„Cinematic“ Ist Ein Sphärischer Soundtrack Zu Einem Nie Gedrehten Film
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Cinematic POLISH ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2010 “Megastacja.Rock listeners” BEST DEBUT ALBUM & BEST ALBUM IN POLAND 3RD PLACE “Pro-Radio listeners” BEST POLISH DEBUT ALBUM 2ND PLACE “METAL HAMMER readers” RECENZJE /REVIEWS POLSKA/FRANCE/ GERMANY/ITALY/SWEDEN/FINLAND/SWITZERLAND/ RUSSIA/CANADA USA/NETHERLANDS/ISRAEL/DENMARK/HUNGARY/BELGIUM//NORWAY/BRAZIL/BELARUS WWW.LEBOWSKI.PL 1 (Israel) JAZZIS Lebowski "Cinematic" Subtitled "Music To A Non-Existent Movie", this is an excellent debut album by Polish Prog group, which consists of guitarist / composer Marcin, keyboardist / composer Marcin Luczaj, bassist Marek Zak and drummer Krzysztof Pakula. Vocalist / violinist Katarzyna Dziubak guests on two tracks. As the group´s name ("The Big Lebowski" – Joel Coen´s 1998 brilliant movie – a non- confirmed guess?) and the album´s title / subtitle suggest, the band is deeply involved with cinematography and indeed the album´s Prog / Ambient vistas should be ideal as soundtracks, but they do hold their ground as a great stand-alone instrumental album. The music is beautifully melodic and rich, with layers upon layers of instrumental sound placed one of top of another, creating a full-body sound. The usage of various keyboards is tasteful and manages to avoid "overdoing", which usually plagues most keyboard-oriented albums. The guitar plays most of the leads, changing its sound from delicately acoustic to heavy-metal, but never being obtrusive. Bass and drums keep the massive sound together beautifully, gluing everything to perfection. The musical themes are diverse and present a wide spectrum of harmonic approaches and rhythmic subtleties, keeping the listener on his toes for the entire duration of the album. The various tracks are "spiced" with dialog samples from Polish and International movies, paying a loving homage to the "industry of dreams". As to the "Polish angle", although not mentioned anywhere on the album´s liner notes, I could sense the spirit the great Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist hovering all over the music, especially a slight déjà-vu of his divine "Rosemary´s Baby" soundtrack. In spite of the fact that they are separated by time and circumstance, somehow my mind made a connection there. But sentiments aside, this is an absolutely formidable album, which should delight every serious music lover, even those who usually don´t listen to Prog, as this music crosses- over any genre limits. Satisfaction guaranteed! ADAM BARUCH https://www.jazzis.com/shop/default.asp?item=103341 2 (Denmark) POWER OF METAL Lebowski – Cinematic Rating: 95/100 Style: A relaxing one... Release date: October 10th 2010 Playing time: 66:00 When Kenn asked if anyone was interested in reviewing a couple of soundtrack-like releases, I thought it might be nice to hear what that was all about. Honestly, when the two CD's arrived and I looked at this one, 'Cinematic' by Polish quartet Lebowski, I said to myself 'oh, no, this look really, really dull!' The cover looks like something by an alternative British crap band from the nineties my wife has somewhere in our basement. But, lo and behold!, what was revealed to my slightly hesitant ears was a true relief! Rather than the semi-rock album I had anticipated, 'Cinematic' turned out to be an ocean of sound. It's rock and jazz and ambience and prog in one brilliant conglomerate. Although relaxing, it never gets boring because it's diverse and surprising without big bangs. It's instrumental too, apart from the aetheric voice of Kasia Dzíubak on 137 Sec. and Old British Spy Movie and the samples from films that have been used here and there. Is it a sign of oncoming old age that I like this? Trust me, I'm a bit baffled too, but nevertheless; I love this album and just know that it'll be one that I will pick from the collection from time to time. If nothing else, then when I need to sit back, close my eyes and swim away to a place that is just filled with good sounds. Amazing. Label: None Distribution: None Artwork rating: 60/100 Reviewed by: Thomas Nielsen Date: December 19th 2010 Website: www.lebowski.pl http://www.powerofmetal.dk/reviews10/lebowski_review.htm 3 (USA) SEA OF TRANQUILITY Added: January 17th 2011 Score: 4/5 Lebowski: Cinematic This album opens so elegantly with Marcin Luczaj's synths and keys. The lead electric guitar from Marcin Grzegorczyk and the piano are simply wonderful. An intricate yet explosive opening, full of enchantment. "The Trip to Doha" is a wonderful experience. "137 Sec." continues the spectacular instrumental journey. Katarzyna Dziubak's vocals will bring back all of those memories