This album of minimalist Polish folk tunes illustrates the sheer beauty and passion of the song. Accompanied sparingly by drums, strings, and voice, these songs typically deal with the universal themes of love, longing, sacrifice, and faith. Modern definitions and pop connotations notwithstanding,
Warsaw Village Band's music is self-termed "hardcore folk" and "bio techno" -- "bio" meaning living and "techno" referring to the Greek translation skill or art; this sums up their music quite accurately. Relying on three fiddles or violins, a string bass, and two drummers, their music is heavy on rhythm and drone. The vocals and violins frequently carry the melody, but oddly, they also are used to accentuate and prolong the overriding reverberative quality of their music. The final two tracks, "Matecka" and "Joint Venture in the Village," with their contemporary trance and dance remixes, demonstrate quite effectively how ancient folk techniques differ only slightly from modern ones. Both incorporate an undeniable rhythm and repetition, with the ultimate goal of inducing dance. ~ Dave Sleger