"Temple of analog culture" opens in Warsaw. Vinyls, comic books and coffee

The originators of Elektra say it is a "temple of analog culture", a place which "blends elements of a literary salon with a climate of an independent record store". They were inspired by a collection of records left behind by a library that had once operated there. "It turns out the library used to lend vinyl records too. We've inherited a diverse set that includes Lenin's speeches and songs praising the party, as well as Polish jazz, popular music by Skaldowie or (Marek) Grechuta, and Polish poets reciting their poems," one of the hosts of the new space, Aleksandar Ćirlić told reporters.

But Elektra is not a mere storage for unwanted vinyls as its creators have not only selected best bits from what was left behind, but also purchased many more. In cooperation with record companies, they have built a solid collection of records with various music genres. "Alternative, punk, funk, jazz, grunge, some metal, and we also have a whole rack dedicated exclusively to Polish music," Ćirlić said. "We're still working on the internet catalogue, but the records are sorted by genre," he added.

And so there are old and new records, including new editions of old albums. Everyone is welcome to listen, Monday to Friday, from 12 until 19. "The 'procedure' looks as follows: we come to Elektra and pour ourselves a cup of coffee or tea, approach a rack and select an album, we tell the staff we took it and sit at one of the three gramophone stations, relax and listen to music. Each gramophone has user's manual, so that even a novice could enjoy to music," an MIK staff member said.

The are exceptions to the free-access rule - rare editions are kept in a special way. Those are shellac records, produced before the release of cheaper, more durable and longer-playing vinyls. Nowadays, they are real collector's items, and as they break easily, they must be kept under special care, to last as long as possible. Extremely rare vinyls are hidden in wooden boxes kept locked in a cabinet. "We have a collection of test pressings, test records made before official album release. Usually, two or three are made, no more than five. We have a test press of the first Kult album. Can you imagine, the first copy of the first album of Kazik Staszewski's band," Aleksander Ćirlić revealed. To prove his words, he brandished the record. But the characteristic red "Kult" sign, which marked the cover of the band's debut album, was nowhere to be found. It only had a stamp on it was a test pressing not for commercial use.

The plans also include creating a music discussion club, at which, just like in the olden days, music lovers would play records on a top-notch audiophile equipment and then discuss it for hours.

Elektra relates to sound, but also a word - the name of the place was inspired by a label of the same name, which had released The Stooges, The Doors or MC5, as well as by mythological daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. That's why, at Elektoralna street, there will also be a specifically profiled reading room. "We've inherited a book collection after the library, but we're also collecting new books: albums, art books, collector's editions, graphic novels and contemporary poetry," said Monika Rejtner, person responsible for the Elektra's book resources. Particularly eye-catching is the comic book collection in its most ambitious form of graphic novel. They usually come in limited editions at high prices, so it will be possible to catch up on a backlog for free.

In addition to the musical and literary character of the place, there is also a selection of upcoming live events on the weekend and later on. "On Friday we have a concert by Sambor Dudziński trio, who will create for us a multimedia project "Norwid Nawinylu". A vinyl record from the concert will be released. This event has been scheduled exclusively for the opening of Elektra, a fully original music written for Norwid's poems (Polish Sejm dubbed 2021 the year of poet Cyprian Kamil Norwid)," Rejtner said.

Saturday gigs include Kuzugo (ambient improvisation on electronic instruments, guitar and vocal), ŻAL (electro-vocal-guitar duo), and Morświn, a new band of poet and singer Marcin Świetlicki. The opening event will end on Sunday with a "concert for gramophones, phonographs and other devices" - a parade of the oldest record-playing equipment. They will be the stars of the evening, no musicians have been scheduled. Entry is free and tickets can be picked up at the cash desk. Both on Saturday and Sunday, a record and small labels fair will be held in the main hall (10-17), during which music fans will be able to add tasty findings to their vinyl and CD collections.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the director of the facility Magdalena Ulejczyk spoke about future projects, but admitted that a new literary festival Persona was particularly important for her. "It bloomed from my dissent that in Poland one can come across as well-read, not reading female authors. I was dismayed with statistics saying that 90 percent of school reading list are books written by men. We want to play our part in changing this situation. The main guest of the first edition of the festival will be poet Julia Hartwig. For ten days, starting October 14, we will be talking with young female poets and journalists, for whom Julia Hartwig is an inspiration, as well with her friends," the director of the Mazovian Institute of Culture announced. The first poetry slam will take place already on September 10.

"An important target group we want to support at MIK are young artists. Hence the two new cycles. Open Sound - a stage for young vocalists, which has already been opened before summer holidays with a concert by Ifi Ude. We invite to Bovska concert on September 13. The other music cycle for the young generation is Space of Jazz. It's no secret that jazz is an important genre for us. Last year Wojtek Mazolewski, Kuba Więcek and Paulina Przybysz, and EABS played their gigs," Ulejczyk said.

Those concerts, however, were performed online due to pandemic restrictions. Live music for "analog" audience will return in mid-October. In the meantime, Teatr Mazowiecki will resume shows (on the playbill "Partners in Crime", among others).