Olenka was born in communist Poland and escaped with her family when she was nine. After spending time in a refugee camp in Italy her family finally settled down in New York City. While in the city, she was exposed to the cultures of Latinos, Irish, and Asians. All this reached its fruition on her voyage with music. Olenka is also a dancer, and those dance meters and her unique Slavic vocal style combined with a myriad of instruments used in Latin and Flamenco rhythms resulted in an amazing project with musicians trained at the Indiana University School of Music.
As soon as I put on my copy of Rhythms of Another Life, I knew that it was going to be an experience that was not typical. I also quickly realized after the opening track “Tumbleweed” that I was in for a multicultural musical experience that would be interesting and stimulating. This atmosphere and feeling continued for the entire recording. The fascinating vocals of Olenka backed by the percussions from other worlds (see the extensive list on her website) and the Latin flavored guitar lines that at times would cut loose and rock were unlike anything I have ever heard before. “Ariel” is mesmerizing; the kind of track you could hear on a world, jazz, pop or several other types of radio stations. Typically, the tracks cover a lot of ground and why wouldn’t they considering all the music and influences that fall together so seamlessly throughout the run of this CD?
“Young Like Me” is a never-ending dance party with syncopations and rhythms drawn from a wellspring of talent rendered by all of those incredible musicians from Indiana University School of Music. When the CD finally closes out you get surprised with a rocking track titled “Heading Up” that sounds like it could find a home on any solid rock album. It is a nice transition and a great way to exit the performance, leaving the listener sitting there with their mouth agape not knowing what to think.
The best part about this recording is that you never know what to expect from track to track and every one gives you something else to absorb, enjoy, and reflect upon. The lyrics are not meaningless, they are quite the opposite; Olenka has a strong voice literally and figuratively. This release deserves a lot of recognition for its attributes but mostly for the vocalizations of Olenka who somehow managed to put this project together and make it a cohesive and worthwhile experience for all music lovers in a world community waiting to embrace it.
Hot Tracks: Tumbleweed, Ariel, Young Like Me
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
March 11, 2010
