Statek kosmiczny Ścianka

Infobox Album
Name = Statek kosmiczny Ścianka
Type = Album
Artist = Ścianka


Background =
Released = June 1998
Recorded = February-March 1998
Studio im. Adama Mickiewicza, Sopot
Genre = Rock
Length =
Label = Biodro Records
BRCD 002
Producer = Ścianka & Piotr Pawlak
Reviews = * Porcys (7.1/10) [http://www.porcys.com/Reviews.aspx?id=19 link]
* "Machina" Rating|4|5 [http://www.scianka.com/archiwum/scianka__recenzje_statek.htm link]
* "XL" (positive) [http://www.scianka.com/archiwum/scianka__recenzje_statek.htm link]
* "Brum" (positive) [http://www.scianka.com/archiwum/scianka__recenzje_statek.htm link]
* "Tylko Rock" Rating|5|5
Last album = "Robaki" (demo tape)
(1998)
This album = "Statek kosmiczny Ścianka"
(1998)
Next album = "Dni wiatru"
(2001)

"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 [ [http://www.biodro.pl/index.php?page=37 ŚCIANKA: "Statek Kosmiczny Ścianka"] Biodro Records] . It received a Fryderyk Award nomination in "Debut of the year" category [ [http://www.zpav.pl/nagroda_fryderyk.asp?page=nominowani_i_laureaci,1998&lang=pl Nagrody Fryderyk i Akademia Fonograficzna. Nominowani i laureaci 1998] Związek Producentów Audio Video] 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 [http://www.scianka.com/archiwum/scianka__historia.htm Historia] ŚCIANKA - oficjalna strona zespołu] . "Skuter" was also chosen by Artur Rojek to be official song for the 2nd Off Festival in 2007 [http://www.off-festival.pl/img/u/bio_artysci.pdf OFF Festival Mysłowice 2007] ] .

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 unoficially released in their raw versions on demo tape entitled "Robaki" [ [http://scianka.com/dyskografia.htm Dyskografia ] ŚCIANKA - oficjalna strona zespołu ] .

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 [ [http://www.ultramaryna.pl/tekst.php3?id=56 Ścianka] Ultramaryna] .

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 [Krzysztof Kowalewicz. Wietnamski Łącznik. Rozmowa Z Andrzejem Koczanem - Basistą Ścianki. Gazeta Wyborcza Łódź nr 30, 05/02/1999] .

Promotion

Both band and Biodro Records 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

"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"Artur Lipiński. [http://www.scianka.com/archiwum/scianka__recenzje_statek.htm Statek kosmiczny] . Wiatry - info-reviews zine 14, 1998/1999 ] . Their style was compared to The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Residents, Hawkwind [Grzegorz Brzozowicz [http://www.scianka.com/archiwum/scianka__recenzje_statek.htm Statek kosmiczny] . Machina 10, 31, 1998] , The Stooges, Captain Beefheart, Velvet Underground, MC5, Pink FloydJolka Madziar [http://www.scianka.com/archiwum/scianka__recenzje_statek.htm Statek kosmiczny] XL 1998] , and modern noise-rock artists signed to Amphetamine Reptile and SKiN GRAFT Records, as well.

Chart performance and sales

Album was relatively big commercial success, and was sold in over 5,000 copies [http://www.biodro.pl/index.php?page=english Biodro Records] ] . 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