VAKULA レコード& CD

Review: ** Repress of the Ethereal Sound classic! **It's time for another dose of mystical deep house vibes on the renowned Ethereal Sound. Their mini compilations are always eagerly awaited here at Juno HQ, and this time they showcase the talent of NY house wizard Fred P and Ukraine's main man, Vakula. Fred P's tracks are always a pleasure to listen to and "It's All In The Mind" reaffirms his talents as one of deep house's finest. The beat opens with an unusually punchy acid sound for Mr.P but soon dissolves and melts into something much more sparse and disconnected. New man Pjotr takes the helms on "Waves From The Past" and opens with a stunning chord shadowing a distant sample of a jazz gig which weaves and moulds its way through to the end. On the flip, Vakula drops an intricate percussion filled with bongos and subtle basslines like only he knows how to do best, while Benedikt Frey ties thing up in true Ethereal style on "Untitled 3", creating a stylish atmosphere and serves as a welcome addition to their already impressive artist catalogue.

Review: Gird yourselves; starting from this month and running through until December, Dutch institution Dekmantel are celebrating a decade in the game with a series of monthly 12"s featuring a seriously all-star cast from Tony Allen to Villalobos. It starts right here as legendary innovative composer Gigi Masin opens with the lilting, delicate "Maja", Vakula brings us down from the clouds and back to the future with the body-jacking ghetto bump of "Robot Fuck The System" while Flugel blows the finale horn with the swampy Amazonian harmonic trip-out "Mice On Stick". This is the start of something very special.

Review: Vakula has had an ongoing fascination with the ancient world that has long defined his own fascinating music. Somehow he always manages to cook up mystic moods, intriguing sound worlds and fictional musical narratives that take you partly back to long lost civilisation, but partly into a future of unknown cosmic life forces. His occult folk electronic traditions continue here with instruments such as harp, fujara, tambourine next to wind sounds, hand drums and synths. It's a truly mesmeric world that draws you in deep and leaves you in awe across some of the most cinematic and evocative tracks you could wish to hear.

Review: Having begun the year with a 12" of dub techno and ambient tracks that all boasted titles beginning with A, Vakula has decided to move onto the letter B. Musically, the script is similar, with glistening and slowly-shifting opener "Bikote" sitting somewhere between dub techno and ambient techno. With its lilting, echo-laden chords, galactic reggae shuffle and flotation tank chords, "Bifurcus" is a deep space treat, while "Biofenosis" is an altogether bolder, cheerier and more forthright trip into dubbed-out house territory (with a dash of techno thrown in). For those seeking more horizontal fare, the ambient dub epic that is closer "Binarity" should safely ease you into the required position.

Review: For his first 12" since the release of the fine Cyclicality Between Procyon And Gomesia LP on Dekmantel, Vakula has chosen to resurrect the Bandura label he last used back in 2014. The simply titled A contains four variations on a theme, each heavily influenced by electronic mutations of dub. So, opener "Aberration" offers a becalmed, intergalactic trip into dub techno territory, "Appreception" fixes starry Detroit techno electronics to a shuffling dub house groove, and the deliciously far-out "Agglomeration" drifts into deep space via hazy ambient dub textures. Arguably best of all, though, is "Assertiveness", where hushed chords and quietly pulsing bass crowd round a sparse, pitched-up electronic rhythm track.

Review: Last year saw Ukranian producer Mikhaylo 'Vakula' Vityk drift away from the house and techno mysticism he was renowned for to focus on a pair of esoteric and conceptually heavy albums inspired by Scottish writer David Lindsay and Jim Morrison. This Modulations EP for Moscow's Arma label sees Vakula fully embracing a deeper strain of techno, and it's a fine addition to the Ukrainian's bulging discography. There's a breathless intensity to all four tracks here (all titled "Modulations" in numerical order) which find Vakula narrowing on the perfect balance between abstract sound design and the capacity to shake walls. Fans of the Prologue and Geophone approach will love this 12"!!

Review: Ukranian lo-fi genius Vakula is back and if audaciously tackling Steve Reich wasn't enough, he's taking on possibly his most ambitious project yet with "Dedicated to Jim Morrison". The title says it all really, in this brazen tribute to the sixties rock legend. On the first side you've got "For Jim" with its bluesy, boozy, typically sixties rock, while "The Canyon Road" is definitely the track on here to really channel the sound of The Doors. Then the acoustic country twang of "Mississippi Delta" carries off a southern charm. On the flip you've got "The Human Abstract" which is one truly hazy affair and features some of William Blake's' spoken word poetry recited by friend Andrei Dubinin. "Airolg" sounds like, well, Van Morrison's "Gloria" (once famously covered by The Doors) and "Tien Beach" features sublime tremoloed slide guitar, sounding like riding off into a sunset. Sehr Interessant!

