Statek kosmiczny Ścianka
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
Statek kosmiczny Ścianka (Ścianka the Spaceship; often abbreviated to Statek kosmiczny) released in 1998 was the debut album of Polish rock group Ścianka. Album was recorded in Maciek Cieślak's home studio in Sopot.[1] It received a Fryderyk Award nomination in "Debut of the year" category[2] and was awarded best debut album of the year by Tylko Rock magazine. There were no singles promoting the album, but "Skuter" received status of biggest Ścianka's hit among their fans.[3] "Skuter" was also chosen by Artur Rojek to be official song for the 2nd Off Festival in 2007.[4]
Recording and production
Statek kosmiczny Ścianka was first studio album of Ścianka. Maciej Cieślak decided to sign Ścianka on newly founded record label, Tymon Tymański's Biodro Records. Entire album was recorded in guitarist's home studio in the basement of old house in Mickiewicza Street in Sopot. Four songs ("Insect power", "Ścianka", "Skuter" and "Sopot") were previously unofficially released in their raw versions on demo tape entitled Robaki.[5]
According to Cieślak, at first Tymański wished to issue a debut album of another Tricity alternative band, Grzegorz Nawrocki's Ego. Because Ego's Światowid was released by Antena Krzyku label, Tymański's decided to release Statek kosmiczny instead, after attending one of Ścianka live performances.[6]
Shortly after the release, Ścianka underwent major change in personnel, when Vietnamese bassist Tran Chi was replaced with Andrzej Koczan. Tran Chi left Poland and went France, reportedly because of private or political issues.[3][7]
Promotion
Both band[3] and Biodro Records[8] agree, that promotion of the album wasn't sufficient enough. Music video to "Piosenka No 3" was created; it was directed by Dawid Marcinkowski.
Critical response
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Porcys | 7.1/10 link |
| Machina |   link |
| XL | positive link |
| Brum | positive link |
| Tylko Rock | |
Statek kosmiczny received almost strictly positive reviews from Polish music critics. Problems with classification of Ścianka's music led to creation of jocose descriptive term "post-fuckin'avant-hendrix'grunge-noise-rock".[9] Their style was compared to The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, The Residents, Hawkwind,[10] The Stooges, Captain Beefheart, Velvet Underground, MC5, Pink Floyd,[11] and modern noise-rock artists signed to Amphetamine Reptile and SKiN GRAFT Records,[9] as well.
Chart performance and sales
Album was relatively big commercial success, and was sold in more than 5,000 copies.[8] Album is currently out of print and unavailable on Biodro Records catalogue.
Track listing
- [untitled] – 0:10
- "Skuter" – 2:32
- [untitled] – 0:29
- "Ścianka" – 7:18
- "Piosenka nr 3" – 3:45
- "Insect power" – 2:34
- [untitled] – 0:05
- "Czerwone kozaki" – 7:51
- "Sopot" – 2:56
- "Trans-Atlantyk" – 8:57
- [untitled] – 0:41
- "Sprawa 5-ciu pracowników Instytutu Badań Kosmicznych, zbiegłych w kwietniu 1973 z terenu zakładu w Beskid Wschodni i tam doszczętnie zdziczałych" - 0:30
- "Chudy" – 3:12
- "Down there low" – 7:54
- "Sopot II" – 3:53
- [untitled] – 0:05
- "Piórko" – 6:39
- "Ja nie" – 5:07
Personnel
- Maciej Cieślak – guitar, voice
- Jacek Lachowicz – keyboards, voice
- Tran Chi – bass
- Arkady Kowalczyk – drums.
References
- ^ ŚCIANKA: "Statek Kosmiczny Ścianka" Biodro Records
- ^ Nagrody Fryderyk i Akademia Fonograficzna. Nominowani i laureaci 1998 Związek Producentów Audio Video [dead link]
- ^ a b c Historia ŚCIANKA - oficjalna strona zespołu
- ^ OFF Festival Mysłowice 2007 [dead link]
- ^ Dyskografia ŚCIANKA - oficjalna strona zespołu
- ^ Ścianka Ultramaryna
- ^ Krzysztof Kowalewicz. Wietnamski Łącznik. Rozmowa Z Andrzejem Koczanem - Basistą Ścianki. Gazeta Wyborcza Łódź nr 30, 05/02/1999
- ^ a b Biodro Records
- ^ a b Artur Lipiński. Statek kosmiczny. Wiatry - info-reviews zine 14, 1998/1999
- ^ Grzegorz Brzozowicz Statek kosmiczny. Machina 10, 31, 1998
- ^ Jolka Madziar Statek kosmiczny XL 1998