"Zoneout"

ODG197 : Adam Majdecki-Janicki / Zoneout

Adam Majdecki-Janicki (1985) is a multi talented Polish artist with a penchant for creating mind-bending musical landscapes. His music is a captivating fusion of psychedelic rock, experimental sounds, and poetic lyricism, taking listeners on a journey through a kaleidoscope of emotions. With his DIY ethos and unwavering passion for music, he is a force to be reckoned with in the underground music scene.

He has previously released his work on labels such as Nebular Silence, Superspace Records, Engram Recordings, Illuminated Paths, Silent Method Records, Snow in Water Records, Father and Son Records and Tapes, attenuation circuit, Anticipating Nowhere Records, Fifth Section Records, nostalgie de la boue, Muteant Sounds (net label), Veinte 33 Records, Boiled Angel Records, Herby Records, and Argali Records Netlabel.

After 25 years of artistic work, his debut vinyl LP titled simply “Adam Majdecki-Janicki” was released with Herby Records on December 9 2023. It is a beautiful limited release with exclusive artwork by Justin Jackley.

In 2024, Adam is entering his 26th year of operation as an artist.

His new album, “Zoneout”, sees Adam exploring his more psychedelic and improv side. He uses primarily acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitar, and synthesizers, but also utilizes tapes in the spirit of his 2020 “Eimi” album complimented by Maurizio Bianchi himself. The music is a curious mixture of Kosmische Musik, noise, and folklore. Traces of drone and ambient can also be detected, as well as traces of free jazz, and punk.

“Zoneout” was recorded live January 31-February 5 2024 at the Via Kosmische home studio in Poznań, Poland. Only first takes were used for the final album experience.

“Zoneout” is a fine addition to Adam's long catalogue of works, and a fresh look at what is now 26 years of work as an audio artist.

Digital release on the 15 of November 2024.

Track listing:

A1: First Morning Jam
A2: Tape Structure
A3: Care for Earth
A4: Weird Pipe
A5: Der Schmiere

B1: Die Rauchfahne
B2: Szumy Uszne
B3: Ein Ding
B4: Zones
B5: Porozumienie Miedzyplanetarne
B6: Mindtripeye

Itunes, Spotify, etc.:
https://bfan.link/zoneout

And on Bandcamp:

"Hippies Must Die" | New Song 2024.

"Universes" | From "Planet Goloka", an album in the works for 2025.

Andrzej Mikołajczak, Wojciech Korda, Czesław Niemen... i inni.

Andrzeja Mikołajczaka poznałem w 2010 roku, kiedy zaczynałem pracę nad moim debiutanckim albumem, "Second Hand Man" (Winyl/CD, 2011).

Andrzej pokazał mi jako pierwszy możliwości profesjonalnego studia nagrań. Choć z usług takowego skorzystałem właśnie tylko wtedy, i przy okazji nagrań z KakofoNIKT w 2017 roku.

Wolę domowe otoczenie.

Ale nie o studiach nagrań tutaj, a trochę o domowym nagrywaniu muzyki jeszcze będzie.

Jako nastolatek czytałem książkę Azerrada o Kurcie Cobainie i z niej dowiedziałem się o jego fascynacji The Beatles. Amerykanin urodzony kiedy wyszedł Sgt. Pepper zafascynowany dość nudnymi brytyjczykami. Ciekawa historia.

Każdy jednak jest w kogoś wpatrzony. Można powiedzieć, że na własną rękę wpatrzony byłem właśnie w Cobaina (urodziłem się 4 lata przed wydaniem "Bleach").

Wcześniej jednak, o wiele wcześniej, moja kochana mama puszczała mi z winyla płyty Czesława Niemena. Pamiętam, że jako dziecku szczególnie podobało mi się "Enigmatic".

Dzięki Andrzejowi poznałem Wojtka Kordę, który śpiewał w Niebiesko-Czarnych, tam gdzie zaczynał też nasz, potocznie zwany, "Czesiu".

