A Closer Listen
How does one even begin to comprehend a 5 hour, 40 minute, 68-track compilation? (There’s also a 3 hour, 48 minute mix.). A more pointed question to ask is “How does one even begin to comprehend a three-year invasion?” Ukraine is at a vital juncture, having lost much of its Western support due to a returning despot. The world’s attention is waning. Into this fray steps the ОЧІ label, which for the third year continues to raise funds for the cause; 57 artists in all responded to the call, most but not all artists from Ukraine, with proceeds benefiting those on the front lines.
The listening process is daunting, but the rewards are great. Fittingly, ummsbiaus is chosen to lead off the set, otherwise presented mostly in alphabetical name by artist. The haunting “Lystivka” (“Postcard”) sounds like a love letter to everyone still fighting the good fight. Forlorn yet resolute, the track takes off in the back half in a cascade of drums. After this the compilation takes a dive into deep techno, with ambient, drone and IDM detours, lending itself well to the mix.
arium pol‘s “sum” is primarily percussive, but begins and ends in poignant passages of acoustic guitar, while AxxiOma‘s “Mermaid” uses chimes and siren voice. The most memorable track titles belong to Bayun the Cat & Iouri Grankin: “Birth of Music to the Spirit of Tragedy” and “Dance of the Shelter Drummers,” the latter in particular recalling heartwrenching scenes below the surface. Kryvø_Rizh utilizes a mournful, distorted melody to convey a feeling of disembodiment. The title is roughly translated, “The Ocean Doesn’t Hear Your Cry.” In a dark ambient piece, Luminethis declares, “The sky above you will never be the same again.” In “Crystal Plate” and “It’s Time to Wake Up,” REYNARUM‘s choral elements suggest a funeral service.
The words of the composers are crucial to the release. One is dedicated to the children of war, living in constant fear of air sirens, strikes and blackouts. Another “subconsciously recreates the sound of artillery.” Many artists mention home, family and disruption, some writing from beyond the borders, wracked with longing and “heaviness.” A striking quote proposes the twin of hiraeth: “nostalgia for a time that will never be.” Despite the darkness, many still express feelings of hope while struggling to maintain their faith in humanity.
One of the most exciting pieces is the wild, pulsing team-up of Smezkh, Whaler, Revshark on “Decimal.” This club anthem represents free, unbridled energy, all cares momentarily forgotten. TĒMNA RÁDIST adopts a different tactic on “oh that city by the sea,” allowing barrages of bombs to bisect an otherwise bright and ambient-inflected dance track. The sea makes its appearance at the end of the next track, “outofsilence.” Waveskana makes a welcome return on “JustBreathe,” a title with multiple meanings in the current chaos. Петро Петровський closes the compilation with four dark tracks, an EP of its own, a somber comedown.
As we’ve learned through Gianmarco Del Re’s Ukrainian Field Notes series, the Ukrainian music scene has blossomed under fire, every release an expression of life in the presence of death. How can we begin to comprehend a compilation like this? We can’t; we can only wonder that it exists. (Richard Allen)
Wed Apr 16 00:01:35 GMT 2025