Republika

Republika became one of the most original Polish bands thanks to their catchy, poetic, new wave-inspired music and lyrics, which traced out a path to the Polish rock pantheon. Republika debuted at a new wave bands review in Torun in November 1981. Comprising Pawel Kuczynski (bass), Zbigniew Krzywanski (guitar), Slawomir Ciesielski (drums), and Grzegorz Ciechowski (vocal, piano, flute), the band began a three-month recording session in June 1982, which resulted in the classic 1983 album Nowe Sytuacje. Within a year, Republika recorded Nieustanne Tango, which was a logical expansion of the musical ideas they'd established on their debut. The band also released an English-language album, named after George Orwell's bell ringer, 1984. Due to internal quarrels, Republika disbanded in the summer of 1986. Grzegorz Ciechowski kicked off a solo career under the Obywatel G.C. moniker; Kuczynski, Krzywanski and Ciesielski, along with vocalist Robert Gawlinski, founded the band Opera. Using unreleased Republika song sketches, Ciechowski released a solo album, Obywatel G.C., in 1986. His debut was an artistic success rather than commercial one, but his 1988 sophomore effort Tak! Tak! was a blockbuster. In 1990, a concert in Opole acted as a catalyst for Republika's reunion. Only Kuczynski refused the proposition, so as a trio, the band issued their comeback album, 1991 -- a compilation of their well-known but rearranged songs. Kuczynski was replaced by Leszek Biolik, with whom Ciechowski, Krzywanski, and Ciesielski finished recording the final Obywatel G.C. album titled Obywatel Swiata. In 1993, their first live unplugged album, Bez Pradu, was released. The same year, Republika recorded Siodma Pieczec, which represented a rather acoustic countenance, with keyboards and samplers replaced by Hammond or Rhodes piano. In 1995, they released the rather pop-sounding Republika Marzen. Grzegorz Ciechowski's sudden death on December 22, 2001 interrupted production of the next Republika album. Four finished tracks, along with 15 live songs, showed up on a double-CD simply titled Republika. ~ Aleksander Stepien, Rovi