Np.WAT
An actionist and performance group, operating in Włocławek in 1986–1991. Initially, it focused on creating primitive, minimalistic pieces of music in a post-punk aesthetic. Later, the interest of the members of the group in the avant-garde art trends of the early 20th century, such as Dadaism, Futurism, and Surrealism, shifted the focus of activity towards performance, happening, paratheatrical and artistic activities, as well as poetry readings, e.g. phonetic.
Each performance, Np.WAT was preceded by a long period of preparation, because the team made the scenography, costumes, props, devices and instruments used during sound actions. The most important shows of the group took place: in Włocławek (in Włocławek Cultural Center as part of the Kość dla Zgody event on September 5, 1987, and in the seat of the Dobrzyńsko-Kujawski Czarny Spichrz Cultural Society as part of the Multimedial Rewia event on February 17, 1990), in Warsaw (in the Dziekanka Gallery on February 27, 1988), in Piła (January 21, 1991), in Gorzów Wielkopolski (January 23, 1991) and in Ciechocinek (during the Dobre Wieczory series, May 1991). In addition, in the gallery space of the Black Granary, there were two presentations of Np.WAT’s works. The first is EXTRANS (September 12–19, 1987), the second - Frozen Feelings in the Week (August 8–15, 1988).
For example, WAT participated in several art festivals, including: the International Festival of Alternative Music Marchewka, which took place on March 27-29, 1987 in Warsaw, the 2nd Festival of Artistic Activities in Poznań (March 15, 1991) and the 1st Creative Activities Days in Trzcianka (4/21/1991).
The group has cooperated with many artists, institutions and cultural animators, such as: International Familija Radjo Varśawa, Galeria Dziekanka, Marchlevski group, Morris Generativ (Fjoletowe Płyny Zdrowotne), Instant Art, 27-29, Czarny Spichrz, Dobrzyńsko-Kujawskie Towarzystwo Kulturalne, Włocławskie Centrum Kultury, Henryk Palczewski (ARS 2), Wojcek Czern (OBUH).
In 1989, as an element of the artistic activity of Np.WAT, the WAT cassette label was established. Its aim was to publish and disseminate musical manifestations of the band's activity and to present the work of its friends (eg Marchlewski, 27–29). The catalog of the Military University of Technology contained six items: Np.WAT – Np.WAT (1989), Np.WAT – Uroki (1990), Np.WAT/27–29 – Dokument (1991), Np.WAT – Koncerty’91 (1991), 27–29 – 27–29 (1992), Marchlevski – Mussmurder (1991).
In 1995, the record company OBUH with the catalog number V10 released an EP containing three pieces by Np.WAT. The other side of the tape presented the music of the friendly band Marchlevski.
MARCHLEVSKI
In 1989, they operated as a classic trio: guitar, bass, drums. A year later, after the drummer's departure, the group continued working as a duo: guitar, bass and drum machine. At that time, they recorded the first demo entitled Massmurder, self-issued with a circulation of just a few copies ... then unexpectedly suspended their activities for several years. Admittedly, thanks to the efforts of the WAT label, the demo Massmurder was re-released in 1991, enriched with the unpublished recording Fear, but the duo returned to activity only around 1993, recording the Parasitism tape released at their own expense at the home studio of Arka Wasia (M Produkt). This tape was re-edited in 1997 at OBUH (with a cover by Zbigniew Libera).
From 1993, the band actively toured and returned to the classic line-up - guitar, bass, drums and electronics. The role of the rhythm section was taken over by the musicians of the Kinsky group. The culminating moment was then the participation of the band in the TV program "Drgawy", where the group performed live material from the Parasitism cassette for half an hour.
The group was strongly inspired from the beginning by the influence of extreme rock music (early Swans, metal music). This was evident in the unconventional use of extremely loud, distorted instruments and a monotonous, extremely sparing rhythm section. Massive pieces from that period, however, found their development and accurate documentation only many years later on the Parasitism cassette, and one of the earlier compositions from this "garage period" - Mediator Iscariota was even recorded on the Kinsky album - Copula Mundii.
After the drummer left the band, the duo more and more boldly used, primitive from today's perspective and quite innovative for those times, electronics and prepared tapes with rhythmic backing. Rafał Księżyk in the Brum magazine will describe Marchlevski many years later as the pioneers of industrial in Poland.
The songs selected for the Requiem compilation come from the Massmurder home session (1990) and from the only studio, semi-professional studio recording. In the first case, the recordings were largely improvised live, recorded directly to an audio tape and published without any extra-time, corrections, with all imperfections and shortcomings. They have a demo character and are only a distant echo of what the band actually did in concerts, which was developed creatively many years later by Marchlevski's successor - Kinsky.
27–29
An art and music duo from Włocławek, active in 1990–1992. The project, personally associated with the group, Np.WAT, was established to support its activities. The basis of artistic creativity was a fascination with such trends in art as futurism, German and American expressionism, and constructivism.
The graphic works were mainly made on photographic plates and used both during Np.WAT shows, and during the presentation of 27–29’s music. In their musical activity, the group made use of ripped clicks from vinyl records, which were then processed, looped and properly amplified.
In this way, multi-level and multi-platform rhythmic structures with a trance, ritual character and industrial or post-industrial sound were created. The only concert of 27-29 took place on the night of May 29-30, 1992 in the Tryton cafe in Kołobrzeg, located in a lighthouse.
The group edited and distributed its own press body (27-29), in which it presented its works and described interesting artistic initiatives in the field of music, art, film, theater, performance, etc. The magazine was created thanks to cooperation with such people as Henryk Palczewski (ARS– 2), Grzegorz Tyszkiewicz (Marchlevski), Krzysztof Żukowski (Instant Art, The Table).
27-29’s music was released on the cassette 27-29, released in 1992 by the WAT label with the catalog number WAT – 5, and on the Dokument cassette (WAT – 3,1991), also presenting the musical activity of Np.WAT.
