It’s surprising that Lubomir Grzelak, alias Lutto Lento, still needs introducing – but perhaps it’s because compromise and concepts have never played a major role in his work. As recently as his last EP, the Polish DJ, musician and co-founder of the label DUNNO took a detour into off-kilter pop together with US singer Taylor E. Burch. Now, with the 2568 EP, his first release on Belgian label Meakusma, he pursues his penchant for the experimentally uncanny – and, as always, delivers a few surprises along the way.
In the opener »Go Eat Worms«, a baroque oboe (Wit Apostolakis-Gluziński) and synths circle one another like ghosts; you can hear that Grzelak also composes for film. »2568«, the heart of the record, uses a slightly off-key children’s choir, a harp and the beguiling voice of Antonina Nowacka to open up a vast, wavering, mystical sound world. And »Bones and Trumpets« is a finale in every sense: a broad-striding beat dances beneath ominous synths until the mood shifts, turning into an acoustic sunrise where oboe and saxophone join forces for melodic release. Lutto Lento is both meticulous sound researcher and storyteller – and that’s precisely what makes listening to him so compelling.
2568 EP
