QUIDAM

Quidam entered into the music business with their namesake album... and boy, what an entry it was! This talented Polsih sextet cultivated from day one a polished symphonic prog heavily inspired by contemporary Camel and early Marillion, creating a classy neo-prog sound, with a perfect balance of catchy tunes and clever arrangements: not only they are skillful musicians who can interact fluidly, but also they are capable of writing excelent melody lines... and let's not forget to mention Emila Derkowska's amazing singing and astonishing style. Tracks 1 and 2 are really vibrating, drifting towards the melancholy side of symph prog and retaining a genuine sense of energy. Things get more colourful and optimistic in 'Gleboka Rzeka' and the exquisite 'Plone' (one of my favorite Quidam tracks ever), and even a bit more explosive (not too much) in 'Nocne Widziadla', but always keeping a proper touch of melancholy, for which Derkoska's voice proves to be a most perfect vehicle of expression. In the instrumental department, most solos are played by the guitar and the flute, but the major responsibilities lay in the hands of keyboardist Florek, since he's in charge of supporting the main harmonies, chords, orchestral textures and layers. There are also some pop-like excursions (the shorter tracks), which serve as nice "interludes" between the more ambicious compositions. This album still impresses me every time I listen to it as much as the first time, a bunch of years ago - a must for those whcollectors interested in the best of contemporary symph.

Their Prime Opera named after the band, deserves more than the simple recognition of "Good Album" because the achieved in here by this group of musicians reaches certain levels of excellence that let the imagination fly away, and in that order, we can picture where this Polish band could be in the future. The band reflects a suitable balance between the bold and the youth, wishful to experiment new musical structures and the growth of consummated musicians who manifest a complete domain of their instrument and group cohesion.

"Sanktuarium", the first track of the album is in my opinion their best piece of work, is a sublime Overture, each instrument (flute, violin, guitar and drums) seems to feel the necessity of individually manifest, elevating at some moments, just to later on be followed by the rest of them and the stupendous voice of Emila accomplishing a sublime collective intensity. The intro is truly captivating, fulminating, to the point where you're completely trapped within the first ten seconds of the song.

"Nocne Widziadla" is an authentic piece of work as well. Despite the disconcerting beginning, where over more than a minute the song seems to be destined to end up as a musical background to an unfortunate TV show; do not desperate and panic, because forward on the song the talent and the emotiveness of the band reach their climax in a portentous solo by Emila where her potency and a heartrending feeling at the very pure style of "The Great Gig in the Sky" make your most sensitive fibers vibrate and your skin crawl endwise.

The language (Polish) plays an interesting roll, because different from some other languages, that I rather omit to avoid undesired controversies; it perfectly fits at all. Facing the possibility of understanding a single word, there's no other way out but to interpret lyrics and music, imagining what the composer wants to transmit you, letting you to take his place just for a few seconds. This way, the vocal interpretation turns irremediably into another instrument.

To sum it up, the QUIDAM debut album is very recommendable, I'd say indispensable to every single lover of the highly enjoyable music.

****1/2

This debut album by Quidam is by far the group's best album so far. In my opinion it's also the best album ever from Poland (or should I say at least from the ones I have heard). An obvious choice for many would probably be Collage - Moonshine but due to my dislike of neo-progressive I prefer this album much more. The most dominant instruments in Quidam's music are both the keyboards and the guitar but they also use nicely the flute and especially the cello. The classical instruments are almost exclusively used in the solo sections. I really like the guitar playing of Maciek Meller. I believe it's not unfair to say that his solos are very hackettesque and always with a great melody. Unfortunately, after this album the band decided to adapt some neo-prog elements into their music.

The album kicks off with "Sanktuarium" which in my opinion is the best track they have made and probably the best they ever will make. It is a very beautiful track without any faults. The solo with the cello and the guitar in this song is absolutely haunting. This track is superb! Another highlight track is the 14-minute closer "Plone". A great track that one indeed. It is also due to these two fantastic tracks that I give this album an extra half star.

The vocals are in Polish and sung very beautifully by Emila Derkowska.