Wojtek Korda okazał się nie tylko prawdziwą legendą rock'n'rolla, ale też niezwykle przyziemnym i sympatycznym człowiekiem, który jako pierwszy grał Hendrixa za Żelazną Kurtyną. Przekazał mi sporo wiedzy na temat magicznych lat 60-tych, porównał też mój songwriting do Zappy, Dylana, i Donovana, czym bardzo ułatwił mi "start w branży" - start o tyle zabawny, że nie w smak mi było gwiazdorzenie, i uciekłem w 2 lata po wydaniu debiutu do sypialni, by nagrywać tam co chcę, kiedy chcę, i w przysłowiowej dupie mieć recenzentów.

Albo to, albo Wojtek przeceniał mój talent. Ale w końcu taka legenda wie co mówi, a 4 lata później moją grę na gitarze skomplementował Chris Karrer i John Weinzierl.

Coś w tym więc musiało być, ale to już mam do siebie, że wszystkie moje płyty przepadają. Może dlatego, że mam niewielu (żywych) przyjaciół...

W każdym razie, do Czesia wracając, i Andrzej i Wojtek opowiadali mi o Niemenie. Stworzył się z tego portret człowieka, którego jako szczere dziecko odebrałem z płyty "Enigmatic", "Dziwny Jest Ten Świat" i "Sukces". Innymi słowy, Czesiu mnie nie zawiódł - często osoby, w które jesteśmy wpatrzeni, przy bliższym poznaniu okazują się dupkami. Z Czesiem na pewno by tak nie było. Równy gość, i ogromny talent. Nie miałem okazji go poznać, byłem za młody i za głupi.

Niech mu będzie dobrze, gdziekolwiek teraz "odkrywa nowe galaktyki".

Trudno kontynuować tradycję "gwiazd rocka" - ale, powiem szczerze, ani Andrzeja, ani Wojtka, nie odebrałem jako "gwiazd". Normalni goście z poczuciem humoru i miłością do sztuki.
Co tu więc kontynuować? No tak, dla kasy, to można wyolbrzymić i wyśmiać rock'n'roll (punk, gotyk), albo mu zaprzeczyć (avant rock, noise) - ale to i tak będzie "rock". Pokazać dupę (było), wypróżnić się na scenie (było), zrobić z siebie medialnego clowna (było)... A nie dla kasy?

Nie dla kasy, to mogę sobie na telefon nagrać "Płonącą Stodołę", jak Cobain "And I Love Her" i dbać o kontynuację ducha. Oczywiście Cobain nagrał na kasetę, ale ja nagrywanie na kasety też już mam za sobą. Łatwiej włączyć dyktafon. Nie słuchajcie mojej ogniskowo-punkowej wersji, jeśli Niemen jest waszym bogiem i niedoścignionym idolem - tu nie chodzi o "x factor" wokalu, pojedynki, wykony, Michała Szpaka, i inne gówna. Tu chodzi o ducha. Może kiedyś nagram "Stodołę" porządnie, kto wie, marzy mi się aranż na Mooga i orkiestrę. Ale najpierw czekam na 100.000PLN i zaproszenie do studia. Mam masę własnych piosenek i sporo wydanych płyt. Tych możecie słuchać spokojnie. Tylko po co, nie? Lepsza Sanah. Andele.

Adam Majdecki-Janicki · "Płonąca Stodoła" (by Niemen)

Adam Majdecki-Janicki - "Do Not Panic I'm From Górczyn" | New Song 2024.

Adam Majdecki-Janicki - "Górczyn Forever" (2024) | Noise, Kosmische, Ambient.

"Treehouse Jams" (Muteant Sounds), "Klanglandschaft-Fabrik" (Snow in Water Records), and "Zoneout" (Off).

For 2024 I have secured three brand new album releases on three amazing labels.

"Treehouse Jams" is coming to Muteant Sounds in April.

It's my third release for this label.

Please check out the previous releases at:
Tribal Messengers | Adam Majdecki-Janicki | Muteant Sounds (net label) (bandcamp.com)
Pastel Goddess | Adam Majdecki-Janicki | Muteant Sounds (net label) (bandcamp.com)

"Klanglandschaft-Fabrik" is coming to Snow in Water Records in June.

