AEROLIT

I had never heard of this guy before he was added to PA. I've only heard this album and the follow up Katharsis, which is a great electronic album. Niemen(not his real name) was born in the Soviet Union but later moved to Poland. During the 1960s he was popular there, making R&B and psych rock music. With this album he moved into fusion territory while retaining the symphonic prog of his last few albums. Before Aerolit the members of S.B.B. were his backing band.

His singing style is very soulful. Similar to 60s/70s R&B and "blue-eyed soul". He sings in Polish. I have worked with people from Poland and learned some words and sayings in Polish. Unfortunately, they were mostly curse words. I have no idea what Czeslaw is singing about, but I don't hear any Polish curse words. "Pielgrzym" is apparently based on a famous Polish poem by a famous Polish poet. Or something of that nature anyway. Oh, by the way, Niemen also plays keyboards.

"Cztery Sciany Swiata" starts with rolling drums, bass and jazzy synth playing. Gets more symphonic with Mellotron. Some drum rolls and the singing starts. Music stops then comes back again. More Mellotron. Then jazzy synth and drums. Later a synth solo. Gets more symphonic. Music stops again. Then drum rolls and more singing. Music keeps stopping and starting again. Good electric piano near the end.

"Pielgrzym" has a little bit of synth before some a cappella vocals. Then some spacey Middle-Eastern style synths. A cappella vocals again. Some percussion and bass halfway thru. Then Rhodes piano and some electric guitar. "Kamyk" begins with spacey synth. Then drum roll and some Mellotron. After a symphonic part with a good beat and electric piano. Singing starts. Later goes into a jazzy part, then a nice groove with echoed/delayed Mellotron. Goes back to the symphonic part. Spacey synth noises at the end.

"Daj Mi Wstazke Blekitna" is a R&B style ballad similar to some of his earlier stuff(I'm assuming). You can listen to the last song "Smutny Ktos, Biedny Nikt" here on PA. It starts with a great jazzy groove. Then singing. Later nice synths and electric piano. After 3 minutes some cool sounding electric piano and cowbell. Then a good groove. Later a synth melody doubled on guitar.

Yet another interesting artist I discovered because of this site. A great album, just as good as what was coming out of western Europe or the US at the time. A really good singer/keyboardist/composer. His singing style is very over the top and may not appeal to everyone. But the music is a nice mix of symphonic prog, fusion and R&B. 4 stars.