Conclusion: One of the best symphonic albums from the nineties.

Sorry but I don't like this kind of emulation of the early stuff by Camel (with a few hints of folk progressive from the UK), in spite of appreciating a delicate and pleasant approach by the female singer: as a matter of fact the guitar lines are quite new-prog oriented and the keyboards as well, but I don't recognize a true effort in the direction of a personal way to compose: I think that this latter feature is lacking a bit and for me that's the main problem regarding the whole project.moreover I saw them live on stage during their gig at Vigevano Prog Festival (in the course of 1998), in the same edition in which After Crying performed an unforgettable concert, and probably it's unthinkable to compare A.C. to the ensemble from Poland, but this is the cause of my doubts about Quidam. After all even their first works from the Studio confirmed my opinion, except on the situation you liked the style of Solstice, for example within "Silent Dance".however I think it's for the fans of this particular light symphonic prog-genre only, inside a different contest of a new prog style: so at the end erase an half star!!

A wonderful piece of music ! This is the debut album of Polish prog band, which is musically closer rather to Camel's style than any prog-metal band. Clear, full of space and feelings, incredibly fantastic ("angelic") voice of female vocalist Emilia Derkowska, very good guitar sound of Maciek Meller, flute passages by Ewa Smarzyńska - that's the short summary of what goes on here. LP starts from one of the most beautiful and sad song I've ever heard - "Sanktuarium" (all lyrics are in Polish) - a very personal one for Emilia, with (forgive me) "gently weep" of Meller's guitar. The next are superb too, especially "Chocbym...", "Nocne widziadla" and "Plone" - musically miscellaneous and complexed, but still melodious and clear for your mind and soul. What a pity that Emilia decided to leave the band after the release of Quidam's 3rd studio album - "Pod niebem czas" (Time Beneath The Sky")! A must for responsive fans of "delicate" prog, not recommended for fans of prog-metal, who will have nothing to do with it, I suppose.

Great debut album of Polish Symphonic Rock band Quidam. The biggest part of the Quidam line-up started out in 1990 under the name "DEEP RIVER" playing mainly cover versions of famous rock and blues songs. For their debut album they changed their name into QUIDAM and had great female vocalist Emila Derkowska join the band. Emilia is also playing cello and flute. Furthermore this album sounds very solid with many classical instruments on the scene. Combined with great guitar work of Maciek Meller this is a lovely album. All vocals are sung in Polish, but this doesn't bother me one bit. I haven't purchased any other albums of the band yet, so this is my only reference to QUIDAM. So far so good! 4 to 5 stars.

Quidam´s debut album is really a milestone in prog music. Very few bands could start their careers with such high quality, original and beautiful collection of songs like this. Since the very first note of Sanktuarium I realized I was listening to a classic. Everything works from start to finish. Quidam´s music shows some influences of Camel, old Genesis, Pink Floyd and other classic 70´s great bands, but actually these are just a little detail in the overall picture, since their sound is laced with a lot of polish elements like folk, making it a very distinguished sound. Actually is very hard to compare this band to anyone else that comes before them (after them is another story, since a lot of groups were either influenced by or were simply copies of Quidam).

Lead singer Emila Derkowska is very much the soul of the band, with her wonderful and versatile voice, sounding both powerful and delicate, but always passional. The other musicians are no less acomplished and make a great instrumental tapestry to match the singer´s voice (the guitar lines are specially well done). The music is varied and always interesting, with elements of symphonic, neo, folk and art rock in the mix. There are no fillers. Some of the songs may take some time to sink in, but that is very common in progressive music in general. Take your time, relax and listen to the wonderful music of Quidam. You´ll have a great trip. One of the best prog albums of the 90´s and a must have for any prog lover. Highly recommended!

I have to say I have been listening to this recently acquired CD all week, many times over, and have yet to be able to focus on it or on many parts of it. Normally by now it would have grown on me or been relegated to the recycle heap, but neither fate seems to have been reserved for Quidam's debut. I came to it via comparisons to the Collage classic "Moonshine" , and I see the similarity more in some of the guitar parts and a bit of the arranging, and less in the compositions themselves.

