Gardenia

Released in 2020 on the Ghostly International label, Gardenia represents a significant thematic shift for Polish artist Michał Jacaszek. While his earlier catalog, such as 'Treny' and 'Glimmer,' focused on the intersection of baroque aesthetics and digital erosion, Gardenia is the result of a collaboration with film director Krystian Matysek. The album utilizes extensive field recordings captured in the South African bushveld, which Jacaszek then meticulously processed and layered with his signature neoclassical arrangements. This record moves away from the 'sacred' somberness of his past work toward a more 'primal' and 'elemental' sonic palette. Critics praised the album for its ability to transform environmental recordings into rhythmic, melodic components, creating a 'bio-electronic' hybrid that feels both alien and deeply familiar. It stands as one of his most atmospheric and texture-focused releases to date.