Minim feat. Sainkho - Earth (2020)

Minim feat. Sainkho

Kuba Wójcik - guitar
Kamil Piotrowicz - keyboards
Andrzej Święs - bass
Albert Karch - drums

Earth

KOLD 7427137119598

By Adam Baruch

This is the second album by Polish Jazz quartet Minim (previously named Minim Experiment) comprising of guitarist/composer Kuba Wójcik, keyboardist Kamil Piotrowicz, bassist Andrzej Święs and drummer Albert Karch and featuring the renowned experimental Tuvan singer Sainkho Namtchylak. The album presents nine original compositions, five of which were composed by Wójcik, two were improvised, one was co-composed by Wojcik and Piotrowicz and one was composed by Karch. Namtchylak added some improvised lyrics.

The music is absolutely unique, to some extent continuing the ideas put forth on the debut, but exploring many new dimensions obviously inspired by the strong personality of Namtchylak and her vast experience. The result is an absolutely innovative amalgam of cross-genre music making, encompassing such diverse explorations as electronics, World Music, Avant-Garde, Jazz, Rock and a pleiad of other named and unnamed genres and sub-genres, all intermixed into a kaleidoscope of sounds, which is irresistibly beautiful.

There is no doubt that the meeting between Minim and Namtchylak creates a result that is greater than just a sum of its ingredients. Namtchylak's extended discography created in the last thirty years includes dozens of albums, but this recording definitely belongs to the very best of her outings. The wonderful fact is that she is carefully avoiding dominating the proceedings here despite her repute, allowing full freedom to the "youngsters" to state their ideas and by herself contributing only when appropriate.

Minim present the individual talents of its members on this album, with beautifully lyrical piano parts by Piotrowicz, brilliant bass parts by Święs who turns out to be ready to step beyond the mainstream with Mastery and incredible feel, unusual and innovating guitar parts and superb compositional skills by Wójcik and highly imaginative drumming by Karch, who turns out to be one of the leading Polish young generation stick men; in short these guys are definitely worth being followed.

This album is certainly one of the most interesting recordings released on the Polish scene in 2020, which suffered, as did the entire world, from the pandemic, which resulted in almost completely silencing many of the creative forces this year. As such, it offers hope and anticipation for great things to come in the future for all uncompromising, searching and open-minded Artistic minds. Music knows no borders and this album attest to this fact more convincingly that most other efforts, fully deserving our praise and gratitude. Hats off Lady and Gentlemen!