GMM - Wesele [Gusstaff Records]

Put out on the circuit via the Polish Gusstaff Records imprint on November 15th, 2k24 is "Wesele", the latest musical effort conceived by the trio named GMM which aims to bring new life to Folk wedding melodies from the region of Mazovia, revamping them for a new age and audience, even adding touches of electronic and electroacoustic instrumentation and - sic! - beatboxing techniques to probably centuries old traditional pieces. This new, radical and innovative approach leads to fascinating cuts like the banging, undeniably Dubstep-infused opening tune "Warkocz" which is about to set not only wedding dancefloors on fire for a reason, subsequently followed by the sparse electronic doom drums, subdued background pianos and melancholic double bass clarinet melodies of "Zastrukom", the hypnotic wobbly vintage synth tones and seductive, mysterious bass pulses of the surely Dub-informed cut "Jasienko" as well as the more traditional rhythms and uptempo vibe of "Swacikowie" which are transformed into an edgy, muscular Industrial x Folk fusion cut. With "Rozplataj" we see GMM on a deeply nocturnal and melancholia-inducing tip, even including Field Recordings of bird song along whispered enchanted male vocals in their take on the Folk original whilst "Rozglasaj" once again harks back to shuffled, sluggish Dubstep as a foundation for echo-treated Avantgarde Folk as well as Jazz-leaning experimentalisms alongside light-hearted, glistening motifs and "Taniec" probably is, despite its electronic backings, as close to ancient traditional Folk as it gets on this album, seemingly even incorporating sounds of the rarely heard spinet in its floating and ever comforting sonic range. Furthermore "Suknie" provides 4-2-the-floor based fodder for adventurous Electroswing DJ's whereas "Chmiel" throws elements of Broken Techno and late night ketamine rave into the otherwise Folk-leaning mix before the final cut that is "Marysia" builds up towards a dense, ever intensifying climax, sporting killer synth lines for peaktime dancefloor abuse as well as spooky, haunted and otherworldly vocals for a closing. Quite a thrilling ride, this is.