BEST OF ART UA VOL. 1 (COMPILATION 2023)

This CD, bringing together a wide host of Ukrainian prog artists, is compiled by ANTONY KALUGIN, one of the most prolific prog musicians of our time. No less than 16 tracks have been included in near 79 minutes; the number of various artists is a bit smaller. Here's a brief introduction for most of them.

First let's have a look on how Kalugin's own projects are represented here, as they are much better known in the prog community than the rest. KARFAGEN's 'Curious Talk' comes from Messages from Afar: First Contact (2017) and 'Hymn of Hope' from Messages from Afar: The Working Tapes (2024). The SUNCHILD track 'Rain Drops' is taken from the live album A Message of Peace Tour (2023). Hoggwash or Antony Kalugin's solo output are not included here.

INSIDE THE SOUND is a project of guitarist Max Velychko, who has worked in Kalugin's projects and in Modern-Rock Ensemble. 'Horizon' from Wizard's Eyes (2017) is a gorgeously soaring instrumental, with melodic power reminiscent of Camel, Hackett and such.

ARLEKIN is a Neo Prog moniker of the singing multi-intrumentalist Igor Sydorenko. 'Mirror of Shadows' is a 9-min. piece from his second album The Secret Garden (2021) which I haven't listened to. Sounds less Marillion- esque than the first album from 2014, and perhaps less intriguing too. Wish he would recruit a separate vocalist.

Crossover Prog band OBIYMY DOSCHU and their latest single 'Na Vidstani' (2020). A totally new name for me. Modern, silghtly depressed art rock, very well produced.

(Tracks 5 and 14) YELKA is not yet in ProgArchives. An interesting, highly eclectic sound with a strong female vocalist. Some ethnic nuances especially in the singing.

ICHTHYANDER DAD'S ONLY DOLPHIN is an instrumental quintet who released a live album in 2015. 'Biometry' demonstrates their Crimsonesque sound with violin in a big role.

LA HORSA BIANCA plays dynamic and psychedelic instrumental prog. 'The Mouse Principle' is from their third album Diluvian Beat (2020). Another non-PA artist KONSTANTIN IONENKO QUINTET plays fine modern jazz. Piano, saxophone and trumpet make their solos on 'Sect', and also the rhythm section is excellent.

Nor have I -- or PA -- heard of ROMAN GORIELOV. 'With No Reply' (2017) is a brief, pretty acoustic guitar piece. DMYTRO IGNATOV (not in PA) is obviously a metal-oriented guitarist, and on 'Silence' the American prog artist Derek Sherinian guests on keyboards.

The further artists on this CD are VICTOR GO, PEREVOD and KalMar. The two last mentioned are not in PA. All in all, this sampler really widens up anyone's picture of the progressive music made in Ukraine. It's much more many- sided than you'd think.