My long cooperation with Nicolas Tourney and his label brings another experimental ambient fruit, that will surely appeal to fans of "Eimi" and "Chemins".
Snow in Water Records

Finally, "Zoneout" is coming to the Belgian record label Off in November. It's my first release for this label and I am really excited.
Music | Off - record label (bandcamp.com)

Hope you are looking forward to those brand new albums. Thank you for your support.

Neon Nocturnes / Treehouse Jams

As the year comes to its end I find myself working on two new works - one is a set of ambient synth soundscapes "Neon Nocturnes". These improvisations are drone / New Age based and are both for meditation and active listening. I started working on them after listening to Igor Stravinsky in the record store where I currently work. So, there will also be classical music influences audible. But, the work won't be classical, and obviously I haven't forgotten about my noise / experimental roots when it comes to electronic music. You can listen to parts 1-6 on SoundCloud, and the project will be released soon. The idea is to fill the other half of the album with non-related pieces, abstract, and free form.

The other project is free rock-based improvs for electric guitar, bass guitar, and drum machine. It's called Treehouse Jams quite loosely, and I am not sure if those pieces will be released on an album. It all depends on the quality and quantity of them. I released many rock-based improv albums before, so I am not sure if there is need for another one. But I really enjoy playing around with the new drum machine, and playing my guitars. So, here is to a happy creative 2024 - the sound research at Via Kosmische goes on! Here is the Treehouse jam, and below a link to order my vinyl LP from Herby Records.

Adam Majdecki-Janicki | Adam Majdecki-Janicki | Herby Records (bandcamp.com)

Adam Majdecki-Janicki, better known as A.J. Kaufmann, is a poet, songwriter and musician residing in Poznan, Poland. He is one of the most important figures in the Wielkopolska underground, an artist associated mainly with the independent scene. His musical activity should be of particular interest to fans of psychedelic music. He is the author of several dozen albums, released physically and digitally. Outside the country, the artist successfully debuted with the well-received collection of poetry entitled "Siva in Rags", published in 2008. Important achievements in his output are also the first album released on CD and vinyl "Second Hand Man" from 2011, as well as the album "Stoned Gypsy Wanderer" in 2014.

Written and Recorded by Adam Majdecki-Janicki

25 years 1998-2023

Art and Design by Justin Jackley

Via Kosmische & Herby Records 2023

released December 9, 2023

Raintrees Glittering in Sunlight · Sound Animal X A.J. Kaufmann

25 years of madness - the LP.

The news is finally here. After 25 years of artistic work I will have my debut vinyl released in Texas, USA, by the most incredible label - Herby Records.

Herby has supported various projects of mine, including the STONED GYPSY WANDERER 2 vinyl release in 2020, NEANDERTHALMEN EP "Powitanie Lucyfera" in 2021, and the CHICA NARCOTICA LP in 2022.

All of those releases are kindly credited not only to HERBY RECORDS, but also to VIA KOSMISCHE, my home studio in which most of my recordings were made across the years.

I can't believe it all started in 1998 with a simple cassette recorder, shaky teenage voice, and a classical guitar.

“Kaufmann is a folk troubadour, minstrel and a harbinger of new sounds and thought. There is a theme that runs through this body of work, a method to his madness. All of these songs are a journey. So take the trip and give a listen. Nobody knows it but AJ Kaufmann is a national treasure of Poland.”

by David Bixby, Harbinger Magazine

To those in-the-know, Mr. Dave Bixby is certainly a Hero. So, to be called a national treasure by him is the greatest honor I can imagine. 

I always worked hard, and never stopped making music, noise, writing poetry, composing, improvising, writing song lyrics, even against the hardest currents of Life.

I worked alone for 4 years, then in 2002 I started working with Mateusz Nowicki, 10 years later (2012) with Kacper Wojaczek, and another 10 years later (2022) with Leszek Garstka.

I never enjoyed big ensembles, groups, the noise around rock'n'roll. Although I've always been a fan of Hawkwind, Amon Duul, Gong, Magma, Nektar... the list goes on.

