They recorded their first album in the kitchen on instruments, toys, and other everyday objects. It is an intimate piece of domestic pop.
Ballady i Romanse is the duo of the Wrońska sisters – younger sister Basia, known as the keyboardist and singer from Pustek, and the elder Zuza, who is also in Meble, Paweł Dunin-Wąsowicz's band. In Ballady i Romanse, Zuza writes most of the lyrics and Basia composes the music.
The origins of the band date to 2005 when they were included on the compilation Broniewski, prepared by Warsaw's Raster Gallery. From the unrealized poetry of communist-era hymns they selected “Ballady i Romanse”—which quickly provided the duo with their name.
The song and its history give a sense of the group’s activity and their significance on the Polish scene. The sisters borrowed text from the ideological, patriotic communist anthem - hard, simple stanzas - that had in turn borrowed the title from the greatest poet in tradition of Polish Romanticism. In her own songs, Zuza Wrońska shows a strong sense of irony and humor and has a talent for finding absurdities in the relations of modern citizens and human existence.
Musically, Ballady i Romanse are often compared to CocoRosie – probably because the sisters recorded their first album in their kitchen on instruments toys, and other everyday objects. It is an intimate piece of domestic pop. Over time, however, they have turned into a live band. They now play with Radek Łukasiewicz, guitarist from Pustek (on bass), Marcin Ułanowski, one of the greatest drummers in Poland, and keyboardist Marek Dziedzic, who produced the group’s second, fuller-sounding album.
At Open’er Fetival 2013, Ballady i Romanse will take the stage with Igor Boxx, a specialist in electronica, the creator of CDs illustrating the musical history of Wrocław, and a member of the duo Skalpel.
Jacek Świąder, Gazeta Wyborcza, June 2013
Discography:
2010 – Ballady i Romanse
2011 – Zapomnij
Ballady i Romanse Offical Page: www.myspace.com/balladyiromanse
Translation: AA 27.06.2013