Hania Rani – Ghosts. This one really hits the spot for me today.
Don’t tell my wife, but I think I’m in love with this woman. I just discovered her via her live KEXP performance. She’s got something special. Classical yet modern.
Her synth pieces remind me of Michele Jean Jarre, the only New Age composer I really like. Her piano pieces put me in mind of Erik Satie. She has a beautiful voice and her lyrics are compelling.
Interesting to find that she’s from Poland. More evidence of a rich cultural life. So it’s back to that old Rabbit Hole I guess. It’s been a bit of a rough week, so this music was just what I needed today. Just put it on and chill…
I’m definitely going down a Polish culture rabbit hole. I found the most amazing singer, Kasia Mos. What a set of pipes!
The song above is from a project called Moniuszco 200. According to the venue: “New takes of compositions by Stanislaw Moniuszko performed by AUKSO Chamber Orchestra for voice, piano, synthesizer, moog, electric violin, bass and drums.”
The concert was captured in a gorgeous live album by the same name. Here it is on Spotify:
I didn’t know about Moniuszco, although I am very much into classical music. He’s a famous composer in Poland, “The Father of the Polish opera” (Belarussians claim him too). Here’s a detailed biography.
This is some weird weed. I think I just got polka.
I was just watching a Youtube video of this Polish folk group playing traditional music and the tune was really nice (I think it’s a waltz, but it’s in the ballpark). So the world folk music bug bit me as it often does.
Per Google Translate from Polish: “Piotr BIŃKOWSKI’s band entertains festival GUESTS!“
I’ve been into world music since the ’90s. I know some people hate the term “world music,” but I have to file it somewhere in my brain.
I looked through Zbigniew Mądry’s YouTube channel, which according to Google Translate says “On the trail of the disappearing traditional culture of the village.” Right up my alley.
The first set of videos was kind of a mindfuck, because I realized I’d been wrong about polka music for years. I used to think it was corny, something for old people. They used to play it on the radio in my hometown and all I wanted was some decent rock ‘n’ roll.
But now I know why polka is cool — because the fans know the words. There’s something exciting about singing along with all your friends and knowing the songs. It’s primal. It connects you to humanity. Those are the best parts of any concert. It’s why Queen at Wimbley Stadium was so good.
Here are a couple of cool ones from Zbigniew Mądry’s channel:
I’d say more about them if I knew Polish, but I love the way people know the songs. Culture you can’t buy or sell.
Late Boomer's Den 
You must be logged in to post a comment.