Ryby, raci

How to come up and not to get pulled down under the surface of helplessness and self-destruction. Mirek Kemel presents in fourteen tracks on his new album, “Ryby, raci”, that life can prepare an inexhaustible number of twists to anyone. Not only poetically melancholic but also sound-balanced and intimate, the renowned cartoonist, Mirek Kemel, is on his third album. “Ryby, raci” is an extraordinary album of songs full of powerful melodies and original arrangements.

Mirek Kemel created the recording of Ryby, raci almost four years after the album, Nic víc. As with the previous recordings, Mirek Kemel, the author of all the songs, has decided to take a different direction from how his popular cartoons present him. The songs deal with serious topics and relationships. Moreover, unlike the previous recordings, this third album has far cleaner arrangements. Kemel confirms that it has been his intention from the very beginning: “We wanted the first album, ‘Krajem šel anděl’, to sound like our live concerts with the original three-piece band. The second album ‘Nic víc’ was recorded with minimal arrangements, in a raw form similar to the sound of my solo shows featuring Vladimí Javorský, who actually did the arrangements for the second album. The third album, ‘Ryby, raci’ was, on the contrary, recorded with rich arrangements and  an extended line-up with drums. It was produced by Vlasta Konopiský. The album illustrates the move of the band towards the electric guitar and a fuller sound. We’ve also included strings, brass instruments and children’s choir. This album is totally different to the previous one sound-wise.”The decision to record in a different way than before was the result of long consideration: “It was a conscious decision of the band to move on with the sound around two years ago. We’ve been looking for the optimal line-up for some time and now we have it. Some very good musicians have joined the band such as Petr Tichý (double bass) and Petr Mikeš (drums). Same as Tomáš Görtler (accordion), who’s been with us from the very beginning, they have been long-term musicians in the band Bran. With this line-up, we decided to record the new album with rich arrangements.”

“All my songs are based on my personal story, mood, image… I feel that I can’t do it differently,” says Kemel about his work. He’s the author of all the songs on the album where he has captured important moments of human life. However, the final taste of the songs and the whole album is a result of someone else’s work. “I left the whole album in the hands of the producer, Vlasta Konopiský,” says Mirek Kemel. “I only had an advisory word, like the rest of the band. Vlasta had a fairly clear idea about the sound, instruments and arrangements and no one could interfere :). We chose the guest musicians from our friends so that they fulfill our ideas about the sound and arrangements. For instance, Štěpán Škoch, long-term, now ex-member, of the band Chinaski, who recorded our album and is a guest saxophonist and also plays the Irish whistle on it.”

However, Kemel’s fans don’t have to worry. “I’m certainly not leaving the raw sound and simple arrangements. I usually perform by myself or in a duo or trio. That’s when I enjoy simplicity. When performing together with Vladimír Javorský (ukulele, percussion, saxophone, guitar) and Petr Tichý (double bass), we remain true to the simple arrangements and sound of the album, ‘Nic víc’, which was produced by Vladimír himself.” At the next concerts, audiences can expect Mirek Kemel accompanied by his band including electric guitar, accordion, double bass, drums, ukulele, and saxophone.