The last few years turned Polish rock quartet Izzy and The Black Trees into one of most interesting rock bands in Eastern Europe. You can think that I am exaggerating but look at what they have accomplished. Album of the year (“Revolution Comes in Waves”) across the board by all leading rock and metal magazines in their country, playing major festivals at home (Off Fest, Mystic, legendary punk gathering in Jarocin) as well as international events (Sharpe Fest in Czech Republic, Sound City in the UK) as part of the Keychange Initiative, being chosen for a huge “Focus on Poland” showcase at Eurosonic in Netherlands (including packing famous Vera club so tightly that there were more people outside than inside), having their single “F-16” in a regular rotation at KEXP in US, receiving airplay from Radio X and BBC and Amazing Radio. They toured Poland, Germany, Czech, Slovenia and the UK. This is fully independent band, without a major label, mainstream booker or some significant grants. Its almost like these days independent artists run on fumes and yet prove to be the factor that brings the biggest value to the circuit, both nationally and internationally.
single cover – artwork by Sylwia Markieta
Reviewing good bands is always a pleasure for music critics. Writing about incredible acts that push boundaries and offer a fresh perspective is a privilege. And privileged I feel being able to tell you about new offering from the Polish rock quartet.
Released – very timely – on International Women`s Day (March 8th), “Dive of a Broken Heart” is quite an unusual composition, even for Izzy and The Black Trees standards. The song is built around melodeclamation (sprechgesang or speak-sing if you need a technical term), a vocal technique that incorporates expressing oneself in a distorted, often dramatical way somewhere between speaking and singing. It was popularized by French composer Mélanie Bonis as part of wider use of melodics in the late Romantic period. Fear not if you have not been studying musical composition, you have encountered melodeclamation in pop music on a regular basis, without even knowing. Nico used it extensively in her work with The Velvet Underground. Dire Straits employed it on “Romeo and Juliett”, Sonic Youth`s “Kool Thing” made it hip while, The B-52`s could just go and trademark it as part of “Love Shack”.
I am mentioning Nico and Sonic Youth`s Kim Gordon here on purpose. Izabela Rękowska – the front woman of The Black Trees in the past has been compared to Patti Smith and PJ Harvey, but on the “Dive of a Broken Heart”, she joins the exquisite league of iconic women in rock. Just listen to her deliver the lyrics, line after line in such a serene, almost uplifting way, only to plunge the listener to the depths of despair in the chorus. It is easy to forget that a voice is also an instrument and on occasion it can transform the whole song into something so much more meaningful (vide Claire Torry on “Great Gig in the Sky”). If Iza`s soliloquy doesn’t move you, then check for heartbeat, you may be dead.
The rest of the band do not fall behind their marvellous lead singer. The Black Trees consists of Mariusz Dojs (lead guitar, backing vocals), Mateusz Pawlukiewicz (drums) and Łukasz “Mazdah” Mazurowski (bass) and they create astonishing concoction of prog rock, noise and post punk. “Dive of a Broken Heart” feels very much cinematic, like a soundtrack to a non-existent noir arthouse movie. Mariusz Dojs has a small duet with Iza in the chorus, making the whole composition even more poignant. It may sound strange to write that the single reminds me of Glass Candy`s “Warm in the Winter”. It truly is a breathtaking journey into a completely new musical direction for the Polish quartet, maybe a taste of things to come, maybe another sign of their collective musical genius. Izzy and The Black Trees stand out and prove that we haven’t seen anything yet. And for one I cant wait to see where they will go from here.
I can only guess what is the story behind the song, a messy break up or maybe a long-term relationship coming to an end? Who knows but “Dive of a Broken Heart” is a proper kick in the guts, it can affect you like reading a good book or watching a particularly emotional film would do. Just three minutes and 27 seconds – that’s all it takes to win you over.
The single is a part of a new EP that the band have been preparing since last year. So far, we have had the pleasure of hearing “Shutdown City” and “F-16”, one more composition “New Horizon” remains a mystery. The EP “Go On, Test the System” will be released on April 5th though legendary independent label Antena Krzyku.
The EP and each of the respective singles from it was illustrated by Sylwia Markieta – Polish graphic designer, known for her socially and politically engaged works (her graphics were used to illustrate press articles, charity donations for Ukraine or promote Amnesty International), again proving that Izzy and The Black Trees do not think of themselves as just mere entertainment, but artists with a vision, understanding and drive. Music as a high art should be a norm.
5 stars out of 5 because I think this band is worth being on a major label with a huge budget and a massive world tour.
Izzy and The Black Trees playing iconic record store Plato in The Netherlands – photo by Jes Kallen
Follow Izzy and The Black Trees on socials
https://www.instagram.com/izzyandtheblacktrees/
https://www.facebook.com/IzzyandtheBlackTrees
https://izzyandtheblacktrees.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/izzyandtheblacktrees
www.youtube.com/@izzyandtheblacktrees1121
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ovgRYo5Ud9pCee7LoD2B3
Our coverage so far:
https://vanadianavenue.co.uk/2022/11/25/izzy-and-the-black-trees-revolution-comes-in-waves-album-review/
https://vanadianavenue.co.uk/2024/01/12/izzy-and-the-black-trees-interview
Malicia Dabrowicz
Indieterria 