"I purchased the album largely on the strength of the reviews on Amazon and elsewhere. This is sometimes a bad idea. When it is, I make purchases that I mildly regret as I hand the CD off to Bumper at the used music store for 30% of it's original value after several disappointing listens. That didn't happen this time. This album is a keeper. It's mellow--look elsewhere for a more energetic take on the jazz/beats front--but it's ideal for evening relaxation or to keep things chilled out at work. I'll be playing this when I have folks over for dinner, probably sandwiched between STS9's "Artifact" and Savath & Savalas' "Apropa't", both of which I also recommend. In the meantime, Skalpel will enjoy a long run in my regular listening rotation.
So, if you're looking for something mellow but insistent enough to keep your attention, if you enjoy jazz & beats & a mild taste of electronica, buy this album. You won't have any regrets, even if you like it a little less than I do.
Thanks to other reviewers for turning me on to this album."
Polish Duo
Little lulu | 09/15/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Igor Pudlo and Marcin Cichy have been making warm, crisp and complex beat-based music for a while now. You wouldn't know it but they are some of the best knowned DJ's and producers in Poland. A blend of old 50's nouveau polish jazz records,Cichy and Pudlo unravel there debut with astonishing east european crisp breaks. They are on to it.
Makes me feel un-huh... right."
Beautiful, beautiful..
bogusz | Poznan, Poland | 05/23/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is sort of a cure for pain, believe me..I totally dropped out when i heard "sculpture" ep some months ago..Now we gotta full album and it's worth it.Dig it.You won't regret.Classic sound, sort of retro, comes together with Cinematic Orchestra and classical tunes of scandinavian jazz scene form the 60s and 70s..Just kick back, relax, get your earphones and listen. Pure joy."
Beatdigging Behind the Iron Curtain
clove_112 | Canada | 05/08/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ok, so you've heard about the Polish jazz affinity, the finely-tuned snare hits, and the orchestrated cymbal crashes. But beyond simply being schtick, Skalpel take the forgotten Polish jazz culture and weave a tightly-knit ode to these lost gems, turning out what amounts to a damn fine jazz/beats album. Yes, the fact that echoes of the Novi Singers, Wojiech Karolak, and Jerzy Milian can be heard throughout the LP is certainly a remarkable attribute, but why pigeonhole when you'll only be distracted from enjoying a great record? Instances such as "1958" shine with its scat vox and scattered drum patterns, proving there is inventiveness beyond basic arrangements of samples. "Break In" is also a standout, a softer exhortation of the virtues of the electric keyboard. So while acknowledging the past is always requisite when guaging a sample-based album, just don't let it deny the undeniably contemporary context in which the album was conceived in."
Seven stars
emily | Montreal | 05/04/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Awesome mix of ambient sounds, beats, jazz, and hip hop. The polish duo sound like they're having fun, introducing us to 60s and 70s Polish jazz - something i've for sure never listened to. If you love Cinematic Orchestra (also Ninja), you'll love Skalpel. I recommend this cd for all those who appreciate music at its best. And props to Ninja Tune for releasing yet another awesome album."