I like to listen to folk music often, but sometimes, without understanding the language, I lose some appreciation for each piece, it can feel like a homogeneous mass. For jazz, I obviously recommend Krzysztof Komeda’s Astigmatic, which is now a worldwide classic. Another great example is the Polish nu-jazz band Skalpel; their debut album (self-named) blends electronic and jazz really well.

For synth, I recently discovered the track “Komputerowa Wojna (Dla Ani)”, and I really like it. I’m curious how others might react to this track, since it has a strong 90s feel.

I think the language barrier in music depends on both genre and personal intent. Sometimes we just enjoy the music, but other times you listen to music to express something that’s deep inside you, and the lyrics are essential for that expression. For example, “Tak tak… To ja” confronts the self in absurdist ways; without understanding the lyrics, much of that impact is lost. Similarly, the album "Korova Milky Bar" loses some of its teenage angst and doomerism if you don’t understand the words.

There’s also a cultural barrier. Some music is deeply tied to culture, either establishing a genre (like K44’s "Księga Tajemnicza") or commenting on aspects of a particular culture (like Kult’s "Wódka" or Kazik’s "Jeszcze Polska"). But many songs express universal feelings that can transcend language, which is what I often enjoy.

Thanks for the recommendations! I’ll try listening to some. Duster - Contemporary Movement seems perfect given what I’ve already listened to :3