SKALDOWIE
Krywan Krywan

Label: Polskie Nagrania - Muza (1973/2008)
Catalogue No:  LP XL/SXL 088
Format: LP (12', 33rpm)

Limited Edition on Vinyl. Reissue. Pressed and Printed in Czech Republic.

Condition:
Record: mint (brand new)
Cover: mint (brand new)

Side A

1. Krywaniu, Krywaniu (17:45)

Side B

1. Juhas zmarl (4:35)
2. Jeszcze kocham (2:34)
3. Gdzie mam ciebie szukac (5:16)
4. Fioletowa dama (5:14)

Line-up/Musicians
A. Zielinski / Hammond organs, piano, vocals
J. Zielinki / vocals, trumpet, violin, percussion
J. Tarsinski / guitar
K. Ratynski / bass guitar, vocals
J. Budziaszek / drums
J. Gawrych / conga

Recorded:
Recorded: 22/23 May 1972, Poland

About:

SKALDOWIE came into existence in the summer of 1965. Officially, the band made their debut on a contest called II Krakowska Gie?da Piosenki in October of the same year. They won that year's contest as well as the next two. From this time on a series of successes began for the band. They won some major contests in Poland (in Opole, Gdansk),and participated in two films. In 1967 they released their first, self-titled LP. In the same year they appeared on TV, and finally their lineup was established as follows: Andrzej Zielinski ( org, pno, voc ), his younger brother Jacek Zielinski ( voc, tp, viol ), Jan Budziaszek ( dr ), Jerzy Tarsinski ( g ), and Konrad Ratynski ( bg, voc ). The next year the band began with participating in another film, and in March they recorded their second album, “Wszystko mi mówi,?e mnie ktos pokocha?”. Then they left for their first tour outside Poland, in the USSR.

In 1969 they released “Ca?a jestes w skowronkach”. Almost all the songs from this album became hits. In August and September of that same year SKALDOWIE toured in the USA and Canada. They came back with Hammond organs, and in January 1970 they began recording a very good album, "Od wschodu do zachodu s?onca", their first album with a proggy feel, or so I believe. Three months later they recorded their next abum, “Ty”. In 1971 and 1972 the band toured the UK and both parts of Germany (they were also in Munich during the 20th Summer ...

In 1969 they released “Ca?a jestes w skowronkach”. Almost all the songs from this album became hits. In August and September of that same year SKALDOWIE toured in the USA and Canada. They came back with Hammond organs, and in January 1970 they began recording a very good album, "Od wschodu do zachodu s?onca", their first album with a proggy feel, or so I believe. Three months later they recorded their next abum, “Ty”. In 1971 and 1972 the band toured the UK and both parts of Germany (they were also in Munich during the 20th Summer Olympic Games), then recorded their next two albums: mainstream, successful "Wszystkim zakochanym" and their first truly prog album, worshipped by Polish prog fans,“Krywan, Krywan”. It contains a nearly 18 minutes long suite, “Krywaniu, Krywaniu”, in which they blended all their current inspirations: from Polish highlander folk music to forms taken from classical music and even citations from the works of such composers as Bach, Mussorgski, Borodin and Rossini.

In 1976 SKALDOWIE recorded another pair of albums, "Szanujmy wspomnienia" and "Stworzenia swiata czesc druga", the latter in the vein of “Krywan, Krywan” – also containing an even longer suite. Unfortunately, after that one Skaldowie didn’t record any more prog albums. The next albums from the band were "Rezerwat mi?osci" (1979) and "Droga ludzi" (1980). The latter was recorded on the occasion of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow; that’s why they went on a tour of the USSR. After coming back to Poland the band started recording a double LP, "Zostaw to m?odszym", which would never be released (some of the songs from this album would be released later in 1996 on a compilation CD entitled “Podró? magiczna” ).

At the end of the year Skaldowie went to tour in the USA. When in Poland martial law was enforced in December, Andrzej Zielinski decided to stay in the States, while the other members of the band succesively come back to Poland. The band disbanded soon afterwards.

In 1987 Jacek Zielinski resurrected the band, though without Andrzej Zielinski and Jan Budziaszek, and in 1989 they released “Nie domykajmy drzwi”. However, in 2004 they toured with their classic lineup again, and in May 2006 they also released a new album, “Harmonia swiata”.