I fear this may be blasphemy, but let's start with the singer. It is not inevitable that a wordless vocal by a powerful female singer should sound like a blatant ripoff of "The Great Gig in the Sky", but Emila Derkowska attains this unfortunate circumstance in not one but two songs, and in both cases devalues what could have been a significant work. I also find her voice to be somewhat cold in some places, and with an odd resemblance to Japanese prog singers in bands like Teru's Symphonia, in "Nocne Widziala". I don't think her singing is as well suited to the style as, say, Robert Amirian's was for Collage. But it is compositionally that Quidam falls down the most. Few would claim that this is complex music, yet they insist on very long tracks that often lack the prerequisite glue to hold segments together, hence my continued tendency to drift off as I listen. And while short bursts of emotion and melody can be found especially in the guitars, these tend to be ephemeral and poorly developed. I have issues with the shorter tracks as well, such as "Warkocze", which seems ultralite.

Yet this is not a bad album. In particular, "Sanktuarium", "Niespelnienie" and "Plone" stand out, and "Chocbym..." was going great until the wailing commenced. Quidam has all the tools, but at least on the album they did not utilize them particularly effectively.

3.5 stars.This is an excellent debut from QUIDAM. They even get help from another Polish band called COLLAGE as Mirek Gil adds his guitar to one track, and the drummer from COLLAGE co-produced it. The vocals are ably performed by Emila who also adds some flute and cello.Talented lady. I must say though that the Polish language isn't the easiest on the ears.

"Sanktuarium" opens with some killer organ before the guitar comes in beautifully. Love that part. A calm arrives as we get gentle vocals from Emila. Check out the guest aboe 2 1/2 minutes in. It comes back later. A fuller sound 3 minutes in as Emila sings passionately. More aboe 4 1/2 minutes in then cello followed by flute. This is so gorgeous. Cello returns and check out the incredible sounding guitar solo 6 1/2 minutes in. So tasteful. Passionate vocals and a full sound to end it. Amazing track.

"Chocbym" is pleasant to begin with and then we get a scorching guitar solo a minute in from Mirek Gil. Vocals and a calm 1 1/2 minutes in. She sounds so good. The guitar soars 2 1/2 minutes in with waves of synths.The guitar is soaring again 4 1/2 minutes in. Check out the vocal melodies after 5 minutes that go on and on. These first two songs are worth the purchase of this album alone.

"Bajkowy" opens with flute that is followed by vocals. Piano 2 minutes in. Not a fan of the first 2 1/2 minutes, but then the bass, drums and guitar come in sounding great.

"Gleboka Rzeka" opens with synths and flute.The tempo picks up 2 minutes in with some pleasant guitar. Some fat bass follows. Vocals before 3 1/2 minutes. Piano 5 minutes in.

"Nocne Widziadia" doesn't do a lot for me until a calm arrives 3 1/2 minutes in with synths and flute. Nice atmosphere here. Vocal melodies before 5 minutes. Guitar ends the song.

"Niespetnienie" opens with lots of atmosphere as waves of sound drift along. Soaring guitar 2 1/2 minutes in. Emotional. The tempo picks up before 4 minutes then vocals arrive.Tasteful guitar 7 1/2 minutes in with some deep bass 9 minutes in. Great track.

"Warkocze" features more guest aboe before fragile vocals and piano arrive. A fuller sound before 2 minutes.The contrast continues. Nice guitar 3 1/2 minutes in with flute to end it.

"Bijace Serca" is a short track with cello, synths and piano leading the way.

"Plone" opens with piano and flute for 1 1/2 minutes. A full sound comes in with guitar. Vocals 2 1/2 minutes in with some nice bass lines. Guitar 5 minutes in is great. Some heaviness 7 minutes in,love the synths. Deep bass lines 9 minutes in with more of this later in this 14 minute closer.

An enjoyable debut that has it's hits and misses for me. The first two tracks and the final one are my favourites.Tough not to give this 4 stars but honestly the vocals and synths on several songs don't do a lot for me. I like half this album a lot the other half is so so.

