The Polish trio ROD – making some strange blend of electro-beats with elements of local folk culture – somehow endeared themselves to this listening ninny with their album Pòczuj Kaszëbsczégò Dëcha from 2020. Even if not much of a fan of the genres they peddle, there was something genuine about the way they processed and presented the ancient folk traditions of Kaszuby in a very modern context.
Well, it seems the trio of Cichy, Loki and Hansollo are quitting showbiz – at any rate, it seems Światłowód (ZOHARUM ZOHAR 298-2) is intended as their “farewell album”. Besides performing here as ROD, each band member gets a solo turn or two, and there are two cuts by RIP, which was a new combo started by the bass player and vocalist Cichy. All songs in Polish, so we’ll take their word that the themes continue to engage with folklore and pagan themes, while they also complain about cold weather in these northerly climes. ROD and all its incarnations have got a lot better at doing what they do in the last 5-6 years, and that earlier “crudeness” of their naive approach has now been channelled into some fine music full of zest and energy, with many unusual touches – you never know when an electro-beat rhythm is going to break down and segue into an instrumental break performed on ethnic or archaic instruments. Still a lot of sincerity, and genuine pain, in the singing voices too. A good one. (06/01/2026)