tenor sax, cello, and percussion instruments - that's all. Fender-Rhodes electric piano and guitar make no more than guest appearances.
I used the word "concept" earlier, and I'd like to return to it because it is the word that probably best depicts the nature of the entire album. I get the impression that Karnas knows exactly what he wants - and what's more, that he was able to realise his intentions here. This feeling emanates from the music itself, from the certainty with which he embarks upon his experimental, uncharted digressions, momentarily resuming his initial train of thought.
Karnas is an exceptionally fine singer - although that designation doesn't fully reflect the quality of the project, the whole of which he subordinates his vocal talents to. This album is the result of well over a year's work on his part, realised between 2004 and 2005, and bears witness to the fact that projects such as this one are much more than just the result of musicians casually meeting in a recording studio. I'd like to record an album of this sort myself, but I won't even attempt to do so, due to the fact that - among other things - I'm also an admirer of the common song.
Peter Lipa
Hudba
Slovakia
