• Music

    Igor Yalivec – Etudes

    November 14, 2023 - By 

    Igor Yalevic has produced some of the most gentle and relaxing field recordings and ‘ambient’ music to come out of Ukraine in recent memory in his latest album, Etudes.  From his Bandcamp site: “Etudes is Yalivec’s sophomore album. His 2021 album Still Life came out on Polar Seas Recordings and has long since been sold out. Yalivec’s more esoteric electroacoustic project with guitarist Sergey Yagoda is called Gamardah Fungus and exorcizes a more cosmic and heavier consciousness. Etudes is remarkable in it’s ability to walk a middle path between the overtly melodic and arpeggiated Still Life and the heavy duty…

  • Music

    Svitlana Nianio – Transilvania Smile, 1994

    September 10, 2023 - By 

    Though the recording quality is not audiophile quality, this collection of theater music by Ukrainian singer and artist Svitlana Nianio documents the soundtrack to a theater project she was involved in at the time called Transilvania Smile.  From her label Muscut Records’ Bandcamp site: “Svitlana Okhrimenko (artist name: Svitlana Nianio) is a Ukrainian artist, musician, and signer. She is one of the most prominent representatives of the independent music scene of Kyiv in the late 1980s — early 90s. She has repeatedly recorded and performed in collaboration with other musicians and bands, such as Oleksandr Yurchenko, Sugar White Death (Cukor…

  • Music

    Shapoval Sextet – Kobzareva Duma, 1976

    August 6, 2022 - By 

    Ukrainian saxophonist Olexandr Shapoval performed a gem of a jazz concert that was lost for 45 years is now available to hear.  From our friends at Soundohm’s website: “In winter 1976, a few years before Olexandr Shapoval headed up the well-known band Vodogray, a jazz band called Shapoval Sextet recorded three pieces “Kobzareva Duma” in live at the Donetsk Jazz Festival. The tape has been lost for almost 45 years, until now. The most radical, experimental and psych jazz recording from the Ukrainian Soviet-era found to date. Composed and arranged by, flutes, saxophone: Oleksandr Shapoval Trumpet: Oleg Anapolsky Electric organ, piano: Oleg Kosko Guitar, spoken words: Igor Kruchinenko…

  • Music

    Vadim Neselovskyi – Odesa: A Musical Walk Through a Legendary City

    June 30, 2022 - By 

    Odessa is a city that both Ukraine and Russia, as well as its many Jewish and even Tatar inhabitants, claim to be its own.  Never mind the political hideousness of today, and let me present you with one of the most fascinating releases I’ve heard in contemporary classical and jazz scenes. Vadim Neselovskyi is a pianist who hails from Ukraine, and has collaborated with giants such as Gary Burton, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and John Scofield, among others.  This paean to the city of his birth is a magnificent blend of modern classical music and the sort of jazz which…

  • Music - Youtube

    Children’s & Youth Choir “Sophia” – Christ Has Risen

    April 23, 2022 - By 

    No reviews today, as we celebrate the victory of Christ over death itself.  May you, fellow Orthodox and those who celebrate on the Julian Calendar, enjoy Easter! Arabic: El Messieh kahm! Chinese: Helisituosi fuhuole! Czech: Vstal z mrtvých Kristus! Georgian: Kriste aghsdga! Greek: Christos anesti! Latin: Christus resurrexit! Romanian: Hristos a inviat! Russian: Khristos voskrese! Serbian: Hristos vaskrse! Spanish: Cristo ha resucitado! Ukrainian: Khristos voskres!

  • Music

    Jos Smolders – Four Elegies For України

    April 13, 2022 - By 

    There is a large outpouring of grief over the war from many artists I know on both sides.  My friend Jos Smolders has made his contribution as well.  From his Bandcamp site: “A small album of improvisations that I recorded to express my disgust about the war in Ukraine. All of the money I receive from sales will be donated to organizations that help the Ukrainian people. I hardly ever infuse my music with politics, but this feels different. Please buy a copy of the album and help those poor people. The music was produced primarily with Blippoo and electric guitar.”

  • From Resident Advisor.
    Music

    Bandcamp Friday and Help For Ukraine

    March 4, 2022 - By 

    Politics is loathsome.  Human beings, however, can be beautiful.  All of them, not just your favorites. If you can help out those in need from all points in this disgusting war, I’m sure the labels, the artists, and most of all, the people who could use the funds to survive, would appreciate it.  Even if Bandcamp Friday dips into the well too much these days, at least they’re trying to help, so kudos to them. Here are three that caught my attention, so look, enjoy, and support if possible.    

  • Music

    Zacharivna Pisnya Ensemble – Petropavlovka: Songs of Ukrainians from Kyrgyzstan

    June 7, 2021 - By 

    The Zacharivna Pisnya Ensemble are made up of ethnic Ukrainians who reside in the republic of Kyrgyzstan, and have existed as a group since 1902.  Though some of their names have been Russified, they maintain their cultural ties to Ukraine via song. Antonovka Records have done astounding work documenting such ensembles throughout Russia and Central Asia, and they should be commended for maintaining such high quality throughout each release.