Gaba Kulka
Country of origin:
Poland
Type of music generally:
Beautiful & fierce evocative/eclectic experimental alternative pop
Status:
Most recent release, Kruche (2016)
See also:
Gaba Kulka's site
Comparisons:
Early Kate Bush, early Tori Amos, Sandra Lockwood
Covers/own material:
Own, selected covers
General comments:
Gaba Kulka released her first two albums under "Gabriela Kulka" but now goes by Gaba.Surely the name Gaba Kulka isn't too foreign to most Ecto folk. Her vocal range reminds me of Kate Bush—and she plays a mean piano, á la earlier Tori. She's fiercely original, and I think she's fantastic. She's a creative force—a huge voice, fantastic range, and killer piano skillz. She's a true original. (lasherboy@gmail.com)
Recommended first album:
Out
Recordings:
- Between Miss Scylla and a Hard Place (2003)
- Out (2006/2007/2009)
- Hat, Rabbit (2009)
- Wersje (2-CD compilation, 2013)
- The Escapist (2014)
- Kruche (2016)
Between Miss Scylla and a Hard Place (2003)
Release info:
2003—self-released—CD 250
Availability:
Out of print
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Gabriela Kulka—performances
Guest artists:
Marcin Kobus—trumpet on "shoes"
Comments:
A cabaret-feeling album. Very lively. Worthy and interesting but Out far outshines it. "Jealousy" is an especially great track, a harbinger of things to come. (Neile)Her first release, Between Miss Scylla and a Hard Place, contains a number of essential songs. "Bodybags", "Some Things Are Better", "She", "Coup d'Etat", "Shoes".. it's a marvelous achievement, considering she basically put the whole thing together herself.. (another reason to admire her talent..)
Definitely worth checking into! :-) I wish she would re-record Between Miss Scylla and A Hard Place—it was a VERY do-it-yourself project, but the songs themselves are amazing. A bit of a makeover would be awesome. :-) (lasherboy@gmail.com)the first one, between miss scylla and a hard place, doesn't seem to have that particular property (rewards active listening but is also just pleasant/fun enough to have on in the background if you happen to be doing something else and aren't really paying attention) so much, and i've not gotten over out long enough to really give it a good listen yet. (damon)
Out
Release info:
2006—self-released; 2007 reissue—Eblock—Eblok001CD; 2009 reissue—Mystic Production—MYSTCD086
Availability:
See Gaba Kulka's site
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Gaba Kulka—Roland digital piano, Bluthner piano, Steinberg M14, guitar, vocals
Comments:
NOTE: First two issues were 15 tracks; 2009 reissue has 21 tracks and was entirely remixed and remasted by Marcin Bors. Tracks 4 & 5 were one track #4 on the 2006 & 2007 issues (titled simply "Laleczka", now "(zabaweczka)" and "Laleczka"). Bonus tracks are: "London Calling" (Clash cover); "Love Me" (demo); and "Jealousy" "Bodybags" and "Knock Knock," all three originally from Between Miss Scylla and a Hard Place.Paul, why didn't I listen to you earlier? I could have another few weeks of LOVING this album. Everything Paul says here is true—this is a stupendous album. Creative, idiocyncratic, catchy... I haven't been this immediately hooked by an artist since I discovered Veda.
Everyone, LISTEN UP! (Neile)I missed the first post, but that's about the highest praise possible from Neile, so I had to check it out. I'm smitten too. Some very good stuff. (neal)
mostly i'm obsessed with gaba kulka. i *love* out. she does seem to be channelling kate bush at times and it can be uncanny. i love the sort of thing she's doing here—great, quirky, funky and engaging stuff that rewards active listening but is also just pleasant/fun enough to have on in the background if you happen to be doing something else and aren't really paying attention.
i don't know more than maybe two words in polish, but i must say the polish tracks on out are among my favourites regardless (and that's high praise for the music, since her lyrics that i *do* understand are wonderful). (damon)Among the best of 2006. (stjarnell@yahoo.com)
One of the top albums of the year. (gordoja@optonline.net)
One of the greats of the year. (lasherboy@gmail.com)
Hat, Rabbit
Release info:
2009—Mystic Production—MYSTCD079
Availability:
See Gaba Kulka's site
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Gaba Kulka—piano, vocals
Raalya (Gaba's band):
Piotr Aleksandrowicz—guitars
Kornel Jasiński—bass, double bass, cowbell!
Robert Rasz—drums
Guest artists:
Konstanty Andrzej Kulka—violin (9)
Czesław Mozil—vocals (3, 4)
Tomasz Duda—saxophones, flute (3, 5, 8, 11)
Tomasz Ziectek—trumpet (3, 5, 8, 11) Marcin Muras—trombone (3, 5, 8)
Produced by:
Produced by Gaba Kulka + Marcin Bors
Comments:
A strong successor to the marvellous Out. This is emotional, dramatic, and most especially creatively and uniquely Gaba Kulka. (Neile)it's great! (burka@jeffrey.net)
Among the best of 2009. (stjarnell@yahoo.com)
An album I greatly enjoyed this year. (lasherboy@gmail.com)
The Escapist
Release info:
2014—Mystic Production—MYTTCD 264
Availability:
See Gaba Kulka's site
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Gaba Kulka—vocals, piano, ukulele, mandolin
Guest artists:
Robert Rasz—drums, percussion
Wojtek Traczyk—vocal, bass, double bass
Laclaw Zimpel—clarinets
Produced by:
Marcin Bors & Gaba Julka
Comments:
A new album exploring Gaba Kulka's mournful side. Even the lively songs feel tinged with melancholy. It's a strong album, but I find it less compelling than Out or Hat, Rabbit—I'm not sure why because it's well worth a listen. The songwriting is creatively structured and emotional and dramatic as we expect from Gaba Kulka. My favourite tracks here are probably "The Escaptist," "Mastadon Heart," and "Wielkie Wrazenie," though "X"'s energy is pretty irresistible. The final track, "Z Marcepeana" reminds me—in a very good way—of Kate & Anna McGarrigle's work. (Neile)I've listened to this album lots of times but would be lost if I had to recall a single song. Never a good sign. Rating: 53/100. Best tracks: "Wielkie Wrazenie," "Character Actors," "Phantom Limb." (raschee@gmail.com)
Further info:
A DVD, Live Rabbit, was released in 2010.
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