from Pink Floyd's Dark Side, but in a whole new dynamic presentation. The organ and electric guitar are fantastic, weaving impressions all over this music. The title track "Cinematic" is wonderful with its early synth keyboard climb and later synth rhythms. Marek Zak's drumming is warm and solid supporting the whole production. "The Spiritual Machine" is full of inspired and extraordinary synth work. The electric guitar elements also launch and provide excitement and dynamic range. The drums are also timed perfectly on this song, making it another of the best. The keys that return on "The Storyteller" are just wonderful. Later they are replaced by an organ, and the feeling and music get even better. "Human Error" is another blistering display of lead electric supported with piano like keys that really takes the orchestration to another level. The production ends with a 'hats – off' to Jon and Vangelis' Friends of Mr. Cairo, with the film trailing off and running out of the reel. That effect sounds so cool on disc. This is an excellent instrumental progressive album filled with beautiful landscapes of guitars and awesome synthesizer effects. This album is already one of the best surprises of 2011. Poland is full of rock and progressive rock talent and you can now add Lebowski to the mix. Get this album. Mark Johnson http://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=10218 4 (USA) PROG ARCHIVES CINEMATIC Lebowski Crossover Prog 4.10 | 12 ratings Going to the movies, in an album Apparently, this album was made by film lovers. It is dedicated to 5 Polish cinematographers (whom I don't know, so I can't help you there). It's called Cinematic and is being presented as a soundtrack to a non-existent movie. I can easily hear it. In fact the movie that plays in my mind as I listen to it, is a drama. A drama set in a hustling bustling city, during a rainy winter day (perhaps this is due to the cover of the album). The movie focuses on several individuals as they go about their daily routine and plans. Each person has something on their mind, perhaps a problem or a load on their chest. Each song depicts how that person deals with his or her own private issue. But if you prefer, you can read the band's comments on each piece in the booklet (written in Polish and English) including notes on the album itself as a whole. In fact those are quite interesting and revealing of the band's mindset and approach to the making of the album. The album is instrumental but the band added vocals from movies. Those are well made combinations and match the ambiance of the tracks in which they're placed in. they are mostly in Polish but there are also some in French and English. The music is spacious, volumetric and contrasts softness and aggressiveness. The pace is for the most part, slow and ponderous. In fact there's little variation in that facet but that is not that much of an issue since other aspects such as volume and intensity, mellowness and fierceness, exhibit dynamics. Moreover, the drumming is quite engaging and creative and provides the music the necessary shifts between a pensive state and a more agitated mood. While the album is mostly unhurried, it doesn't wait to get to the point. The tunes are fleshed out clearly and mostly as soon as the track starts, with each tune having a plain melody but one that is amplified in its effect by the instrumentation and sampling, i.e. the layering of each piece. These are what give the music its aforementioned spacey and rich feel. 5 One track I liked in particular was Encore. Like the name suggests it has a French disposition, French speech, accordion and coolness to it that reminds me of lounge/down- tempo music but with much more gusto to it as the electric guitar is "allowed" to roam freely throughout. I also liked the "world-music" feel of the second piece, 137 Sec. with its use of a dulcimer. I was also taken by the warm synths in Human Error and their interplay with the lead guitar. This is a heavy album. Not in the sense of heavy music, but in terms of the atmosphere. It is a dense album, one that is very rewarding if one is willing to dedicate the time to listen to it properly and not just as background music. It is over an hour long album and thus can be cumbersome and too much for one sitting. But that is evidence of its qualities and weight, not its weakness. In fact what I suggest is to use your right as a listener and listen to it in two parts. Create of it a soundtrack of your own, by editing it in any way you feel appropriate. What I would love to hear from these talented guys is some variation in tempo, some faster and even angrier music; I think they could do wonders with more upbeat and energetic tunes to which they'll apply their current treatment.