The Ukrainians
Respublika
Omnium (2002)
http://www.the-ukrainians.com/

Here's to Ukraine never having to cry again...

It's not clear why there are so many (well, relatively) Celtic rock bands and so few Ukrainian-rock bands, but lack of competition aside, The Ukrainians are one of the best of the latter! Earlier releases from this English band have contained both original material and Ukrainian language covers of rock bands. Respublica presents very rocked up traditional material... plus two covers of Sex Pistol songs. What a powerful mix it is, Ukrainian music and heavy rock! What a delight for the zabava world!

Respublica features the amazing and Legendary vocals of Len Liggins, rich as the gold of the sunflowers on the cover, as the gold of harvest wheat.. Many of these old songs are about women, some are about war, some are about separation. Synopses are in the booklet and the lyrics are transliterated on the web site. We, however, should all be masters of the slavic languages so we could understand the songs as they are sung, but we are not. The album begins with an outstanding song about unwanted seduction, bending quick scratchy fiddle and the voices of the steppes with strong and sometimes thrashy polka beat drums and buzzy guitar. The entire album in fact seems buzzier than before, as if influenced by the Kiev black metal scene. Punk is the real word and also not my forte. The second track is a Sex Pistols song. The two songs by these legendary Punk Brits don't quite flow with the album, but rather mildly jolt with their pale style. On this first of these covers is heard a chunk of "Meadowlands" and the word "Anarchy."

The traditional songs have the usual variety of rhythms. Cut through the fuzz guitar and you can imagine a Ukrainian woman passionately and torchily singing "Horila Sosna/The Pine Tree Was Burning." Fast sometimes thrashy drums and cymbals set a beat for the one instrumental, "Arko/The Lasso," a dance from the Western Ukraine.

As I child I saw a Gregory Peck movie on TV about Russian resistance fighters during World War II. It oozed with Russian Nationalism, an odd deal since they had recently threatened to bury us. This album would made a great soundtrack for the new underground remake, aside from Ukrainian-Russian conflicts. At the end of the album is a particular good chain of songs, one a short, very minor setting for a poem called "The Broad River Dnieper Roars and Moans," and the next, "Let's Fill Our Drinking Cups Brothers," a hope for a less violent future, sung so beautifully and powerfully with a mix of buzz, mandolin, and drums. Finally comes "Oh Ukraine," Such a beautiful, rich country and music and such a tragic past!

This album is wonderful.

judith at gorge dot net

The Columbia Gypsy