Excellent neo/folk/symph progressive rock outfit from Poland with talented musicians.They were found in 1991 as a hard/blues band under the name ''Deep River'',but their style would soon change with the addition of flutist Ewa Smarzynska.The band started playing more complex,poetic and intricate music and won awards on several festivals.Their debut ''Quidam'' was recorded between Septemer of 1995 and March of 1996 and finally released the same year on Ars Mundi Label.

The best way to describe this awesome work is a mix of COLLAGE'sgrandiosity,ANGLAGARD's sensitivity and RENAISSANCE's melody.There are tons of lush and vintage sounds contained in here,creating a superb and emotional atmosphere.It starts from some dark passages filled with acoustic guitars,violins and cellos and continues with gentle flutes and melodic piano parts.These marvellous echoes are greatly supported by the excellent and sensational vocals of Emila Derkowska and the melodic,slightly distorted guitars of Maciek Meller,bringing to mind the work of Mirek Gil (who also plays a solo on one track) with COLLAGE and SATELLITE.Add to this already satisfying atmosphere the background keyboards of Zbysek Florek and their intense floating sounds,not far from what Mark Kelly was doing on MARILLION.All in all,this an absolutely ideal debut for a band,who just introduces themselves to the public.Highly recommended!

The Polish prog scene really needs to be placed in the forefront. Several great bands are (or were) carrying the prog flag rather high (one of my fave Polish band being "Abraxas").

When you would listen to "Sanktuarium", there is only one feeling: it is a superb symphonic song with wonderful vocals and grandiose music. It is difficult to describe the feeling since I am not really fluent in Polish, but Emila has such a great tone that she is passing on her emotion fluently. A highlight.

This album really has more to deal with symph prog than neo. But let's not argue too much about this, since it is the policy of this site.Still, "Chocbym" is another very interesting song full of fantasy. Beautiful guitar work from Merek Gil (Collage, Satellite) and exceptional vocals again. The last section is to be compared with the superb "The Great Gig In The Sky". No less.

This debut is full of harmony, sensitivity and melody ("Gteboka Rzeka"). The first contact with some neo- prog sounds is experienced with "Nocne Wiòziaòta". Harder keys attack and heavier sound overall. Still, it is combined with a tremendous instrumental middle part full of tact and symphonic flavour again. Just listen to the FANTASTIC vocalized section. Another great moment offered by Emila Derkowska. She is really great my prog friends, and definitely deserves a lot of respect. And more recognition.

This album is truly enjoyable and I can only recommend it. Both to symphonic maniac (like I am) as well as neo-prog lovers. The music displayed here is just sublime at times like during the wonderful instrumental intro of "Niespelnienie" which is another highlight from this very good debut album.

Four stars.

When we here in the Netherlands were still under the spell of Collage...suddenly iout of the blue there was this band called Quidam....or out of the blue......My cousins (with who I did a Prog radioshow for years) parants were a member of a folklore group for years. On one year they had an exchange with a group from Poland...cos the year before they went to Poland. So the idea was that they should harbor 2 people from that group. So there a couple was, ended up staying in his house. On one night he asked them..Hmm....Poland, right ! Have you ever heard of a band called Collage. Yes, sauid the woman...my son is recording a CD that is produced by one of their members. So he gave his adress and asked her to ask her son to contact him....that son appeared to be Maciek Meller .....Soon after that he sended the new cd to him and on a sunday when we had to record our weekly radioshow...he popped this cd in the cd player and told us....what I have now.....you must listen this....So there he was and Santuarium started.......I honestly tell you.....I heard alot of impressive prog...but I never was blown of my socks so hard as when I heard this album the first time..........If this album is the best album ever written by any Polish band, then Sanctuarium must be the best song ever written by any Polish band. And then that bridge in the middle with that violonsolo, that flute solo and then that guitarsolo.........my good heavens........Live however it was played slightly longer, usually containing the Firth Or Fifth solo or pieces from In The Court Of The Crimson king. Its truly one of the best albums of 1996, if not the best.......and even one of the best 90's cd's. So all in all a must buy for any serious Prog fan. If you like Camel....cos I think that the music comes the closest to that.......

