XXANAXX, Król, Makowiecki and Atlas Like at Eter: Polish electronica in Wrocław
XXANAXX, Król, Makowiecki and Atlas Like meet in the Eter concert announcement, bringing together four individual visions of Polish electronica. The melancholy of “Nielot” and “Szczenię” sits beside the melodic pop of “Triangles” and “Ocean’s Floor”.
On 1 March, Poland's hottest electronic acts will take over Wrocław's Eter club: local favourites XXANAXX; Król, the solo project of Błażej Król from the much-missed UL/KR; Makowiecki, who silenced everyone doubting his talent a year ago; and Wrocław's irresistibly catchy Atlas Like. Be quick: tickets for this concert will disappear at lightning speed!
Warsaw duo XXANAXX are an elegant catamaran slicing effortlessly across electronic pop’s treacherous ocean. A girl from Konin with an excellent voice sought a good producer, while a boy from Szczytno who played several instruments, wrote lyrics and composed sought a singer to bring his productions into the world. Their paths crossed in 2012, with the first single, “Disappear”, appearing that December. In 2013, Klaudia Szafrańska and Michał Wasilewski released their debut EP on U Know Me Records, named Debut of the Year by Brand New Anthem.
“Broken Hope” and “Got U Under” could be heard in clubs and on iPods. The band played numerous concerts and festivals, including Open’er Festival, Audioriver and Selector, winning over audiences at lightning speed. Their debut album, “Triangles”, was one of the year’s most eagerly awaited releases. It came out in May 2014 on major label Warner Music Polska and was warmly received by the media and fans alike.
Król was a mainstay of cult Gorzów collective Kawałek Kulki, but became famous as UL/KR’s leader. In 2012–2013, they ruled Polish electronics, crossing underground/mainstream boundaries and bringing everyone to their knees. Spectacular success did not lead to coasting: UL/KR suspended activity late last year, drawing enormous farewell-tour crowds. Almost immediately came Król’s solo “Szczenię”, followed just two months later by “Nielot”, fully revealing his majestic potential.
If UL/KR's songs were, as the musicians described them, “songs from bubbling swamps”, Król's solo tracks are those swamps' anthems. Lyrics full of difficult melancholy are set to galactic music in which retro sounds clash fascinatingly with modern techniques, surprising listeners and giving them no respite.
Remember Tomek Makowiecki? The talented, incredibly hardworking guy with a guitar who spent years stranded in the shallows of Polish music show business? Forget him: a year ago, he was reborn as Makowiecki. “Moizm” perfectly blends danceable groove, alternative sounds and minimalist touches. Despite contributions from grey-haired giants Józef Skrzek and Władysław Komendarek, it is thoroughly current and attractive to club audiences. This is infectious pop of the purest kind, unafraid of its synthesiser roots or excursions into contemporary territory and inspiration from James Blake.
According to the announcement, “concerts differ from the album because the musicians allow themselves to improvise, playing expertly with sound, putting listeners into a trance and taking audiences to the magical land of Moizm”. It is certainly worth experiencing personally.
Wrocław’s Atlas Like play between synth-pop and indie rock. The songwriting duo Jakub Saniewski and Jarek Zagrodny are joined live by Grzegorz Kosior and Roman Zagrodny. Their January 2013 debut EP, “Atlas Like”, offers abundant dance energy, excellent melodies, catchy songs and almost rock-style instrumentation. Released in June 2014 as a preview of their full-length debut, “Ocean’s Floor” captures the music’s eclecticism and unpredictability. Just imagine what happens live!
Event details
XXANAXX, KRÓl, MAKOWIECKI and ATLAS LIKE
28 February 2015
Eter Club
Wrocław