Taras Zhytynsky. Pisni kozakiv. (Songs of Cossacks)

It is rather difficult to find on the Net any substantial information about Taras Zhytynsky. On the one hand, this is not that important – in fact, an artist's creativity should speak for him above all, not dry biography. But it is a fact: having heard his voice, having listened to how and what he sings – one almost for sure realizes the desire to know more about this person. It is difficult to say what exactly he attracts with – a few factors overlap here. The songs – some of which will probably even really surprise you. And the slightly husky but obviously strong, flexible voice able to identically authentically convey very differing emotions. And that the basic music instrument on the album is just the acoustic guitar – nothing superfluous, but the sounding seems to sometimes interlace true sheer rock, and the bardic manner, and light rock'n'roll moves, and even transparent echoes of the art of kobza-playing. The first and the final tracks of the album are a specific thing, an absolutely different manner of performing the material. But, strange enough, they do not conflict with the rest of the songs, but create, so to speak, a harmonious contrast – and an outlet into some different plane of sounding appears then. Possibly – a hint at the atmosphere of the next disc. In any case, Taras Zhytynsky has released an interesting work, where he invested not only his skills, but also his soul – and you can hear that.