DWA BRATY (WITH JAN SKRZEK)

Dwa Braty (Two Brothers) is an album recorded live in "Andaluzja" Cultural Centre in Piekary Śląskie on Valentine's Day in 2008. It features Józef Skrzek and his brother Jan "Kyks" Skrzek, a bluesman well known in Poland. This album consists of songs from both brothers' repertoires as well as few improvised tracks.

The opening, improvised track says much about this album's eclectic quality - it starts with piano, followed by improvised vocals by Józef and evolves into a cosmic moog solo.

The second, blues track, "Swing Jasia" features vocals and piano by Jan and blues harp by Józef. Jan's harmonica adds a bluesy feeling to SBB's classic track "W kołysce Dłoni Twych (Ojcu)", a song Józef wrote to his father. There's Jan's blues "O mój Śląsku" where Józef accompanies on harmonica but then switches to moog playing an impressive solo. That's the electronic blues moment. Intriguing.

Jan's blues "To był Chłop" seemlessly turns into Józef's "Born To Die" and are followed by an instrumental improvisation "Kamień" with church organ-like sounding keyboards, piano and Józef's beautiful moog solo. Go-go is a blues instrumental improvisation mostly for two pianos (for a while, one piano is replaced by harmonica). "Sztajger" is Jan's blues, there with harmonica, piano and again, that church organ sounding keyboards. SBB's "Freedom with Us" is accompanied by piano and Jan's harmonica but then again Józef's moog appears.

There's a nice atmosphere on this album but you have to know Polish language to fully appreciate it. This album may be recommended to a fan of Józef Skrzek, Jan "Kyks" Skrzek or any Polish blues fan. My rating: 3.75 stars, rounded to 4 stars. Very good performance and intriguing blend of blues and electronic music.