Music You Should Know From Poland

An electropop duo from Zabrze, The Dumplings marry the off-kilter pop of Metronomy with the killer grooves of Hot Chip, resulting in unadulterated disco bliss. Their debut album No Bad Days was released earlier this year to massive acclaim in Poland, but the pair's electronic wizardry is clearly designed for a global scale. "Technicolor Yawn" is one of the highlights, a dreamlike pop song with stripped back, pulsating beats and heavenly vocals that instantly transport you to the nearest dance floor.

"Technicolor Yawn"

"Teen Love"

Winners of the Polish Album of the Year 2013, Iwona Skwarek and Bartosz Szczęsny make up the duo Rebeka, a band well versed in sweeping, dramatic synth pop. Aiming to offer an alternative, enriching sound for the charts like Ballet School or Hundred Waters, Rebeka's sound is both incredibly mystical and insanely danceable at the same time. There are hints of melancholy and sadness throughout their Hellada LP, but just as things get a bit too grim, their beats return with an almighty punch that gets those feet tapping again.

"Unconscious"

"Melancholia"

Mister D. is the stage name for Polish novelist and playwright Dorota Masłowska, who has more recently devoted her time to crafting extremely alternative weirdo-rap. Her latest music video for "Chleb" (meaning, quite literally, "bread") is full of surreal Tim and Eric-esque images and even features supermodel Anja Rubik. Full of Polish in-jokes, Mister D. is the least accessible artist on this list outside of Poland, but her beats and eccentricness make for a tremendously appealing listen anyway.

"Chleb"

"CZARNA ŻORŻETA"

Blazo is one of those internet mysteries, an essentially anonymous guy from Krakow who produces beats that'll make your heart swoon. His albums Colors of Jazz 1 and 2 beckon multiple listens—they're the kind of Sunday morning records that you can get lost in over a cup of coffee and before you know it, the sun's coming down. Blazo combines laid-back, '90s inspired hip-hop beats with touches of chilled out jazz, a concuction he makes sound natural and incredibly enjoyable.

"Fresh Orange"

"Colors of Jazz 2"

Dawid Szcz&eogonsny, better known for his role in the band Niwea, returned to music this year under the guise of Normal Echo. His latest album, Private Behaviour, is all chilly beats and cold mechanics; an aesthetic that collides brilliantly with his raw, post-punk vocals. Fans of experimental, boundary-pushing acts like Tonsstartsbandht and HEALTH will find a lot to love here.

"Hours"

"Quiet"

Somewhere inbetween the stop-start franticity of early Modest Mouse and the summery guitar tones of Real Estate, the brilliantly named Eric Shoves Them In His Pockets are one of Poland's best-kept indie secrets. Their debut album Walk It Off is all shimmering guitars laced with melancholy, the kind of music that's perfect for autumn walks or night time reflection.

"You're Not

"Walk It Off"

Having previously been integral to Polish punk band Gówno, Piotr Kaliński has ditched scratchy guitars in favour of dub-style techno. Combining a bizarre array of elements including field recordings, drum'n'bass and '80s pop synths, Kaliński has redefined what it means to be a producer in Poland, setting the bar extremely high with his latest exciting album, Worship Nothing.

"Ae"

"Palms"

Darek Dabrowski's pseudonym Bobby the Unicorn is almost as psychedelic as the music itself. A collector of antique instruments, it would be disingeneous to say that Dabrowksi's sound is bedroom pop—it's far more than that. It's retro, sure. But as Bobby the Unicorn, Dabrowski elevates the listener to stratospheric heights to alternate dimensions that can only be accessed via his highly original style of psych-pop.

"Ona ma broń"

"Modern Times"

The organiser of Katowice's fantanstic OFF Festival, Artur Rojek played the event himself this year, capturing his audience with a unique take on radio-friendly pop. Rojek's music sounds huge and ready for the masses, but it's layered with elements of chamber pop, garage rock and Rojek's distinct post-punk vocal that immediately takes a hold of the ear. At times he sounds simultaneously traditional and surreal—a rare kind of musician who pushes the boundaries of the tried-and-tested.

"Beksa"

"Syreny"

Bulbwires are a classic rock'n'roll band from Warsaw, who offer a seriously slick interpretation of '50s-inspired garage rock. At times heavy yet at other times soft and ballad-y, Bulbwires are quickly becoming one of Poland's essential guitar bands. Their debut album ranges from pedal-to-the-metal rock to mid-noughties indie, and anyone who's a fan of effortlessly cool rock music will feel right at home with these guys.

"All You Can Get"

"Strong"

Adding some punk rock pizzazz to the staple dream pop formula, Wild Books sound comfortably familiar and yet refreshingly new at the same time. A crooked lo-fi duo not too far off from No Age, Wild Books sport impressive stop-start riffs and catchy melodies that reel you in before shaking you about vigorously.

"Orange & Lemons"

"Walk of Shame"

A self-proclaimed "low budget" rock band, Kaseciarz are a filthier, grottier version of Bulbwires with more of a likeliness to Thee Oh Sees. Their debut album Motörcycle Rock and Roll was released at the tail end of last year through Bandcamp, and provides a ferociously fast journey through a cesspit of surf, garage and punk rock. Those looking for crunchy riffs to accompany them as they tear up the streets on their Harley Davidson look no further than these lovable hooligans.

"The State"

"The Greatest Hit"

Michał Biela's music is the product of money he borrowed from sister, making it a highly personal and life-affirming listen. With a distinct voice that's whispery and serene, Biela gently intertwines his perfectly picked guitar with a range of strings and back-up vocals that are ideal for getting lost in late at night. His debut album is available on a pay-what-you-want basis on Bandcamp now.

"One Summer Night"

"Oh Little Darling"

This unusual and awe-inspiring experimental band are a bit like an otherworldly version of BADBADNOTGOOD. Their recently released their album Moloch is a twisted and warped listen, providing a heavy take on avant-garde, world music and jazz that obliterates the senses. There's even some post-hardcore and doom metal elements thrown in the mix, making Merkabah one of the most unique bands in the world right now - let alone Poland.

"Hilasterion"

"The Grapes are Filling and Growing Heavy"
https://merkabahpl.bandcamp.com/track/the-grapes-are-filling-and-growing-heavy

A bigger budget incarnation of Michał Biela, Patrick the Pan has been bringing his Patrick Wolf-inspired musicianship to stages across Poland for several years now. His debut album of gently sad songs, Something of an End, received critical acclaim at home back in 2012. More recently he's continued touring, debuting new material for what will hopefully be his swiftly released sophomore effort.

"Bubbles"

"Slowly"