Gabriela Kulka

Country of origin:

Poland

Type of music generally:

Beautiful & fierce evocative/eclectic experimental alternative pop

Status:

Most recent release, Out (2006)

See also:

Gabriela Kulka's site

Comparisons:

Early Kate Bush, early Tori Amos, Sandra Lockwood

Covers/own material:

Own, selected covers

General comments:

Surely the name Gabriela Kulka isn't too foreign to most Ecto folk. Her vocal range reminds me of Kate Bush—and she plays a mean piano, á la earlier Tori. She's fiercely original, and I think she's fantastic. (Paul J lasherboy@gmail.com)

Recommended first album:

Out

Recordings:

• Between Miss Scylla and a Hard Place (2003)
• Out (2006)

Between Miss Scylla and a Hard Place (2003)

See Gabriela Kulka's site

Ecto priority:

Recommended

Group members:

Gabriela Kulka—performances

Guest artists:

Marcin Kobus—trumpet on "shoes"

Comments:

A cabaret-feeling album. Very lively. Worthy and interesting but Out far outshines it. "Jealousy" is an especially great track, a harbinger of things to come. (Neile)

Her first release, Between Miss Scylla and a Hard Place, contains a number of essential songs. "Bodybags", "Some Things Are Better", "She", "Coup d'Etat", "Shoes".. it's a marvelous achievement, considering she basically put the whole thing together herself.. (another reason to admire her talent..)
     Definitely worth checking into! :-) (Paul J lasherboy@gmail.com)

the first one, between miss scylla and a hard place, doesn't seem to have that particular property (rewards active listening but is also just pleasant/fun enough to have on in the background if you happen to be doing something else and aren't really paying attention) so much, and i've not gotten over out long enough to really give it a good listen yet. (damon)

Out

Release info:

2006—self-released

Availability:

See Gabriela Kulka's site

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Gabriela Kulka—Roland digital piano, Bluthner piano, Steinberg M14, guitar, vocals

Comments:

Paul, why didn't I listen to you earlier? I could have another few weeks of LOVING this album. Everything Paul says here is true—this is a stupendous album. Creative, idiocyncratic, catchy... I haven't been this immediately hooked by an artist since I discovered Veda.
     Everyone, LISTEN UP! (Neile)

I missed the first post, but that's about the highest praise possible from Neile, so I had to check it out. I'm smitten too. Some very good stuff. (neal)

mostly i'm obsessed with gabriela kulka. i *love* out. she does seem to be channelling kate bush at times and it can be uncanny. i love the sort of thing she's doing here—great, quirky, funky and engaging stuff that rewards active listening but is also just pleasant/fun enough to have on in the background if you happen to be doing something else and aren't really paying attention. (damon)