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

Wikipedia's entry on Gaba Kulka

Gaba Kulka's Bandcamp page

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)

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.

Artists from Poland

	Basia
	Gaba Kulka
	Genya Ravan
	Warsaw Village Band

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