Anyway....that was the beginning of a interesting friendship. Later on..they played in Zwolle, what was the first gig outside Poland...and they were hailed as heroes, and playing off any other band that was also playing that day in Hedon.......In fact they were the second last act....and they played out Jadis completely (Just as Collage did in 1994 in Tilburg with Shadowland for that matters)......The gig after that....they played in Uden where they played out Ritual completely....and everyone left while Ritual was playing....After the Zwolle gig..we invited them to come to our studio, to be our guest in our radioshow and they did....really really nice. We got to know all the bandmembers personally and were in Poland where they were mixing off the second album.....staying in Maciek Meller's house....doing some sightseeing around the place he lived....meet all his familymembers and had such a wonderfull time. The concerts after that of Quidam...I think we all attended them...including the 2 that they gave together with Colin Bass, which eventually ending up Colin Bass making our 200th broadcast together with us....playing Denpasar Moon live in the studio......choosing the songs and did several announcements. Such wonderfull people.......such delighted music.....

What stunning beauty emanates from this disc! Whether neo-prog or whatever, it's just gorgeous melodies coming from all instruments, especially the guitars, flutes, and the female vocalist. (It even has an awesome guest appearance from compatriot and COLLAGE guitarist extraordinaire Mirek Gil on the second song, "Chocbym..." [7:07] [14/15]) The arrangements and pastoral feel of all of these songs remind me a lot of IONA, last year's CICCADA debut, and 1970s GENESIS (probably due to the strong presence of flute). I don't really have a favorite cuz I love them all. This one is a definite keeper; it will probably stay on my play list--on heavy rotation--for quite a while. I wouldn't be surprised if it even climbs into my personal all-time top 100 (or, at least 200), it's that gorgeous, and that interesting. I'm so glad I was finally able to find it! What amazing music there is to be found coming out of Poland and Eastern Europe! Thank you, ProgArchives! A definite masterpiece of absolutely beautiful music. 5 stars.

Quidam's confident debut album, produced with a little help of guest musicians visiting from Collage, is a fine example of the more complex end of melodic neo-prog. Musically speaking, the band's style is reminiscent of the more complex sections of Pendragon's The Window of Life mingled with the more melodic moments from IQ's first two albums, with a pinch of Marillion and a dose of Camel to round things out. Emila Derkowska is an emotive and skilled vocalist who also adds interesting accents to the songs with cello and flute, and indeed the band also include their own dedicated flutist in the form of Ewa Smarzyñska, so the range of instruments on show is a bit wider than the typical neo-prog line-up - which perhaps explains why of all the bands playing in this particular style, Quidam stand head and shoulders above many.

25th ANNIVERSARY EDITION ((CD 2021, 74:54, GAD CD 183))

The Polish Neo-prog formation Quidam (derived from a poem, means in Latin "somebody") was founded in 1991 as Deep River, renamed Quidam in 1993 and disbanded in 2014. In between Quidam released only 7 studio-albums, their eponymous debut album from 1996 is still considered as their best effort. In order to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this debut album the band has produced a CD re-release in 2021. I have seen Quidam on several prog festivals: 1997 in Uden, 2006 in Paris and 2009 in De Boerderij, Each time Quidam was embraced by the crowd, showing a huge appreciation for their very pleasant and melodic Neo-prog sound. So "nostalgia rules", I am in the mood to listen to the reissue of this first and highly acclaimed debut album, it has been a while ago that Quidam was in my CD player, to be honest.

On this debut album Quidam is scouting the borders between Neo-prog, symphonic rock and folk (like in Bajkowy featuring cheerful tin-whistle), evoking Seventies and Eighties bands like early Genesis (especially the Steve Hackett guitar sound), Camel, Renaissance, Pink Floyd (The Great Gig In The Sky-like vocal eruption in Nocne Widziadla) and Marillion (Gleboka Rzeka and Plone). The focus in the very melodic and harmonic songs is on pleasant female vocals (between dreamy and powerful) in the native language, and the electric guitar, lots of moving soli with howling runs. The music is embellished with flute, hobo, piano and synthesizers, a pleasant variety.

