Album review

White Molya: POP from PROG

Concise, Shape-Shifting Polish Fusion

Text: Robin Boer

The origins of White Molya trace back to 2009 in Łódź, Poland. Leaders Michał Szmidt (guitar/synth) and Konrad Szustakiewicz (bass) met during the recording of Rdza by the rock band Korozja. Michał, who had recorded Adventures of Mandorius (The Bird) with Tale Of Diffusion, offered to assist. After both bands dissolved, the duo began making music together.

Their material materialized into the 2022 debut, Molya in Novum, an album combining varied musical styles, frequent tempo changes, and visual artwork exploring the passage of time. It featured guest performances by Szymon Żmudziński (trumpet), Paweł Marciniak (keyboards), Przemysław Kuczyński (drums), and Zuzanna Błaszczyk (vocals).
Receiving their second album, POP from PROG, on CD was a very pleasant surprise. It presents a completely different side of their music. These nine instrumental compositions are less complex and more melodic. Alongside the returning guests, Michał Kobojek joins on saxophone.

Post-first generation fusion always leaned toward music just being music, rather than exploring grand conceptual themes, psychedelic integrations, or long modal improvisations. This album is a product of players inspired by subsequent fusion generations, injected with accessibility. While similar albums can become repetitive or safe, this record maintains a steady flow.

The album opens with “New Sound / Pogrzeb Mariachi,” a slow, beautiful piece rich in keyboard variety that shifts into an outstanding synthesizer solo during its second half. The journey transitions into “Pink Molya,” which plays with odd meters, dynamic variety, and pleasant saxophone solos. “Stupid Jazz” follows, featuring melodic trumpet work alongside tasteful dynamic and rhythmic shifts mid-track. “Urodzinowy” adds an intriguing layer, balancing a solid musical foundation with humor buried inside the arrangement, echoing the ironic tone found in the song titles. Mid-album, “Ballada o Jazzie” packs phenomenal drum fills into a dense 3.5-minute runtime before an abrupt ending. The record closes with the energetic “Rid Rock,” driven by vibrant saxophone and organ work.

The strength of this album lies in how much is executed via keyboards, subtly accompanied by guitars, bass, and wind instruments. Each track is compact, needing nothing more than what is presented. The instrumentalists actively explore different sound palettes, ensuring no instrument sounds identical across the runtime. From this perspective, the title POP from PROG is perfectly fitting.
Rather than seeking moments to release tension or show off muscular virtuosity, the record maintains a brilliant balance of accessible melodies and high-level execution. To summarize in four words: no filler, only killer. White Molya spend their thirty-six minutes wisely.

Line-up:

Michał Szmidt – synthesizers, guitar
Konrad Szustakiewicz – bass guitar

Guest musicians:

Szymon Żmudziński – trumpet
Paweł Marcinek – keyboards
Przemek Kuczyński – drums
Michał Kobojek – saxophone

Links:
Bandcamp
Lynx Music

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