Bartlomiej Slazak (aka Tuzvihar)

Review:

Is it any wonder that we love this website as we do. Where else could we discover gems of progressive rock like this. Let's put it this way... you are not going to find this 1973 album from Poland in that book by Macan that infamously said that Continental Europe can be seen as providing English progressive rock bands an audience. What rubbish that is. Any progger which half a sense of adventurism has no doubt noted that while England gave birth to what we know as prog rock it soon splintered into a 1000 glorious directions and became much more than clone or copy-cats of the old English warhorses. That is where prog rock is.. or can be SUCH a fascinating genre to get into. Where the music may not be as renowned or the groups as famous as what England produced.. but when you listen with your ears.. you hear music that is AS good and is AS creative and fresh as the more well known groups.

Anyway. Earlier this spring our friend and resident 'son' of the forum, the ever effervescent Pablo started a thread about killer Hammond albums. Being such a Hammond freak myself I was quite interested in the thread so I started flipping through it and came across a post by Tuzvihar, an album cover I had never seen, one that is well.. very striking. After asking him about it, he directed me to the mp3 sections here. I listened to it once.. after picking myself up off the floor and changing my short now wet with Diet Coke.. I listened to it again... and again.. and again. I told myself I had to have this album. It took me some time to find it.. more time to GET it and once I did. I was not disappointed by the rest of the album. It is albums like this that make the prog explorer happy. Knowing that though you may have an extensive prog collection.. and know of even many more groups and albums.. you can STILL find gems like this that become instant favorites. So a big shout out to the forum.. and especially to Tuz for recommending it. This is what we love prog for.

The aforementioned side long title track opens the album. What can I say about it. It is letter perfect. A beautiful intro. Vocals that are exotic to these ears with strongly harmonized singing in Polish. Two solo sections to die for , one with the Hammond using it to it's full range soft sections and fast furious sections, a real Hammond workout and dream for lovers of the instrument and one fabulous violin that ranks right up there with the best I've heard in a 'rock' context. Strong bass with the picked treble jacked tone that I love that cuts through the other instruments and is never lost in the mix. Even a couple of playful classical quotations throw in, one from Mussorgsky and another from Rossini. Listen to it here at the archives. Bet you'll get hooked. Now we have side 2.. which I had been eagerly waiting to hear. The title track having been put onto my mp3 player.. I knew it upside down and backwards before I got the album... seeming shipped from somewhere in Poland since it took me 6 weeks to get hahahha. The second side is composed of 4 shorter songs. First off is Juhas Zmarl (apologize for characters lost in translation.. on english keyboard here) with interesting percussion, strong harmony singing and a fabulously infectious piano melody. A trumpet solo thrown in as well. Love it. Probably strongly rooted in Polish folk music though I'm not going to fake any knowledge of it. Jeszcze Kocham is next up and might be my favorite of the 2nd side. Haven't decided quite yet Strongly delivered vocals, and not at all unpleasing at all to to ear, and a strongly jazzy feel with some wonderful jazzy piano playing. What probably is my favorite is the next one, Gdzie Mam Ciebe Szukac. The Hammond reappears after cooling down from side 1 and here the electric guitar takes a more prominent spot that we have seen so far driving the main riff of the song. The vocals as they have so far on the album are strong and delivered passionately. They use harmonies in the perfect spots, underscored by their use of this song. We see our first real guitar solo here. Nothing out of this world but a nice dynamic contrast. Would have been a mistake to base their sound around it.. but used in small quantities.. the electric guitar stands out far more than it would if it had been featured more often. The album closes with Fioletowa Dama. The Violet Lady. A mid-tempo instrumental in which the Hammond Organ, electric guitar, and violin all get nice solo spots. Nice way to close the album.

Rating the album. Hmmm. .always hard. I tend to be very stingy with giving out 5 stars for the site. If I do.. it is for an album I think all proggers should have and hear, regardless of whether I love it or not. As such.. as much as I would love to.. I can't give it 5 stars.. but a very strong 4 stars. I do highly recommend the album for those who really want to explore beyond the same old same old here. As for me.. the second side was WELL worth the 6 week wait to get. The first side.. shear prog heaven for me. A true 5 star album..and one of the best recommendations I have got from a member here on the site. Thanks Tuz.. you're a peach.

Michael (aka The Big Mick)

text & review courtesy of progarchivesdotcom