- The Very Polish Cut Outs make funky, oddball disco by re-editing their homeland's Soviet-era music. It's a pretty unlikely concept. The tag line of their blog is "Polish dance music? Are You Fucking Braindead?" But somehow it works. Started by Polish DJs Zambon and Pnk Discorp, the concept was largely inspired by Baris K's re-works of traditional Turkish music that transform dusty folk into quirky dance floor gold. By posting tracks on their SoundCloud and dropping the odd vinyl, the Cut Outs have, since 2009, been winning over DJs who like to inject a little of the unexpected.
The EP's highlight is "Krysyna" by Ptaki. Ptaki are supposedly a duo from Warsaw who want anonymity. In all likelihood, though, the project is at least 50% the work of Polish Cut Outs contributor Jaromir, AKA Funkoff. Whoever's behind it, the track is ridiculously good. A slow-burning disco chugger of the highest order, the Polish vocals that emerge halfway through add a most welcome twist. "Marek'" is also strong. Complete with crazy, wig-out synths mid-way through, it sounds like Poland's answer to Prelude Records.
The B-side comes from Maciek Sienkiewicz, who is apparently Poland's finest purveyor of all things yacht rock. Both have pop melodies and off-key electronica in bundles, with the swirling harps in "Song For Mohindar" sounding particularly far-out. With a woozy sub-house tempo, both tracks are as Balearic as a Hierbas hangover.
Tracklist A1 Ptaki - Krystyna
A2 Ptaki - Marek
B1 Maciek Sienkiewicz - Syntetyczna Kobieta Lux
B2 Maciek Sienkiewicz - Song For Mohindar