On her debut album, Ania Szlagowska tries to find her voice in a plethora of joyful love songs. Most of them are at least noteworthy. 

It is always a challenge to listen to the debuts of new vocals: not only is it difficult to find the right balance in criticizing the album (while also looking for some positives), but also to remember that we are talking about a debutant and, here, a young person, who opens her heart for the audience and proposes an album consisting of her most intimate confidences. Szlagowska’s debut is, indeed, devoted to her own truths and feelings.

What works well (and, at the same time, becomes Szlagowska’s Achilles’ heel) is how she musically echoes her favourite bands (here, I would say it’s all about The Dumplings). Interestingly, in one of her tracks, we can hear The Dumplings’ Kuba Karaś (he does some backing vocals). He is also responsible for the production of a couple of songs on her debut album. It’s good to know that she has such a backup, but, on the other hand, there is a danger of repeating the same sounds in production, etc.

What else can we find on Szlagowska’s “Pierwsza płyta”? Well, a lot, as in the deluxe version of the album, we can find sixteen compositions, which is quite a number when we think about it. On “zabić drozda,” she refers to classics, while on “Timothée”, Szlagowska sings about dreaming of one of the most famous actors of his generation. Her writing is consistent, often ephemeral and succinct (while also tense), echoing her adolescent feelings and the power of youth that lies behind her voice.

Ania Szlagowska still has a lot to learn, but it’s a prominent start for a 24-year-old vocalist. There’s laughter, joy and passion in her songwriting, so one can presume it’s just a matter of time until Szlagowska will be able to cut the cord and become her own reliable narrator, instead of relying on the inspirations of others.

Photo: MyMusic

3,5/5 stars

Author: Jan Tracz