Patryk Lichota - synthesizers, samplers & sequencers, effects, soprano & tenor saxophone, Fender Bass VI Hubert Wińczyk - synthesizer, sampler, field recordings on cd-j, drum machines, vocal
and Michał Joniec - ghost heart
Tytuł płyty: "Dance Epidemic - Greatest Hits A.D. 1518"
Wydawca: Antenna Non Grata (2021)
Autor tekstu: Viačeslavas Gliožeris
kakofoNIKT is a duo of electronics artists Patryk Lichota and Hubert Wińczyk. They both play synths, and samplers and use electronic effects. Additionally, Patryk plays saxophones and Fender Bass, and Hubert uses a drum machine and speaks words. Duo's last-to-date album „Dance Epidemic - Greatest Hits A.D. 1518„ is „an imaginary soundtrack to the events that took place in Strasbourg in 1518 during the massive poisoning of the city with hallucinogenic ergot in bread and the collective mania that took over the inhabitants“.
This is the debut album by Polish experimental duo, which consists of clarinetists/composer Piotr Mełech and live electronics performer Patryk Lichota. The album presents seven original compositions, all co-composed by Melech and Lichota. The album was released by the prestigious Multikulti label as a numbered Limited Edition.
The music is one of the very
few examples of Avant Garde/Improvised Music, which incorporates fully
acoustic instruments and electronics, treating the two distinct worlds on an
equal plane, whereas in most cases when electronics are used, they are confined
to a marginal role in the overall framework.
The entire sound environment
created by the two musicians is very unorthodox and presents numerous
innovative approaches, which are all quite fascinating. The traditional
"sweet" tone of the clarinet is radically changed by electronic
manipulation, used in a multilayered recording technique, with pure clarinet
and pure electronic sounds also added to the entire collage. There is very little melody
used as such, but melodic fragments are an integral part of the entire
creation, creating a link to "conventional" music, without which the
sonic structures might have been a tad too detached from what most listeners
define as music.
Overall the album is a
fascinating trip into unconventional musical spheres, which manages to keep the
listener on his toes, unable to predict what the next move will be, which
defines the essence of creativity after all. Although released a few years ago,
this is still more innovative than most contemporary releases and definitely
worthy of discovery.
Piotr Mełech - clarinet, bass clarinet, prepared clarinets
Patryk Lichota - live electronics
Lost Level (2013)
By Maciej Nowotny
Piotr Mełech is a clarinetist, based in Poznań, which over last few years made a couple of interesting recordings making him one of most significant personages on Polish avantgarde and experimental music scene. My most favourite album of him is a duo with excellent Chicago cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm titled "Coarse Day" (2011). I know few albums as much in Polish music as worldwide who so successfully merge the innovation in music and sheer beauty of sound. Equally interesting was also earlier "Pink Ivory" (2009) by Enterout Trio closely followed by such releases as "Love Communication" (2011) by another band called Tfaruk and recent "Divided By 4" (2012) by a quartert with above mentioned Fred Lonberg-Holm but also pianist Witold Oleszak and drummer/percussionist Adam Gołębiewski.
His newest album "Lost Level" (2013) is a logical continuation of a his previous recordings which means its aestetique is build upon what may be broadly designated as avantgarde and experimental music with strong improvisation component. The new element is key role which on this album is played by electronics operated by Patryk Lichota who is known primarily as a composer of illustrative music for theater and radio shows.
The music itself is totally devoid of rhythm and melody being pure sonoristic experiment. Though interesting in concept I found it not convincing in actual rehearsal. In this kind of music the freshness and ability to surprise the listener are all its value is about. Unfortunately this is the weakest side of this album. Electronically generated waves of sound are flat, monotonous, repetitive and Mełech's clarinet is unable to save the day. Nowhere close to outstanding "Coarse Day" or actually any other disc by Mełech it remains an offer only for die-hard lovers of experimental music and his unquestionalble talent.
