CD Review: Opycham's 'new-age.om'

Opycham
new-age.om
Sketis Music

Opycham's latest release, new.age.om, was recorded in Tuva, which is spearheaded by drummer and percussionist, Rasputin (of Yat-Kha-fame). The meditative and monastic eight-track release celebrates various religions including Russian faiths, Buddhism, and Shamanism. The album contains a backdrop of various rain sounds, fire, birds, insects, and water-flows for a very earthy element. The pensive instrumentation is rather light and alternative and comprises the cello, djumbush (like a Turkish tanbur), guitar, and hand-percussion. The music is vocal, but very entrancing overall. The subtle inflections of earthy elements and hypnotic vocals make Opycham's latest release well-worth a listen. Fans of shamanic, alternative, new age, Russian folk, and European music will love it. It's a great way to unwind! ~ Matthew Forss  

CD Review: Vasily Evhimovich's 'Hurdy Gurdy, Accordion, and Vasily Evhimovich'

Vasily Evhimovich
Hurdy Gurdy, Accordion, and Vasily Evhimovich
Sketis Music

Vasily Evhimovich is a talented vocalist, accordion player, and hurdy-gurdy specialist on his latest recording, Hurdy Gurdy, Accordion, and Vasily Evhimovich. Vasily brings in a few other vocalists for acapella singing. Most of the time, Vasily plays the accordion or hurdy-gurdy along with the vocal segments. Based on the Volga River, Vasily recorded the album in his studio workshop. The folk songs originate from the Oka River region, as well as Belgorod, Northern Russia, Siberia, and Tatarstan. The drone of the accordion or hurdy-gurdy provide contemplative and entrancing moments between purely vocal parts. Over seventy-minutes of music and nineteen songs round out the album. The song titles are translated in Russian and English on the album back. Fans of Russian vocal music, folk music, and traditional instruments will find it most satisfying. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Vozvraschenie's 'Spring Land'

Vozvraschenie
Spring Land 
Sketis Music

The best in contemporary Russian rock 'n' roll is alive and well in Vozvraschenie's newest release, Spring Land. The eleven-track release contains heady vocals and gorgeous rock melodies with guitars, bass, percussion, and assorted instrumentation of ocarina, igil, jaw-harp, mandolin, virtual instruments, and others. It is rare every song on an album is great, but Spring Land proves it's possible. From the opening, driving melody of "Kapel" to the Celtic-rock and punk-inspired sounds of "Skomoroshya Dolya," Vozvraschenie is comfortable in any genre and style. However, rock and pop sounds are the primary influence here. There are a few displays of rock guitar splendor, but Vozvraschenie do their best to stick to solid, catchy rock grooves that are unforgettable. "Kapel" and "Zodchy" are two of the best tracks of any artist in any genre to come out this year. The mix of guitars, flute sounds, assorted strings, and the buzzing, electric bagpipe effects of the zhaleyka aerophone on "Zodchy" are definitely worthwhile. All the songs are in Russian. However, every song is excellent irregardless of language barriers. Anyone into Russian folk/rock will love it. One of the best recordings of 2014. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Various Artists' 'globalFEST Selector'

Various Artists
globalFEST Selector
Magenta

globalFEST is a not-for-profit organization that promotes world music from around the globe that is marked by a music festival every January in New York City. The thirteen-track release covers the gamut of musical styles--ranging from electronica, Middle Eastern dance, African blues, and beyond. The album is quite contemporary, but still retains an ethnic charm full of lively instrumentation that is traditional. The North African trance music of Hassan Hakmoun is evident on the first track, "Balilli." Brooklyn Qawwali Party brings the late-Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's music to life, instrumentally speaking with a side of jazz, on "Sochan Dongian." Kailash Kher brings us a South Asian-tinged concoction of swirling electronica elements on "Rang Rang Ma." Other great tracks are included, such as "El Madi" from Noura Mint Seymali, "Khadadaa" by Namgar, and "San Kuily" by Alif Naaba. There are thirteen different artists presented here. Twelve of the tracks are previously unreleased, but the result is far from ho-hum. Every track is diverse, upbeat, and catchy. Great stuff! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: German & Claudia Khatylaev's 'Arctic Spirit: Music From The Siberian North - Sakha People'

