Agnes Milewski is beautiful, in a fragile sort of way. She reminds me of those slightly naive characters in black-and-white movies that require, or rather demand, to be rescued. But don’t let appearances fool you. She is no defenceless little creature. The inner strength, that invisible force, is the essence of her voice. It is the core of her music that seems to tell tales from long time ago as well as the present.

The talented Polish singer and songwriter Milewski released her debut album Pretty Boys And Ugly Girls in 2007, and the new album, Learn To Swim, was born in December 2009. She has written all of the album’s sixteen songs and she has also co-produced it. She sings, plays the piano, some keyboards and also acoustic guitar - not to mention that she also designs her CD covers. Is there any end to her artistic talent?

What is the source of Milewski’s inspiration then? The hardship that she had to endure when fleeing from Poland? Her new life in Vienna? Maybe both. Maybe these are the reasons for the ever-changing style of Learn To Swim.

In a very enjoyable ‘Not Andrea’, Milewski moves from disco almost to the other end of the spectrum where heavy metal lies as easily as one opening her eyes after a good night’s sleep. She includes jazzy-type of parts into ‘Introspective Lullabye’ and plants Spanish influences into ‘Talking To The Mirror’. It almost feels like Milewski is not quite sure which style she is more eager to follow, so she decides to explore them all. “Torn” might be the correct word to describe her approach. Not that there is anything wrong with that. At least, one can say that there is no dull moment when listening to her lastborn.

Reviewed: Agnes Milewski - Learn To Swim (Frog Queen Music) Release date: 4th December 2009.

Tracklisting:
1. Ready, Steady, Go (03:09)
2. One God For Me (04:50)
3. Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder (03:12)
4. Daisy (03:12)
5. Ugly Duckling (02:50)
6. Secret Garden (05:50)
7. Not Andrea (04:00)
8. Talking To The Mirror (04:48)
9. Short Storm (05:07)
10. For Lucifer, The Fallen (04:33)
11. Waste Of Time (03:37)
12. Introspective Lullabye (03:58)
13. Hide & Seek (03:48)
14. The Moment It’s Gone (03:31)
15. Learn To Swim (04:02)
16. Over The Moon (03:44)

Links:
www.agnesmilewski.com
www.myspace.com/agnesmilewski
www.frusion.co.uk
www.frogqueenmusic.com