Whenever I come across the name Ryszard Kramarski, I immediately think of Poland, multi-instrumental musician, LYNX Music label, Millenium, tRKproject and melodic progressive rock. I think most of the progressive rock insiders are familiar with these. When you are in search of the more dark and experimental Polish progressive rock, you can skip this review. Ryszard Kramarski is probably best known for his band Millenium. With Millenium his adventure started in 1999 and he released about 20 albums and EP's so far. Ryszard Kramarski is a very productive musician, but that is obvious. Before Millenium took off, he played in a band called Framauro. In 1998 they released their debut album Ethermedia. After a year this band was cancelled and Ryszard Kramarski as already told started Millenium. Millenium brought him the success he deserved. Interesting fact is that Kramarski always held on to the melodic concepts. While the general progressive rock movement in Poland chose a different path and approached it on a darker way, Ryszard Kramarski never gave up on the melodic concepts. In 2022 Ryszard Kramarski decided that it was time that Framauro was reborn. He already did some side-projects, so one more or less probably didn't bother him. This man is pure music, can't say it on another way. Framauro released in two years two albums (My World Is Ending ( see review) in 2022 and Alea Iacta Est in 2023). And now the third album has seen the daylight, although you also can speak of a reborn album. Ethermedia 2024 is a complete new version of the in 1998 released Ethermedia album. The album was completely re-recorded, the sequence of the tracks is slightly different and the artwork is new. The line-up also is different. On the 2024 release following musicians participate: Ryszard Kramarski (vocals, keyboards, acoustic & electric guitars), Krzysztof Wyrwa (bass, fretless bass), Grzegorz Fieber (drums) and Marcin Kruczek (guitars). The original Ethermedia tracks were written in the 90s. When you look at Polish progressive rock in those days, I think you can state that the band Collage was the genre's flagship in Poland at that moment. Collage stood for great songs, great production and high end studio recordings. The bar has been set high, so to speak. The album opens with Visionary For Heaven, a track that has an atmosphere that reminds of David Gilmour's Pink Floyd. Especially the keyboard sounds are typical Pink Floyd-like. This mid-tempo track is a really great opener. The album continues with Brainwashed By Mass Media, a track with some Pendragon influences. The tempo is again sort of mid-tempo. Further on the track is more or less acoustic, so no heavy guitars and -drums. The track is a complaint against the influence of the mass media of this time. The acoustic atmosphere continues on the track The Fairly Tales Of A Stranger. After almost two minutes the track changes mood and whole band is back again. Highlights of this track are nice beat and the killer guitar solo. The guitar solo is very melodic and has a certain touch. The style can be described as Gilmour-like of even Rothery-like. Welcome To My Channel is a heavier track and has some bombastic elements in it. I really love the staccato rhythm, which gives this song some aggressive touch. It's a great track in the very recognizable Framauro/Millenium style. Halfway into the album we find the track Etna, which is an almost 4 minute quiet interlude. It has a menacing atmosphere and great modest guitar solo parts, which are all over the place. On the track All These Paparazzis Ryszard Kramarski gives the guitar a lot of space. The main keyboard sound is an 80's one, which I really like. Marcin Kruczek fills the track up with great melodic guitar parts and hooks. Lyrically this track is about the consequences which paparazzi photographers can have. The death of Princess Diana is cited as an example. The album continues with the track Please Stop The Time. This track is very subdued for the biggest part. The vocals on a carpet of keyboards are especially beautiful. At the end the track gets a little heavier due to drums and guitar. Perhaps unnecessarily, but the guitar solo at the end is again exceptionally beautiful. The Technology Trap is an up-tempo track with infectious bridges and choruses. Compared to the tempos of the other tracks, this is a welcome change. The track makes me think of Marillion. With The Cycle we have almost reached the end of the album. If this were the last song, the album would have fizzled out. I must admit that I personally think this song is the weakest song on the album. It seems a bit long-winded to me. Fortunately, there is one last track. The album ends with the track We Know Nothing. With 8 minutes of playing time, this is also the longest track on the album.The song is divided into different parts, each with its own atmosphere. At the end there is a really killer guitar solo. The tempo is mid-tempo again. This is simply what suits Framauro and Millenium best. It is a worthy ending. Re-recording the Ethermedia album turned out well in my opinion. It has become a nice addition to Ryszard Kramarski's oeuvre. Despite the fact that the songs are over 20 years old, they certainly don't sound dated. On the contrary! I therefore rate this album a 4 out of 5 and look forward to the next one. You can almost be sure that it will come, when you look at Ryszard Kramarski's quite extensive oeuvre. **** Aad Bannink (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
