Pod powieką (Quidam, 1998)

No doubt among the dozens of neo-prog bands born in Poland, Quidam deserve a special place. As this "Pod powieką" (meaning "Behind The Eyes") will easily prove, their music is a rich, flowing stream, leaded by Emilia Derkowska's voice, full of good melodies and dreamy instrumental passages. This song is taken from the band's second album, ""Sny Aniolów", that's to say "Angel's Dream".

This album came two years after the band's acclaimed debut CD.

Never too sweet, but always pleasant, this song includes some well found arrangements, where the acoustic and electric instruments are cleverly mixed. Jacek Zasada's flute is a bonus reason to listen to "Pod powieką", as it perfectly fits into the fairy background. This isn't a band for fully intellectual listeners, but if you like a sensible mix of brains and heart, well, this song's for you and you could also take a go with the rest of Quidam's discography. Enjoy your trip!

Sanktuarium (Quidam, 1996)

This is the opening track of Quidam's self titled, first and most appreciated album. It fully represents this Polish band's style, made of elecric guitar solos à la camel, charming female voicals - that's Emila Derkowska's pure and mysterious voice - and atmospheric breaks. Actually, Quidam inspired many other prog bands, not only in their own Country, with their brilliant mix of prog rock and celtic folk and their unique soul. Sanktuarium has got a winning melody and a lot of dreaming guitars, both lying on a keyboards smooth carpet and a neat rythm section.

This is the 1996 album cover art, but I recommend the 2006

10th Anniversay 2 CD edition.

All the electronic devices are employed with discretion, just to enrich the shadowy mood of the track, whose lyrics in Polish describe the search of an inner sanctuary hidden behind a rainy, windy dusk, in a moment of painful solitude. This arcane union of Nature and human feelings is what I perceive in every second of "Sanktuarium". Morn, yes, but beautiful.