Search - Various Artists :: Polish Night Music

"Inland Empire" aurally revisited

Steward Willons | Illinois | 07/07/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Inland Empire" seems to be more than a film, as it is the hub of a variety of Lynch works including photographs, some web shows, and now this album of music. "Polish Night Music" consists of four lengthy tracks exploring the aural environment of various portions "Inland Empire". If you have the soundtrack, listening to "Woods Variation" will give you a very close idea as to the sound of "Polish Night Music". Most of the music consists of some droning synthesizers over a bed of airy and menacing ambient textures. Acoustic piano occasionally provides some melodic motion, but for the most part, the atmosphere is dense and stagnant. I don't mean 'stagnant' in a bad way, but rather to suggest a very heavy feeling that really brings the listener down with a remarkable intensity and persistence.



While not for everyone, those who enjoy Lynch's signature dark sound design will enjoy this album. It also makes an interesting supplement to "Inland Empire." Where the film explores these characters, times, and places through images and a narrative, "Polish Night Music" explores them through sound."

Full experience

D. Bethell | 09/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A completists dream coupled with "The Air Is On Fire" which also replicates an incredible amount of the atmosphere contained in Inland Empire. Not a joyful trip by any means, but a continuation into the dreaded dream/nightmare feelings aroused by the movie.

This is dark and sad and heavy-leaden music. 5 stars for the amount of emotion it can instill (which is mostly paranoia induced). It does what it sets out to do and takes you on a journey which will leave you feeling very empty and odd. This will definitely bring you down. Not something to play on a regular basis for sure. Maybe once in a blue moon, but as I said this is for those who want to collect the whole Inland Empire experience. This is for those who aren't afraid to go places maybe we shouldn't; not too often anyway."

Ambient piano soundscapes

Charles Reinebold | Phoenix, AZ USA | 05/14/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You don't have to buy into David Lynch's artistic vision as a filmmaker to enjoy this collaboration with Polish pianist Marek Zebrowski. Like some of the brooding walls of crawling sound Lynch employs in his movie soundtracks, "Polish Night Music" comprises four suites--the shortest at 17:41--that attempt to set the scene on four themes of night: "City Back Street," "A Landscape with Factory," "Interiors," and "A Woman on a Dark Street Corner." Released on Lynch's own music label, he even urges listeners on the back sleeve to "play after dark." That actually might be a good idea on a first listen, since it will give you a better idea of what Lynch is going after. Other reviewers have called this collection menacing, even depressing, but to my ears it is a slow freeform examination of all the corners that darken when the sun goes down. Lynch lays down banks of turtle-drawn synthesizers in minor keys while Zebrowski layers over the cloud tops with a gentle European expressionism that is light on melody but still brimming with a quiet passion. Supposedly improvised and recorded in one take, I give both men credit for supplying a fresh take on cinematic instrumentation. An acquired taste, no doubt, but don't be surprised if some author out there crafts an icy noir thriller while listening to these foreboding passages."