At Bambij Robot's Nonstop Datscha

There is a marketing story (or legend) behind At Bambij Robot's Nonstop Datscha. Allegedly, electronica artist Reznicek received in the mail a package from his recently deceased uncle Vrantislav "Bambij" Robot. In it was a Casio synthesizer, its memory pack filled with 99 songs. The uncle had worked in a communist factory where he was employed to lift the workers' spirits with his organ tunes. Reznicek reworked them and released them as the project Nova Huta. Whatever part of truth there is in this story (and suspect none), little remains of the Casio marches and waltzes, although the eight pieces on this EP are inhabited by a Casio-like low-tech atmosphere, especially the beats (the ballad rhythm track in "Soft End" for example). Even by Reznicek's standards, this music is very playful and simple, a perfect fit for Edition Stora's "Storage Secret Sounds" series (the first installment, Oleg Kostrow's The Great Flashing Tracks From Iwona headed in a similar direction). After the opening seven-minute track "A Day in Nova Huta," which goes through a few themes and textures, the tunes focus on more specific moods and styles. From one index to the next, keyboard patches become cheesier, melodies kitschier, and the listener stares in amazement at his stereo system, unable to decide whether he/she is infuriated by the hoax or pleased by these catchy tunes. Recommended to electronica lovers who can take a joke — and fans of Sack und Blum. ~ François Couture, Rovi