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Adam Certamen Bownik - electronic music composer

Adam Certamen Bownik- electronic music composer

"The storm is here" was released by Syng@ate

Tracks

1. The storm is here

2. Rainbow

3. Ozone zone

Composed, played, mixed and produced July 2002 by Adam Certamen Bownik

Adam Certamen Bownik - Korg MS - 2000B, Yamaha S30 (master keyboard), Yamaha CS1x, Roland JV-1010, Roland Alpha Juno-1

Adam Certamen Bownik was born in Lublin, Poland on 18th October 1972. He works as an assistant at the University in Lublin, the Department of Physiology and Toxicology. He began to be interested in electronic music when he was as a child and listened to the hits composed by Marek Bilinski, Vangelis and Jean-Michel Jarre but only music of Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze firmly turned him to this kind of music.

Analog synthesizers were very expensive in the 80's so he could not afford to buy some cheap equipment. Fortunately, development of computer and digital technology lowered the prize of keyboards a lot ;-)

There are no constant rules that influence his style of composing. Sometimes he has a full vision of his composition with defined mood, dynamics, patches. It is very inspiring for him to have a title of a song or the main problem connected with sound and notes that he creates. Creation of electronic music is a hobby for him, it is a good means to retain your balance and spend free time with pleasure, it is also a good psychotherapy, a possibility to go deeply into yourself and simultaneously reach the boundaries of the Universe.

2004. Groove. Press Information

A review by Sylvain Lupari

Certamen is this fine Polish synthesist we discovered with his excellent opus, Earth, appeared last year on Syngate label. This time, he presents us another cd of his impressive catalogue. Still in the same mood as Earth and I Awoke in A Dream, The Storm is Here is an opus which respects and exceeds the limits of retro Berlin School.

If Rainbow is a soft lullaby with spectral choruses, puffed up by nebulous synths, and crossed by a soft piano, the situation is quite different with the two other titles, The Storm is Here and Ozone Zone. The opening track starts on a beautiful floating intro, a little like Schulze's Body Love, where the choruses mix with the breaths of a mournful synth. A light pulsation bores this static wind, and The Storm is Here takes shape. Faithful to its trademark, Certamen pushes silky and acute synth solos which float in this ambient universe, combine with a fine bass line and scattered percussions. These ones start to roll and discord, a little like if they were out of control. This strange amalgam brings a strange percussions symphony, similar to a storm, where the sound elements flicker, tracked in the eye of a cyclone. A superb moment which shows the ingeniousness of Certamen to handle and toy the electronic percussions. A huge synth buzzing crosses this storm and modifies his course. A solid bass sequence, hard keys, lighting synth paths coordinate a powerful rhythm which runs like hell. Always driven by wild sequences, the movement deviates with Certamen’s vision and imagination, which uses the vocoder to announce the storm and its many direction changes. A powerful title where Certamen floods us with furious and powerful synth solos, as well as superb percussions which hit and hammer with acuity. Rarely, I heard a title that long that has such a structure and strike with as much intensity, as many glares. I am still stun by it. And pay yourself a treat, play it loud. Paint might be ripped of your walls.

Ozone Zone has a slow atmospheric start. Gradually, a fine pulsation is integrated into the atmospheric elements, creating a synergy with the chorus's ectoplasms. The rhythm becomes more constant and is based on a good juicy sequence bass line. The synth twirls and blows soft solos, like sweet sights and borrows the soft arabesques colors of Middle-East flavours. Certamen is at ease with long titles. As an artist, he paints his music with imagination and a touch of madness. The title track is amazing. Thirty minutes of explosive madness of a rare power.

Once again, the Polish synthesist astonishes by the progressive structures and the depth of his compositions. Electronic Music in a Berlin School mode with a progressive touch, extremely well structure with his many twisting passages. You think Berlin School? You think progressive?

The Storm is Here is truly indicated to you.

2006. Sylvain Lupari / Canada

A review by André de Waal / SonicImmersion.org

Sometimes being a music reviewer can be very nice. That is, in those moments when you put a cd from an unknown band in the player and you are pleasantly surprised about what blares from the speakers. For example, a cd comes your way that contains three tracks (in total over an hour long) that is pure EM in the best retro tradition, but with a modern slant. And included is a cd booklet that summons the right electronic feelings. In short, "The Storm Is Here" from Certamen is that cd! I have no idea who Adam Certamen Bownik, the man behind this band, is, and I don't want to know. I only want to hear more of his music. The first (title) track opens with rain, inventive sequencers and heavenly solos. It can continue storming, as far as I'm concerned. Occasionally a Kraftwerk like vocoder voice and tune emerge (listen to the end of this track) and the party is complete. The tranquil second track, "Rainbow", provides the listener with a much needed new age shelter before the last track, "Ozone Zone", bursts out. This sounds heavier than it is in reality, more like the quiet period after a storm, and you can still hear several thunder claps in the distance. Then strings of rain slowly drift away while you enjoy the fresh air sitting on the porch looking at nature coming out of its hiding places. What an idyllic picture.

André de Waal / SonicImmersion.org