18/07/2025
Nice review @ Chain D.L.K. - thx !
https://www.chaindlk.com/reviews/12968
“Recognition 25” is more than a commemorative compilation - it’s a vibrant showcase of a quarter-century’s pulse in Polish electronic music under the visionary helm of JacekSienkiewicz. The double vinyl nestled within this release is a dual narrative: Side A propels the dancefloor with tight, polished techno - an ode to Sienkiewicz’s club pedigree - while Side B invites introspection, drifting into ambient and experimental terrains that reveal the label’s adventurous spirit.
Hearing “Drifting” kick off the journey is like stepping into a familiar rave yet sensing a fresh undercurrent - its rhythms are propulsive but tinged with texture. Subsequent tracks like Jurek Przedziecki’s “John Reads Song” and AtomTM & Jacek’s textured “Novo Beginning” expand the palette, merging pulsing grooves with evolving timbres that nod to glitch and post-techno sensibilities. It’s both a salute to the biome that Recognition Records cultivated and a signal of its evolution.
Flip it over: the compilation sheds its club suit for contemplative robes. Robert Piotrowicz’s “Anhydride” offers a minimalist prism, where each sonic drop feels deliberate and weighty. Giro Araña’s closing ambient piece, "Milagro", draws the listener into deeply atmospheric stillness - almost cinematic in its slow-motion beauty. These second-side selections underscore a label unafraid to traverse musical dimensions.
Recognition Records’ true strength lies in balancing danceable immediacy with exploratory depth. They prove that after twenty-five years, their catalogue still breaks boundaries without losing its core. For longtime fans, the release is a nostalgic journey back to the club’s heart; for newcomers, it’s an invitation to dive into Poland’s multifaceted electronic lineage.
In short, “Recognition 25” isn’t just a party on wax - it’s a sonic cross-section of a label that has always valued both pulse and patience, movement and meditation. Whether spinning under UV lights or in quiet headphones, this box set resonates as a testament to resilience, creativity, and the timeless art of recognition itself.