Statek Kosmiczny Åšcianka

''Statek kosmiczny Ścianka'' (''Ścianka the Spaceship''; often abbreviated to ''Statek kosmiczny'') released in 1998 was the debut album of Polish rock group Ścianka. The album was recorded in Maciek Cieślak's home studio in Sopot. It received a Fryderyk Award nomination in "Debut of the year" category and was awarded best debut album of the year by ''Tylko Rock'' magazine. There were no singles promoting the album, but "Skuter" received the status of Ścianka's biggest hit among their fans.Historia
ŚCIANKA - oficjalna strona zespołu "Skuter" was also chosen by Artur Rojek to be official song for the 2nd Off Festival in 2007.OFF Festival Mysłowice 2007

Recording and production

''Statek kosmiczny Ścianka'' was Ścianka's first studio album. Maciej Cieślak decided to sign Ścianka on newly founded record label, Tymon Tymański's Biodro Records. The entire album was recorded in guitarist's home studio in the basement of old house in Mickiewicza Street in Sopot. Four songs ("Insect power", "Ścianka", "Skuter" and "Sopot") were previously unofficially released in their raw versions on a demo tape entitled ''Robaki''.

According to Cieślak, at first Tymański wished to issue a debut album of another Tricity alternative band, Grzegorz Nawrocki's Ego. Because Ego's ''Światowid'' was released by Antena Krzyku label, Tymański's decided to release ''Statek kosmiczny'' instead, after attending one of Ścianka live performances.

Shortly after the release, Åšcianka underwent a major change in personnel, when Vietnamese bassist Tran Chi was replaced with Andrzej Koczan. Tran Chi left Poland and went France, reportedly because of private or political issues.

Promotion

Both band and Biodro Records agree, that promotion of the album was inadequate. A music video to "Piosenka No 3" was created; it was directed by Dawid Marcinkowski.

Critical response

''Statek kosmiczny'' received almost strictly positive reviews from Polish music critics. Problems with classification of Ścianka's music led to creation of jocose descriptive term "post-fuckin'avant-hendrix'grunge-noise-rock".Artur Lipiński
Statek kosmiczny
Wiatry - info-reviews zine 14, 1998/1999 Their style was compared to The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, The Residents, Hawkwind,Grzegorz Brzozowic
Statek kosmiczny
Machina 10, 31, 1998 The Stooges, Captain Beefheart, Velvet Underground, MC5, Pink Floyd,Jolka Madzia
Statek kosmiczny
XL 1998 and modern noise-rock artists signed to Amphetamine Reptile and SKiN GRAFT Records, as well.

Chart performance and sales

The album was a relatively big commercial success, and was sold in more than 5,000 copies.Biodro Records
It is currently out of print and unavailable in Biodro Records' catalogue.

Track listing

# ntitled– 0:10
# "Skuter" – 2:32 ''(Scooter)''
# ntitled– 0:29
# "Ścianka" – 7:18 ''(Backing)''
# "Piosenka nr 3" – 3:45 ''(Song number 3)''
# "Insect power" – 2:34
# ntitled– 0:05
# "Czerwone kozaki" – 7:51 ''(Red high boots)''
# "Sopot" – 2:56
# "Trans-Atlantyk" – 8:57 ''(Trans-atlantic)''
# ntitled– 0:41
# "Sprawa 5-ciu pracowników Instytutu Badań Kosmicznych, zbiegłych w kwietniu 1973 z terenu zakładu w Beskid Wschodni i tam doszczętnie zdziczałych" - 0:30 ''(The case of five workers of Space Research Institute, who in April 1973 escaped from the Institute area into the mountains of Eastern Beskid, where they became completely wild)''
# "Chudy" – 3:12 ''(Thin)''
# "Down there low" – 7:54
# "Sopot II" – 3:53
# ntitled– 0:05
# "Piórko" – 6:39 ''(Little feather)''
# "Ja nie" – 5:07 ''(I don't)''

Personnel

* Maciej Cieślak – guitar, voice
* Jacek Lachowicz – keyboards, voice
* Tran Chi – bass
* Arkady Kowalczyk – drums.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Statek kosmiczny Scianka
1998 albums
Åšcianka albums