Monika / Zabawa w Ciemności
Dobry dzień! Hot on the heels of their widely celebrated reissue of Polish songstress Renata Lewandowska's 1970s classic "Dotyk" (in collaboration with The Very Polish Cut Outs), Astigmatic Records returns with a sizzling 7" release by the "founder, leader and conductor of the funkiest orchestra in Eastern Europe." Preceded by the remastered reissue of Henryk Debich and the Łódź Polish Radio and Television Orchestra's 1978-recorded LPs "Horyzonty" and "City", this one is the cherry on top and sold-out in no time.
The "Monika / Zabawa w ciemności" (transl. "Fun in Darkness) is the first in a series of forthcoming, previously unreleased material by Henryk Debich, stemming from his extensive work with the Łódź Polish Radio and Television Orchestra and retrieved from the latter's archives, which the London-based label has been digging for the past two years. This year, the late iconic figure of Polish jazz-funk, who authored highly sought-after holy grail recordings such as the 1975 album "String Beat", would have turned 100. It also happens to mark the 20th anniversary of his passing. And so it is on this occasion that Astigmatic Records are planning a whole string of releases celebrating his work.
"Monika / Zabawa w ciemności" is just the beginning, as the label readies the forthcoming album "Closeup" (which will not include the two songs), "an LP full of groove, pulsating drums, powerful brass sections and unconventional, previously unpublished compositions" by the one and only Henryk Debich, performed by the orchestra which he led until the very end. Listen to the two highlight tracks below and good luck getting your hands on a remaining copy.
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