German & Claudia Khatylaev
Arctic Spirit: Music From The Siberian North - Sakha People
Borealia

Hailing from Yakutia, Siberia, German and Claudia Khatylaev perform traditional folk music with authentic, native instruments celebrating epic stories, animals, shamanic themes, and issues of daily living. Specifically, the music highlights the Sakha (Yakutia) culture in northern Siberia. The native instruments tend to sound like their natural environment--reindeer galloping, bird noises, wind blowing, and animal mating sounds. The Jew's harp (khomus) is the national instrument and it is featured on several tracks. The kyryympa, a horse-hair instrument similar to Mongolia's morin khuur, is another celebrated instrument and important fixture in Sakha society. A variety of drums and other percussive instruments, including the dungur, dzhargha, and aiaan elucidate the primordial sounds of nature. Over one hour of music captures the sincere music of the region with a 36-page booklet detailing the songs and instruments used. Some of the songs are more melodic than others. Many evoke sounds and images of nature's splendor without resorting to boring or dull compositions. Claudia's throat-singing is very enticing and variable, depending on the desired effect. Anyone interested in Russian folk music, shamanic music, Central Asian music, Mongolian folk, or anything released on the Sketis label will love the soothing, intriguing, and rarely-heard sounds from Yakutia on Arctic Spirit... It is chilling in a good way. The album can be purchased at www.amazon.fr, www.priceminister.com, or directly by emailing me at: worldmusicman2002@yahoo.com. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Siberia's Vedan-Kolod

Vedan-Kolod

Dance of The Wood Spirits

Sketis Music

The historic epics and poems of the Slavic past are performed by Tatyana Naryshkina and Valery Naryshkin. All adaptations capture the historical significance of the music through a wide variety of folk music instruments. The songs are mostly folk with a dash of throat-singing and guitar music thrown in for good measure. Anyone with an interest in Siberia's folk music and instruments should find excitement and astonishment in the Russian melodies, lyrics, and musical arrangements. Liner notes in Russian and song titles in English. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Karelia's Va-Ta-Ga

Va-Ta-Ga

Mikuliny Gory

Sketis Music

Led by vocalist, aerophone player, and musical saw maestro, Aleksandr Leonov, Va-Ta-Ga blends traditional folk elements from the Republic of Karelia (Russia) with modern electronic elements. The music is not especially busy, which provides an easy listening experience. The Russian lyrics are present on some of the songs, but they are not particularly the main performance of the album. The music touches on fusion, ambient, avant-garde, folk, and shamanic styles. Fans of Siberian/Russian folk, Scandinavian music, and world fusion will find happiness in this music. Liner notes in Russian and English. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Uch Sume R - 'Ymai' From Khakassia

Uch Sume R

Ymai

Sketis Music

Uch Sume R is a group of musicians that bridge the gap between historical and modern folk music from Khakassia in south-central Siberia. The second half of the album features the music of Khakassian singer, Alisa Kyzlasova. Uch Sumer is the second highest mountain in Russia, which borders three countries: China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. It also means 'three wisdoms' or 'three peaks'. The albums title, Ymai, is an ancient Turkic Goddess of motherhood, love and fertility. The lively songs are mostly traditional folk and throat-singing tunes that incorporate a range of local and regional musical instruments that provide an authentic and organic sound. Anyone looking for songs of the Altai mountain range, or Central Asia, will find Uch Sume R to be an outstanding addition to any collection of folk music. Liner notes in English and Russian. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Yarga Sound System - 'Live'

Yarga Sound System

Live

Sketis Music

Hailing from Northwestern Russia, in the Republic of Karelia, resides a band so engrossed with Russia's mystical and folk music, that Live is literally a soundtrack of Northern life. The electronic noises and sounds perfectly accompany a diverse repertoire of mbira, throat-singing, violin, kalimba, winds, loops, and dubs. It is not a particularly modern sound, but it does use some modern electronic wizardry to accent the folk elements. It is the ideal recording for listeners of aboriginal music, Scandinavian folk, and Russian folk with a slightly modern twist. Mostly instrumental, Live features something for everyone without any deleterious side effects. ~ Matthew Forss