Dagadana – Meridian 68
Meridian 68 is a beautifully-crafted production by Polish-Ukrainian band Dagadana. The ensemble is well-known for its fusion of Ukrainian and Polish folk music traditions with jazz, electronic music and global music.
On Meridian 68 Dagadana goes back to folk roots. Dagadana collected traditional songs from many regions of Poland, including Kurpie and Wielkopolska, along with Ukrainian and Lemko (an ethnic group found in Poland, Ukraine and Slovakia) folk music. Additionally, there is a song in Chinese recorded in collaboration with Chinese band North Lab, featuring Hassibagen from Mongolia and Aiys Song from China.
All the members of Dagadana are virtuoso instrumentalists and vocalists. The band recreates the traditional material and gives it new life with superb vocal and instrumental arrangements that add jazz techniques, electronic atmospheres and world music elements such as percussion and Mongolian musical instruments.
Dagadana named its fourth album Meridian 68 as a tribute to its experience in Beijing. The 68th Meridian is precisely halfway between Czestochowa (southern Poland) and Beijing, the places where the band recorded the songs.
The lineup on Meridian 68 includes Daga Gregorowicz on vocals and electronics; Dana Vynnytska on vocals and keyboards; Mikołaj Pospieszalski on vocals, double bass, electric bass, and violin; and Bartosz Mikołaj Nazaruk on drums and percussion.
Guests include Aiys Song on cello; Hassibagen on vocals and morin khuur (horsehead fiddle); regular collaborator Frank Parker Jr. on percussion; Marcin Pospieszalski on violin; Szczepan Pospieszalski on trumpet and cornet; and Lidia Pospieszalska on frame drum.
The CD version of Meridian 68 comes in a stunning hard cover book with extensive liner notes including lyrics, credits and illustrations by Ukrainian artist Olya Kravchenko.
Meridian 68 is an outstanding album of contemporary Polish and Ukrainian folk music made by one of the finest world music bands in Eastern Europe.
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Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
