Yanka Kozyr's Orchestra. Shljahy. /digi-pack/. (Roads)

They have been expecting for this album for a long time, already for a few years. And expecting devotedly – because "Yanka Kozyr Orchestra" somehow very quickly became one of central figures of Ukrainian alternative stage. Start listening to it – and, I think, you will at once understand why this group is so popular among our admirers of independent music. However, not only among ours –more than a year ago already "Yanka Kozyr Orchestra" appeared, for example, in the respected independent catalogue of the best European underground, "Ghostland.com". If I am not mistaken – the first among Ukrainian groups. However, it is not a surprise. Today, this collective virtually best of all combines "heavy" music with folk motives – plus decorates it with the bright female vocal. Actually, it is not occasionally that Yanka's name is taken as the name of the group – her manner of performance attributes a very special face to "Orchestra..."'s creativity. Here, city nervousness, sharpness surprisingly intersect – with rootedness in some most ancient cultural layers. Yanka seems to not even sing, but practice witchcraft – and she does not copy known standards, but just takes her skills from some primary source. Not that she revives – rather, gives birth anew to some mystic passageways between the worlds. Isn't it for this reason that the album is named "Paths"? – I do not know. But I think that this disk is quite able to open to the listener something new not only in music – but also in the method of contemplation and cognition of the world. It seems to me that everyone should listen to this disk – both those who value independent music thinking, and those who are interested in folk experiments, and those who just have at least some sense of humor. And those who do not like either – as well. Horizons should broaden.

Anton Jozhik Leyba (Hedgehog)