In 2015 I met the mighty Amon Duul II in London. It was a life-changing experience, and I will be eternally grateful to Renate Knaup who invited me backstage after the London gig. I met everyone, talked to everyone, got to know what makes music important, and understood why some things grow fast, and sick, and some things grow slow, and strong and healthy...

SO FINALLY, after 25 years that most of my friends think I spent smoking ganja and drinking beer, not working hard in my home studio, my debut vinyl as ADAM MAJDECKI-JANICKI (self-titled, too) is coming to HERBY RECORDS December 9th. Right now you can buy the super limited 7" single ANITA PALLENBERG / HOTTHOUSE FOR ORCHIDS.

Anita Pallenberg | Adam Majdecki-Janicki | Herby Records (bandcamp.com)

Words & Music by A.J. Kaufmann
Art & Design by Justin Jackley

Herby Records & Via Kosmische 2023

Limited Edition Lathe Cut Records Available on 7" Clear Plastic Squares - Cut by Psych9 Records Guatemala/Canada

7" Record Jackets handmade by Justin Jackley using Linoleum Printmaking Techniques

Only 13 copies exist!

The album will be limited to 25 copies. Mark your calendars, December 9th 2023. 25 years of madness.

A.J. Kaufmann - "Death Angel"

First single from the upcoming album, "The Poznań". Arranged and produced by Blessed Studio, Indonesia. Words and music by A.J. Kaufmann.

"Sa​ł​atka z M​ó​zgu" by Adam Majdecki-Janicki (Boiled Angel Records, 2023).

Do you like Skullflower? Do you like trippy guitar-driven psychedelia? Drum machines? Everything melted, mixed into one big monolith? Here it is! Abrasive, colorful stuff from Poland, crafted well and with love.

A.J. Kaufmann - "Patricia (Gypsy Caravan Rollin')"

Patricia (Gypsy Caravan Rollin')

I met her in autumn
Though I’ve seen her before
In one kind of life or another
I believe she’s my twin
Though we don’t know it by now
And she still judges a book by its cover
So please have a look
As I’m standing before you
And I’m begging of you for an audition
In dreams I’ve heard voices
Of many-a-gal
But they all whispered one name – Patricia

I fell for her quickly
Till winter grew on
Then I thought that she might not be willing
But one look in those eyes
Those reflections of sky
With the diamond-stars shining bright and no ceilings
So don’t turn away
As I’m trying to know you
I believe in my heart’s intuition
And it tells me since autumn, keeps telling me now
There’s just one gal for you – Patricia

Like a stoned Gypsy wanderer
I follow her roads
And I follow some light that I hope guides me
And the gods of the old times
At the gates of Babylon
Tell me, son of ours, follow her, cause now you’re blinded
So don’t lay your head
Where the killings are done
On your soul winged from the start of your wishes
Just walk out of this and leave all that’s his
Come here where’s your place – Patricia

And the caravan stood still
As the bard he did play
On his strings for the same unchanging goddess
Thru ages of stars and thru faces so different
Just one and only spirit wanders
And it crosses those borders
So many-a-time
And it howls in the wind, ruins cities
Like a blossoming thunder, and tombstones not plundered
And stories of old do repeat – Patricia

Psychedelic Mayhem Flower in Asphalt (WINO I WINYLE, 2023/01/06).

Adam Majdecki-Janicki - "End of a London Night" Calvert Avenue Demos 2019

PINK ELEPHANT MUSIC™

In December I have begun releasing a series of albums on the A.J. Kaufmann bandcamp under the common title "Pink Elephant Music". There are 2 volumes released as of today.

Here's Volume 1:


PINK ELEPHANT MUSIC is improvised music, psychedelic music, krautrock, and Polish punk - which blended together are exactly what they are - "pink elephant music". It is the music I feel in my soul, and want to share with you the feeling of creativity, joy, and fantasy. I always had it in me.

