• Music

    Shuma (Šuma) – Sonca

    November 18, 2022 - By 

    Sonca is a reissue of an album released in 2016 by Belarusian band Shuma.  From label Ezhevika’s Bandcamp site: “Re-issue of Shuma’s most popular album Sonca, originally released back in 2016. It was aknowledged by Belarusian music critics as The best album of the year, The best electronic album and The best Belarusian album. Shuma is a project that combines ancient pagan songs and electronic music. Their value lies in a great sound production and a truly correct rethinking of the ancient cultural tradition which is almost lost.”  

  • Music

    Soyuz (Союз) – Force of the Wind (​С​и​л​а в​е​т​р​а​)

    November 9, 2022 - By 

    Belarus is not what one would think of as a Brazilian music hotspot, though, if my friends in the country could enlighten me to the local music scene, I would really appreciate it.  Still, Soyuz, led by singer Alex Chumak blend a Brazil-meets-Santana-meets-funk beat and this album engages you quickly, making the listener want to sway with the rhythm. From their Bandcamp site: “SOYUZ (which translates as ‘union’) is a creative collective from Minsk, Belarus, led by composer, arranger, and singer, Alex Chumak, multi-instrumentalist, Mikita Arlou, and drummer, Anton Nemahai. SOYUZ’s previous albums explored and reimagined the legacy of jazz-oriented,…

  • Music - Youtube

    Razam / Iva Marešová – Harpyje U Pramene

    November 21, 2021 - By 

    On Friday night, my beloved friends, Helenka and Tomáš, suggested I go out to a club called Stará Pekárna, a club where Tomáš works.  The owner of this fine establishment is a heavy blues aficionado who happens to book very impressive bands.  Imagine my surprise when I walk into the club into a lovely sound: The singer, Iva Marešová, had a wonderfully open voice, full of power and energy, and even though most in the club were sitting, you could see quite a large number of patrons fidgeting around wanting to dance.  I myself could feel my feet tapping around…