The newest EP from the mighty Polish based quartet, Izzy and The Black Trees, is a thing of a real, undiluted rock and roll beauty. 4 tracks, four different sounds, four different directions held together by the band’s unique ability to blend styles and genres with an uncommon ease. Imagine The Fall, Siouxsie Sioux and Patty Smith in a brilliantly modern version with a nice dosage of grit, dirt and an emotional conscience. If you think the band’s second album “Revolution Comes In Waves” was excellent, wait till you hear “Go On, Test The System”. It is an absolute musical masterpiece that puts the band (and Polish rock music in general) among the best in the world. Believe me when I say, you will have the EP on repeat for years, savouring every word and sound.
EP cover by Sylwia Markieta
This 16-minute extended play opens up with my favourite track called “Shutdown City” and it’s a perfect way of getting things rolling. I think every record (or an EP for that matter) should start with a truly knockout number or at least with the most radio friendly track – shaking things up or starting a dance party is the best way to greet the listener. “Shutdown City” does a great job of saying hello really loudly. It’s a very American flavoured, 80’s influenced number that reminds me of an early REM and The B 52’s. Funny that a 21st century band from the city of Poznan in western Poland and the bands that came in the second part of 20th century from the city of Athens in the northeast state of Georgia would have so much in common. Maybe because both places are popular tourist destinations and college/universities towns that attract young, hip and open-minded people. Two different points in time, but the groove, song structure and political message are still the same.
Shutdown City artwork
“Shutdown City” has a very strong bassline, marching drumming and claustrophobic guitar riffs that make your hair stand on end. Iza’s voice in certain moments goes incredibly low, especially in the bridges between verses and chorus. The lyrical repetitions (“we fight, we fight” and “get up, get up”) sound like military orders barked by the senior drill sergeant to the training squads. I didn’t know Iza could be so forceful, but it’s great to hear her like this. “Don’t tell anyone, don’t tell anybody” fragment at 2 minute and 15 second mark infused with heavy breathing and hysterical chuckles adds an extra layer of insanity to this track. It’s a splendid, emotionally raw song capable of sending chills down your spine. My favourite part is the ending, sung in Polish, I actually wished it was done entirely in my native language, or at least that the Polish version was included on the EP. Maybe one day, we can dream, right?
Second track, poetically titled “Dive of a Broken Heart”, is nothing like the first. After the craziness of “Shutdown City”, its grittiness, instability, and full-pelt-ahead attitude, “Dive” almost feels like a lullaby. It is slow, quiet, quintessentially Pol(Grish), almost subdued. This is the closest Izzy And Then Black Trees can ever get to Slowdive or Ride, in their own unique way of course. I read reviews where “Dive of a Broken Heart” was compared to Radiohead, but I think it has more of The Verve vibe in it than anybody else. As an instrumental track, it could easily pass for an offshoot from “A Storm In Heaven” album, it is only Iza’s voice that betrays the group’s Slavic roots.
Dive Of A Broken Heart artwork
I know from personal experience (sorry guys!) that the band will again cringe at the comparisons with another Polish outfit, Myslovitz, but I find traces of their airy atmosphere, their contemplative sadness in this song as well. I mean this as the highest form of compliment as I’m a big fan of Myslovitz self-titled debut album, especially “Goodnight My Angel”. Iza’s semi-spoken, semi-sung vocals on “Dive” are simply divine, worthy of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest civilian decoration. The track may start slowly, but over 3 minutes, it builds up enough power to erupt in a glorious shoegaze crescendo. Perfection with the capital P.
“F-16”, is the track number three on the EP, but it was the band’s second single released in January to herald the arrival of the EP. It premiered on American legendary KEXP and did very well on British radio too, receiving spins from The BBC, Amazing Radio and many other independent stations. Written during the pandemic and inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s “Dr. Strangelove” movie, “F-16” is the longest song on the extended play, standing at 4 minutes and 32 seconds. I mentioned that each song has its own distinctive flavour: after American influenced “Shutdown City” and British-like “Dive of a Broken Heart”, “F-16” sounds very, very European. Another blog and podcast, “In Our Headphones” compares the song to H-Blockx and Guano Apes, while Dancing About Architecture zine praises it for having Viagra Boys’ (Sweden) “pure punk rock vibes”. “F-16” is indeed the most punk rocky – fast, angry, gritty, and noisy, with a 4 second pause in the middle of the chorus.
F- 16 artwork
Closing number, “New Horizon”, brings us back to America, particularly to Brooklyn or NOLA hard core scenes circa 1992. The bass lines are so heavy and low that the dudes from Crowbar and Type o Negative would have been impressed. “New Horizon ” is a sluge/alternative power trip with extremely distorted guitars, psychedelic effects, and ultra heavy drums. I was not sure if I really liked it upon hearing it for the first time, but after numerous listens, it has (kind of) grown on me. Still, I find it to be extremely experimental and I hope this is not the direction the band wants to assume on their next album. Yet, it works really well with the other songs and somehow sums up the EP pretty well. Massive surprise, but a tremendously successful trip into musical territories not yet explored by the band.
“Go On, Test The System” is a must have for any rock music fan.
The best EP we have heard this year so far. Go on and grab a copy – you will not regret it.
5/5
New Horizon artwork
Follow the band online:
https://www.instagram.com/izzyandtheblacktrees/
https://www.facebook.com/IzzyandtheBlackTrees
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ovgRYo5Ud9pCee7LoD2B3
https://izzyandtheblacktrees.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/izzyandtheblacktrees
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNWta_37hGIGSdLo-zimgww
“Go On, Test The System” was released on April 5th 2024 via Antena Krzyku
Tracklist:
1. Shutdown City
2. Dive of a Broken Heart
3. F-16
4. New Horizon
Credits:
Music – Izzy and the Black Trees
Lyrics – Izabela Izzy Rekowska
Saxophone on F16 Maciej Sokolowski
Produced and mixed by Marcin Bors
Artwork and cover – Sylwia Markieta
Rita Dabrowicz
Indieterria 