My absolute highlight is the first track entitled Sanktuarium (close to 9 minutes). The bombastic intro contains a majestic church organ sound and howling guitar runs, wow, goose bumps! Then a mellow climate with dreamy female Polish vocals, blended with a hobo, gradually turning into a slow rhythm and an intense atmosphere with powerful emotional vocals. Back to mellow with volume pedal electric guitar, cello and flute. In the second part first a melancholy cello solo and then a long and moving guitar solo (strongly reminding me of Steve Hackett in early Genesis), topped with inspired female vocals. Wonderful!

As a bonustrack Quidam have added a 2021 version, it sounds a bit more lush and compelling, the intro features the distinctive Hammond organ, a strong conclusion.

My rating: 3,5

One of the many neo-prog bands that sprang up in Poland in the 1990s, QUIDAM which started out as a simple blues rock band named Deep River when founded in 1991 in the city of Inowrocław and then transmogrified into a bonafide musical force by the time this self-titled debut was released in 1996. The core members of Maciej Meller (guitar), Radek Scholl (bass) and Rafał Jermakow (drums) got the whole show on the road but soon after would be joined by keyboardist Zbyszek Florek which would slowly but surely move QUIDAM closer into the world of IQ, Marillion and Arena rather than the more accessible rock sounds that dominated the 1970s.

It was the arrival of lead singer Emilia Derkowska in 1995 that really turned the band in a more melodic direction and with the addition of flautist Ewa Smarzyńska the stage was set for serious symphonic prog workouts. The band was a hot ticket on the live scene and won many awards at festivals in Poland which led to this eponymously titled debut which features nine tracks at a lengthy playing time of 65 minutes. The grand finale "Płonę" serves as the behemoth prog icing on the cake. Immediately after the release of the first QUIDAM album the band launched a successful tour which was especially popular in the Netherlands and earned the band more accolades in the world of neo-prog.

Reviews were also quite favorable for the band's mastery of complex symphonic elements that shrouded the beautiful female led vocal melodies and intricate changes in moods, dynamics and even tempos which led to very original sound that was clearly within the world of neo-prog but crafted a distinct Polish flavor. While most European neo-prog bands delivered their lyrics in English, QUIDAM defiantly crafted their songs in their native Polish which offered a unique stylistic approach given that linguistic rhythms shape musical accompaniments. The influences of both Pink Floyd and Camel are ubiquitous and are actually more in the forefront than other neo-prog bands as the guitar parts deliver a space rock approach and the synthesized atmospheres lead to the Camel playbook.

Despite the obvious influences though, QUIDAM's members were excellent songwriters and catchy pop hooks embedded in epic prog sophistication accompanied by Emilia Derkowska's enchanting vocals in the Polish language proved to be the winning formula. The opening track "Sanktuarium" with its heavy guitar riffs has proven to be the band's most recognized and beloved tracks of its entire career with its instantly addictive hooks and the sensual flute parts that grace the mid-section. The album remains strong for the first half of the album but then with the beginning of "Nocme Widziadla" the album falters with moments of cheesiness and on "Niespełnienie" in particular the Floydian influences are a bit too much.

The following "Wakocze" also sounds like a throwaway ballad however the combo effect of the all instrumental short track "Bijące Serca" and the closing prog behemoth "Płonę" recapture the momentum of save the entire second half from complete ruin. This was definitely a great beginning for one of Poland's most revered neo-prog bands but in the 90s artists were obsessed with filling every minute of available CD time which often led to a less than perfect album. QUIDAM's debut is the perfect example and could've used some serious editing in the middle section however even the lesser tracks are ok. It's just an uneven album in terms of quality. The early phenomenal tracks overshadow the tracks in between. A very promising debut that would lead to a few more albums before the band broke up in 2002 before reforming in 2004.