1977 (CNC024) by Maciek Polak

Following his first release, 1972, Maciek Polak returns to Coastline Northern Cuts with a new chapter, 1977. In this album, Maciek delves into the sonic and emotional landscapes of the Korg PS-3100 and PS-3300 synthesizers, using these iconic instruments as both his inspiration and his guide. While 1972 paid homage to the Synthi AKS, 1977 reflects Maciek’s deep connection to the Korg PS series – marking a shift in both tone and concept, yet staying true to his love for analog synthesis.

When synthesizers first emerged in the late '60s, they had an impact akin to that of a glacier. They drove through decades of musical history and irreversibly reshaped the landscape. Like glaciers leaving a trail of accumulated, incongruous boulders in their wake, some synthesizers resembled such boulders, too unwieldy for most people. The Korg PS-3300 was one such chunk of rock – too large to move and difficult to use, though, in fact, it was one of the most beautiful polysynths Maciek had ever come across. If some twisted semiconductor sorcerer put a spell on a symphony orchestra and turned it into a labyrinth full of cables, capacitors, and integrated circuits, the 3300 would be exactly that. Unlike a glacier, the 3300 did not linger in Maciek’s workshop, sadly needing to depart just as it was beginning to settle in, leaving a significant void behind.

It was only when the 3100, a smaller yet still substantial "rock", arrived to stay for good that he began to realize how much he had missed that odd-looking barn of electronics, with its peculiar architecture and, most especially, its unique sound that was so distinctively its own. As Maciek puts it, “I think you could compare it to color TV – when it appeared, people who were perfectly happy with black and white could suddenly see that color was what they had been missing”.

Maciek’s life has revolved around analog synthesizers for almost 30 years now. “It's incredible that I continue to be so inspired by something to such an extent after all this time. I'm a very lucky person in this regard”, he concludes.

1977 – the year when the Korg PS-3100, the main character in this tale, was released – is also the title of an audio diary describing his adventures with the Korg, his trusted and only companion.

Equipment List: Korg PS-3300 w/ MIDI, Korg PS-3100 w/ MIDI, AKG BX-25, EMS 8OFB, Eventide H3000, Korg SDD-2000, Roland DC-30, Roland PH-830, Roland RDE-1800, Strymon TimeLine, Boss RC-505, Polyend Play, Polyend Seq, Polyend Tracker.

I am one half of the band called Pin Park and solo musician.

My current rig comprises ex-Alvin Curran's VCS3 Mk1 with TKS sequencer and Synthi AKS plus some EMS outboard and EMS Vocoder 1000.

Plus Korg PS-3100, of course.