I was busy with PINK ELEPHANT MUSIC ever since I can remember, but the name was suggested to me in 2002 or 2003 by an older friend (don't remember his name), who listened to my tapes with Mateusz Nowicki and declined joining us telling me that "that's pink elephant music". He couldn't feel the vibe, and the vibe was really foreign then (and still is) to Poznań, Poland.

But, with the new album series I hope to make this sound more accessible to a wider variety of people, not only globally, but also locally. Maybe you'll dig the vibes and original ideas, which we had here in the Górczyn high rise since at least 2002, and I was already writing first songs in 1998. That's 25 years next year... I was 13 when I started writing songs, and I will be 38. Age is not even a number. My old friends no longer play Pink Elephant Music, but some people still do. In fact, we could form a nice band together were it not for fate which often messes with me and time. We always pass each other and say this and that, but when it comes to recording, I am most often left alone.



If you're curious, I guess the first outburst of this creative juice was listening to a Velvet Underground album at the age of 12, then Amon Duul II and Hawkwind age 15, and finally Manilla Ungol age 17. Also, Polish punk - especially Moskwa, Ewa Braun, Ścianka, Brygada Kryzys, Dezerter, Kabanos etc etc etc... everywhere in between those ages. Mateusz Nowicki and his bass and organ and voice were helpful in 2002, and Kacper Wojaczek and his keyboard and voice in 2012. 

Keith Hadad of Record Crates United recently interviewed me about the beginnings (and other things, too!) but if he was to ask me about PINK ELEPHANT MUSIC, he'd get (almost) completely different answers. Everything is relative and space is endless, and I strongly believe one man has more than one story to tell. But, for 2023, I will only have 2 stories. One of them will be the album "Bard's Woman in the Cool of the Summer Breeze" and the other PINK ELEPHANT MUSIC. I'm not sure how many volumes will be there, but I have 5 prepared. Volume 3 and 4 will be definitely coming this year. The rest of the updates in 2023. Stay tuna.

SLAVIA NOVA - Audio + Lyrics

I call her Slavia Nova, her face is cut in gold
We dance on future meadows when summer stars are cold
My little Slavia Nova, the future of this race
Bright white dawn on the highway, last moon comes down in lace

She guides the weary traveler, she shows the tramp his way
At daybreak birds are crashing into her rising brain
And everything is grooving, her rhythm fills the world
And so our globe’s her plaything and so the futures toll

I take her to my garden where everything is new
She shows me landing spaceships, I recognize the crew
The ones who came before us returned to take us home
Back to the primal garden where human seed has grown

YOUR EXISTENCE IS REVOLT - Audio + Lyrics

I was born in a prison cell
No bigger than a Buddha smile
Picked my education well
Though my brain was wasted on the line
As I died to the world below
I was resurrected above
I started drifting with the silent seas
Stoned on the light of love

That's how it is, my friend
That's how it is
Your existence is revolt
Your revolt is peace

I was thrown to this vacant world
Like a bag of unused ideas
I got drawn on the chalkboard of time
Like a deadly disease
I had no friends on this side of the town
Like a ghetto, like a fallen leaf
Nobody told me where to go next
So I got bloody on my knees

That's how it is, my friend
That's how it is
Your existence is revolt
Your revolt is peace

Vacuum shadows veiled my eyes
Driftwood bones they blocked my soul
I got buried in the sands of life
It's an endless corridor
Where space collects and emits the views
And you are photographing void
With your camera sequenced echo
With your hippie acid dose

That's how it is, my friend
That's how it is
Your existence is revolt
Your revolt is peace

BAVARIAN GYPSY - Audio + Lyrics

Bavarian Gypsy on a highway
Streaming poems for a buck
Learning how to duck from progress
In the forests of his flight

A static ring of Saturn's beauty
On the finger of his lady
Wondering who will save the leader
Of the shady lowdown world

Thinking of another reason
To begin the terminated
To outshine the devastated
In the outcome of this war

Peace in sunlight over planet
Breaks the summer in two shades
Lotus blades are cast to waters
Circling stars of autumn nights

"Górczyn is Brooklyn" - 20 Years of Poetry, Music, and Noise.