Sometimes you wonder why certain albums are being re-released and honesty compels me to say that I ask myself this about the first solo album of the bandleader of Polish SBB. Josef Skrzek released this album Karolinaś Diary in 1978 and, for that time, used quite unique and special recording techniques. It is an album with a very specific theme, namely the past and future of the two-year-old Karolina. It is also a purely solo album because Jozef plays all instruments himself and supplements it with sound fragments such as crying babies, children playing, toys or school bells. This results in a suite of ten movements that are all relatively short. Although the track titles are all in Polish, there is something to be gleaned from it. For example, it is clear that the song Szkola is about the experiences at school and we hear cheerful children's choirs singing a tune. I get the feeling that I'm listening to a soundtrack of a cartoon for four minutes. Certainly special but I can't do much with it because musically nothing exciting happens. It is all quite orchestral with many keys and the tempo remains low. In the somewhat longer Milosz we hear Jozef sing and he doesn't do that badly, but to say that he has a great voice, no not really. In between the church organ passages he shows at least some variation, with the emphasis on some. Przygoda has a more futuristic sound and is distantly reminiscent of the greats of electronic music, but without really captivating. Don't get me wrong, Jozef is a fine pianist/keyboardist but it is usually so subdued and long-winded that the attention slackens. Occasionally it is even so sugary that the enamel spontaneously cracks off your teeth like in Szczescie. The wedding bells suggest that Karolina is getting married and the song Swiat even turns into baby sounds, which could indicate that children are also being born. It's a bit of a guess, but that's always a bit difficult with predominantly instrumental music. I assume that Karolina will all be fine and the baby babbling at the end completes the circle. As extras some songs and early mixes have been added but they won't change my opinion either, on the contrary. Well, what can I say. It is undoubtedly an ambitious project and you have to give Joseph credit for his courage to try it, but for me there is not a single trace of excitement. Perhaps there is enough to enjoy for lovers of slightly experimental electronic music. Just try it I would say. **+ Erik Fraanje (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
