Retronova

Alicja Janosz has had various twists and turns in her musical history. There's been some very pop-oriented work ("Ala Janosz," 2002), and some more jazzy ("Vintage," 2011). There's no doubt, however, that she looks most at home in retro attire. Despite its undeniable commercial appeal, the album "RetroNowa" offers precisely this kind of slightly old-fashioned music.

If there's a song model perfectly suited to Polish Radio's programming, the compositions on "RetroNowa" seem to be its embodiment. It's strange that these songs somehow didn't make it on the air. The opening track, "Byleby czasać," already provides a good preview of what's to come on the entire album. It's immediately clear that Alicja Janosz is a quicksilver and a woman of character. Although the composition has some commercial elements, it's clear that we're dealing with a musical personality who has more to offer than just catchy melodies.

"RetroNowa" is a solid serving of melodic, anthemic retro pop – brilliantly sung, well-produced, and usually avoiding cliché. The musicians play like a big band, adapting jazz and funk for pop, not to mention the R&B we get on "Sisterhood." But then, on the pleasantly swinging "Something Between Us," we hear sounds reminiscent of the film "Burlesque" and Christina Aguilera's vocals. Lots of cool brass and piano, but much less guitar.

In places, the album sounds as if it was created out of a longing for the parties that used to take place in pubs. It was supposed to be a '70s dance track, but it turned out to be quite decent pop music. Alicja Janosz didn't quite manage to recreate the atmosphere of the dance tracks. She overdid it a bit with the recording quality.

It sounds quite contemporary, though of course, it's hard not to notice the styling. "I tylko Ty" is typical Opole from the aforementioned decade. The beginning of "Choć raz" transports us vividly to the "Pond tea at the microphone" café, then, thanks to a saxophone solo, reminds us of the atmosphere of early Sade songs.

Tracklist:

1. As long as
2. Put your hands up
3. When the night comes
4. Everything I have
5. Only you
6. Candy
7. For once
8. One more reason
9. I know
10. Roach
11. Jealousy
12. Something between us
13. Sisterhood
14. I'm breathing (I'm still here)