Between 1957–2003, the Polish Radio Experimental Studio were global pioneers of utilitarian sound design and the practices of modern music production. Operating at its centre in Warsaw, the studio made a profound impact on the sound of Eastern European cinema, producing more than 300 soundtracks for films, experimental animation, video art and theatre, as well as thousands of works for television and radio.

“We’ve asked ourselves a question whether sound material created several decades ago in Warsaw can be still attractive for the creators of diverse types of modern electronic music,” says Michał Mendyk, from Adam Mickiewicz Institute. “The answer to this question resulted in a free library of 200 samples selected from among the compositions of Krzysztof Knittel, Elżbieta Sikora and Ryszard Szeremeta, published in cooperation with the Ableton company. These prehistoric sounds were used – both in projects commissioned by us and out of pure curiosity – by such artists as Jlin, Matmos, Mouse On Mars, as well as numerous Polish artists who make electronic music. This album contains our selection of the most interesting attempts at recreating the sound of the Polish Radio Experimental Studio.”

Tracklist:

Wojciech Kucharczyk “Bolero La Rave”
Bartosz Weber “In The Garden Of Pres Pack”
Synthezaur “Head”
Kamil Szuszkiewicz “Extinction Smooth Jazz”
Matmos “Presto”
Lutto Lento “Koło”
Skalpel “Twenty Years Later”
Jlin “Lotus”
Jacek Sienkiewicz “120 D-Rooms”
Krew “Utrata”
We Will Fail “Descending K New”
Mouse On Mars “Playtime”

All tracks based on free samples from the Polish Radio Experimental Studio published by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute and Ableton AG.

Compilation produced by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute as part of the Polska Music programme and the international cultural programme marking the centenary of Poland regaining independence. Financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland as part of the multi-annual programme NIEPODLEGŁA 2017–2022.