Who doesn’t have fond memories of Ptaki? The Polish duo succeeded in creating a sound of their own a few years ago, which was in the right place at the right time in the organic groove trend. Bartosz Kruczyński, 50% of the duo that hung up their hats in 2016, has been able to make a name or several names for himself as a solo artist following the split. Besides his highly respectable electronic records under the moniker Earth Trax and his new alias Pejzaż, he has been racking up A and B grades under his real name. This began three years ago when he offered a glimpse into the wonderful world of his Polish-Baltic homeland with »Baltic Beat« on your well-informed friend’s favourite label, Growing Bin. This was followed by a collaboration with Poly Chain on Into The Light (»Pulses«) and now finds its temporary climax with »Baltic Beat II«. On the highlight reel in label form that is Growing Bin, the record still stands out. Of course, there have already been other new classics with Wilson Tanner or Krakatau, but »Baltic Beat II« takes it to the next level. It starts with the sounds of the brook and meadow on the excellently titled opener »Pastoral Sequences«, which drive you far into nature, away from the din of the big city. Finely chiselled ornaments from field recordings (possibly fake, but still great) meet well-tempered piano strokes and the tribalistic vocals of Poland, only to slowly settle into a gentle plucking. What begins with goosebumps in the final stages fortunately doesn’t stop there. Guitars, xylophone, strings and so much more are layered casually like chamois in the Tatras; elsewhere (on the B-side) the minimal jazz koto sounds of one Midori Takada are quoted. It ends differently than it began, that’s the way it is with journeys and narratives. If you were chilling on Ibiza, this would be classic Balearic, so we have no choice but to call it »Baltearic«. Finally, a new genre, please find enclosed the current reference album.
Various Artists
John Gómez & Nick the Record present »Tangent«
Mr Bongo