India Czajkowska -Summum ("Cosmospir" album)

music: India Czajkowska (track from "Cosmospir" album)
realisation: Gamid Ibadullayev
butoh / butō: Sylwia Hanff

http://www.myspace.com/indiaczajkowska

India Czajkowska is something of a veteran in the Polish experimental (post-classical?) music scene, but this album represents her first ever solo recording. It conjures a dark but airy musical world, working into the listeners conscious at various levels, some almost subliminal.

Centre-stage is taken by is Czajkowskas voice. Her classical training has informed her technique to a very high standard but thankfully without reducing her performance to the empty execution of formalism. Theres a sultry, dangerous energy to her singing, her voice often sinuous and low to the ground like a predatory serpent.

Her vocals, particularly when she hovers in the thrilling lower cadences of her range, are sensual, but deadly; at other times, lighter, more buoyant. She is able to seduce her listeners ears into a wide range of emotions and imaginal worlds.

At times the vocals become more strident, urgent and forceful; at other times more pensive, distant, washed out. In addition to her almost kinaesthetic singing, Czajkowska is more than happy to experiment with all kind of vocal noise-making, though always in a tasteful and subtle fashion. Her brand of experimentation has a deep sensibility this is not just vocal shock tactics unleashed for superficial effect.

Her vocals are set against her own idiosyncratic and angular piano work, as well as some exquisitely communicative cello work (peformed by Ignacy Grzelaska and Karolina Wojaczek) and a range of drones, chimes and atmospheric samples. The compositions tend to be minimal and free flowing, but never merely simplistic theres sufficient inspiration and spark in the music that even in its simplest moments it can be spell-binding.

Czajkowska utilises reverb and delay to excellent effect on this release. Often you can hear, echoing out in the distance, drones, instruments, layered voices, clattering percussion. It creates a very evocative atmosphere, dark and watery. I cannot help but think of the symbol of the swamp in old European folklore a dangerous, uncanny place, filled with mystery and beauty.

On the whole the music is quite laid-back, not overly forceful, and although it can be a little unsettling at times if you are tuned in closely, it also hovers comfortably in the background of everyday activities. In this respect the album strikes a difficult balance it is neither limp nor overwrought. For avant garde experimentalism such as this, I think thats quite a feat.

This is a release to take your time with in order to fully savour the many flavours and scents of its unfolding. A very impressive first step for India Czajkowskas solo career.
Contributed by: Henry Lauer

http://www.discogs.com/India-Czajkowska-Cosmospir/release/1517695

http://wsm.serpent.pl/sklep/albumik.php,alb_id,16205,Cosmospir,India-Czajkowska

Category:

Music

Tags:

• India
• Czajkowska
• Cosmospir
• hic
• sunt
• leones
• Gamid
• Ibadullayev
• Sylwia
• Hanff
• butoh
• butō
• videoart

[CottonProductionsBTZ]

Most people cant see true beauty because they blind themselves from there own ugly truth. I love the composure and it's very unique music video. thank you.

[BakisSirros]

very nice music and video.