Jacek Sienkiewicz — Pristine
[Recognition — 2022]★★★★★
Reviewed 3 November 2022by Paul Casey
Bringing together many pieces and patterns of electronica and experimental music, Jacek Sienkiewicz's latest album, Pristine, is a light and lively foray into the fracturing of music into tones and textures. Often stripped down to start, with elements cascading in and out to add dimension, this album showcases Jacek's vision of what is at the core of his vision and how this can be manipulated and shaped to form intriguing and engaging patters and structures. The spaces left in between help to complement the varied, sparse tones on Pristine, and the lighter approach to composition allows for greater and varied interpretation for the listener.
Abstract, but still direct, Pristine takes the listener on an evocative journey through varied forms of electronica and experimental music. Softer tones allow for a looser, more free-form feeling, although Pristine is certainly well composed and contained. Along with the softness comes some nicely filtered/muted tones that hint at an underwater feeling, and the weightlessness associated with suspension - far different than an airy, flying atmosphere. Based more in the ambient side of things, more often than not, the album uses a slower, more sparse pace to weave its tale. Pristine creates a vastness of space/sound by utilizing sparseness to its fullest - negative space to convey meaning and messages by implication alone, if it's crossing that space, it must also be contained in that space. While this album is allowed to grow and expand with relative ease, there are a few songs on here that pick up the pace and put forth some more classic, electronic beats and textures. Not hammering forth in a traditional dance manner, one is given a look at the underbelly of sounds and rhythms and how they fit in with a seemingly opposite background. Jacek is using many of the tools in his arsenal, and Pristine greatly benefits from his widespread knowledge of electronic music composition.
Released this October on his own Recognition label, Jacek Sienkiewicz's Pristine is an intriguing look at ambient and electronica, composed and constructed through varying lenses. Bringing forth many tones and textures, Jacek is able to weave together many different feelings and expressions that allow the listener to be fully immersed in a vast and vibrant sonic composition. Available on LP and digital formats (with digital having an extra track), this album fits wonderfully into any electronic collection and gives the listener the freedom to interpret its message as they wish. For more info