THE POLISH AMBASSADOR
Lush Dubington
In a previous article, I wrote about how the music we listen to changes with the seasons.
For me, I seem to lock away my reggae and dance grooves, stow them somewhere deep inside my soul and leave them there in the dark of winter until the sun shines again the following year. I’ve had my sad, sleepy, tea-steeping songs on for weeks now and this morning, I came across a ray of sunshine I thought I’d share with you.
The Polish Ambassador, aka David Sugalski, has been on my radar for a few years now. I’ve known his music in the hot sunshine, joining me in my car or on my paddleboard or out rock climbing and has been in the soundtrack to the better times of my life during this pandemic.
The more I read up on this guy, the more impressed I am. He’s a leading go-to on the EDM world stage, his studio is solar powered, he lives on a beautiful piece of property in the rolling hills of the California Sierra’s and has donated tens of thousands of dollars to charity. He strives to leave as small of a footprint as possible and I dig that kind of work ethic in todays world.
On Oct. 29, The Polish Ambassador released his latest EP on his independent Jumpsuit Records label, ‘Lush Dubington,’ is a seven-song ensemble of sunlight infused reggae tempos, African percussions, hot saxophone solos, a smorgasbord of sounds sunbathed and on safari, it is a pure delight to have in your arsenal up here in Canada as the light of day becomes shorter and as the cold settles in.
The first song, ‘Summertime,’ really sets the album’s tone. The swaying breeze that flows through palm trees is now migrating through the senses. Sean Haefeli not only collaborates on this album but he sings to you in a soft, subtle serenade throughout it. These two artists working together is like sprinkling cinnamon on slices of orange and sipping a fine tequila in the summer sun. Within the fusion of music, fingers dance along the guitar. Brass horns walk hand in hand with the harmonies. I listen to this EP and crave the smell of suntan lotion and steak on the grill. I reminisce in the wake of the music as the album unfolds.
Find it. Play it. It feels good.
Like dancing in a sunshower. Like hot, wet pavement under your feet. Sunlight dancing on the lake. The sizzle of hot sand in July. It’s all right there on this EP so if you’re in need of a lift as the snow falls down and the gloom of November sits on your soul like a fat frumpy bear, do not fear. Putting this album on is like hopping in a vintage, marlboro red, 68 Bel Air, putting the top down, feeling the sun and sea breeze on your face.
You’ll find me out there on the road, metaphorically speaking. My thumb stretched out, hawaiian t-shirt flapping in the wind, a suitcase by my feet, a coconut and rum concoction in the other hand, pink umbrella flapping in the wind, I’ll join you for the ride so I can feel the sunshine on my shoulders, even if only for a little while. Just drive, dear reader and crank up the sounds of The Polish Ambassador.
Trust ‘ol Shaner. You’ll be happy that you did.
Maybe the inner confines of my storage aren’t as secure as I once assumed. Perhaps the custodian of my soul needs those sunshine sounds, afterall. Who am I to complain, though?
I bet skiing to this album works just as nice as someone surfing to it. Try it out. Let me know what you think.
Cheers to the sounds of summer as the cold settles in.
