Crack Rock w/Latarnik, Anthony Mills: Crack Rock

Funk / Soul / Indie Jazz / Hip Hop Jazz
premiera polska: 2025-03-07
kontynent: Europa
kraj: Polska
opakowanie: Digipackowe etui
opis:
opis wydawcy:
Duet Crack Rock tworzą Latarnik (EABS, Błoto, Zima Stulecia) i Anthony Mills (Wildcookie).
Crack Rock to osadzone w latach 80-tych kompozycje Marka Pędziwiatra, w których wykorzystał całą paletę swojej kolekcji syntezatorów bawiąc się z Anthonym Millsem konwencją gatunku yacht rocka na wspólnych sesjach w studio, czerpiąc inspirację z m.in. Z Fleetwood Mac czy piosenek Michaela McDonalda. Pozostawili to co jest esencją gatunku czyli wysoką jakość produkcji, czysty wokal i skupienie się na lekkich, wpadających w ucho melodiach. Zamiłowanie do eksperymentowania spowodowało jednak, że dryfowali w nieznanym im dotąd kierunku. Efekt który uzyskali finalnie był zupełnie inny niż w pierwotnym zamyśle, yacht rock zaczął pękać i trzeszczeć w szwach - tak właśnie narodził się Crack Rock a wraz z nim ciekawa gra słów jak w utworze "Crack". Problematyczne tło na jakim Anthony Mills maluje swoje historie powoduje, że piosenki o miłości i relacjach między ludźmi są dalekie od idealnych. W jego utworach panuje "chłodna miłość", która ma swoje własne, unikalne znaczenie.

Editor's info
It has been over a decade since Anthony Mills created his most celebrated project, Wildcookie. Filled with joints like "Heroine" and "Serious Drug," the project broke into numerous radio playlists, including Gilles Peterson's show, turning those tracks into underground hits. The Cookie Dough album captured listeners' hearts worldwide, and even after all these years, it remains a favorite on streaming platforms. Fourteen years after that success, Anthony Mills makes his long-awaited return, teaming up with Marek “Latarnik” Pędziwiatr to create Crack Rock—a bold evolution of the Wildcookie legacy.
The warm, jazzy beats centered around the Fender Rhodes sound, a hallmark of Wildcookie, have given way in Crack Rock to compositions rooted in the 1980s, crafted by Marek Pędziwiatr. The keyboardist of bands like EABS, Błoto, and Zima Stulecia, Pędziwiatr fully utilized his extensive collection of synthesizers. Together with Anthony Mills, Marek Pędziwiatr delved into the nuances of the yacht rock genre during their studio sessions, drawing inspiration from icons like Fleetwood Mac and Michael McDonald. They retained the genre's essence: high production quality, clean vocals, and a focus on light, catchy melodies. Eventually, their love for experimentation has led them into unfamiliar territory. The final result turned out vastly different from their initial vision—yacht rock began to crack and fray at the seams. Thus, Crack Rock was born, accompanied by a clever play on words.
A multilayered play on words is Anthony Mills’ hallmark, and the band’s name not only nods to the genre but also delves deeper into the themes found on the album. As the vocalist shares: “I listened to the song Crack on repeat. It brought me to tears more than once. Growing up in the crack era was incredibly painful. The PTSD I endured has now become a powerful source of inspiration for me.”
The challenging backdrop against which Anthony Mills paints his stories gives the songs about love and human relationships a far-from-perfect edge. His music embodies a sense of “cold love”—a unique kind of feeling that lures you in with its charm and splendor, only to reveal itself as destructive. Yet, you keep coming back for more. This love is contagious, intensely addictive—just like another hit of crack.
Exploring this addictive state also became the central theme in the collaboration of the Crack Rock duo, transforming into a multidimensional sonic landscape. Beneath the surface of light, catchy songs lie serious, pain-laden themes hidden in metaphor. “I see this album as therapy, as well as a testament to the magic we create in the studio. Our creative process is a mysterious blend of musical mastery and deep, layered conversations about life. For me, it feels like soul cleansing,” says Marek Pędziwiatr.
The album will be released by Astigmatic Records in digital format, CD, and vinyl, with two editions—a standard and a limited version. The visual concept is crafted by the label’s longtime collaborator, Animisiewasz, seamlessly blending Michał Żytniak’s distinctive artwork with the captivating photography of Alicja Lesiak. Pre-orders start on February 7, with the album’s release scheduled for March 7, 2025.

muzycy:
Latarnik: all instruments
Anthony Mills: voice
Olaf Węgier: tenor saxophone

utwory:
1. Inviting 04:11
2. Crack 02:48
3. Ratchet 03:33
4. C 03:44
5. Passive Lover 03:12
6. Neck 03:45
7. Candy Apple Red 02:56
8. Glue 03:58
9. Le Jardin 04:25
10. Stay Ready 05:46
11. Lurk 04:09

wydano: March 7, 2025
nagrano: Recorded at Budopol Studio in the summer of 2023