Review: Ukranian house mystic Mikhaylo Vityk returns with a suitably epic new Vakula LP, A Voyage To Arcturus, issued through his own Leleka label. Those with a more considered grasp of literary matters will no doubt recognise that Vityk has taken titular inspiration from A Voyage To Arcturus, the 1920 novel penned by Scottish writer David Lindsay with each of the sixteen tracks also named after chapters from the book too. By his own admission, this is more of an imaginary soundtrack than outright album, and as a result there is little here one could call deep house. Spending some time with it does however confirm what a singular talent the Ukrainian is!

Review: Vakula resurfaces on his own Bandura imprint for a third helping of uniquely cosmic house which will please fans of the prolific Ukrainian no end. Lead track "Thinking Out Loud" rolls deep on tripped out rhythms and micro drum edits, whilst "Identification" is another one of those Vakula productions that builds around mind bending vocal samples and odd barely there rhythms. The B side offers too straighter productions - for Vakula at least - with "The Lunar Konotop" a sumptuous ride through the outer cosmos and "Life Internal Sounds" twisted analogue house of the kind you would find on a Mathematics release.

Review: With Vakula's long awaited debut album proper finally surfacing from Firecracker HQ this summer, the Ukrainian deep house mystic has taken something of a break from his usually prolific release schedule in order for fans to fully indulge in the sumptuous 16 track set. Sensing enough time has passed, Vak issues a fifth 12" on his highly prized Leleka and the first this year. Much like previous Leleka transmissions, the attention to detail on presentation is matched by the richness of production, with the latter aspect apparent from the off with detailed live percussion that drives "Excitement" forth. Both "Dream Drum" and "Smiling Moon Dog" is Vak in more psychedelic mood whilst he saves the best to last with the blooming analogue beat down of "Night Walks".

Review: First announced over 15 months ago, Firecracker finally come through with You've Never Been To Konotop (Selected Works 2009-2012) a rather finely presented collection of tracks from the self styled 'Slavic Spiritual Warrior" Vakula. The main recording alias of Ukrainian Mikhaylo Vityk, Vakula first emerged in 2009 with a succession of singular deep house explorations for respected hubs such as Dekmantel, Ethereal Sounds, 3rd Strike and Firecracker offshoot Shevchenko an as the extended title suggests this twelve track LP focuses on unreleased material from this same period. Musically, the tone mirrors Vityk's material for Shevchenko, taking the mainframe of house and melding it with elements of "Ukrainian folk melodies, esoteric cryptic rhythm patterns, field recordings, interludes and overgrown organic effects hidden beneath acres of cosmic murk." Let's take a moment to appreciate the rather unique double gatefold sleeve with hand-drawn, silk screened artwork too.

Review: Ahead of a long delayed and keenly awaited new long player for the Firecracker label, Vakula returns to the Banduru imprint that he inaugurated in anonymous fashion for more of his well measured descents into East European house mysticism. Much like everything the Ukrainian touches, the devil is in the details and this four track 12" is notable for the prominent lo-fi fuzz that coats the execution. This murky approach is apparent from the start of lead track "D The Man" with the familiar warm textures blurred by the thick fuzz that occupies the edges of the production which ends on a wonderful piano solo. Complementing this, "Evening Breeze" pairs rasping deep house in the mould of vintage Mahogani with this gauzy approach, whilst "Fifth Experiment" probably gave the mastering engineer heart palpitations.

Review: Firecracker offshoot Shevchenko has put out some of the finest house records of the last two years thanks to the inspiring work of Vakula. This time, however, the A Side - "No Music" - favours a more techno-leaning approach than usual. Swarms of industrial scratches are engulfed into a psychedelic arrangement packed with enough crunches to make your jaw wobble! On the flip, the aptly named "Vermona" pays a clear homage to the power of analogue beat arrangement and we're back into more familiar territories as smooth chords and effect-driven rhythms glide over the track. "Hand Made Beat" sees Vakula excel his capabilities and creates an intricate network of sloppy beats and ghostly melodies which grow and then dissolve with ease. A great addition to an already scintillating catalogue. Tip!

Review: When one of our favourite labels (read here: Dekmantel) calls on one of our favourite producers (read here: Vakula), it really does put us in a good mood. The on-fire Ukrainian opens proceedings his debut for the boutique Amsterdam based label with "Picture Of You", which unfurls majestically from a warm deep house joint with aquatic melodies and cosy pads to a certified end of night anthem - just wait for those stuttering keys to come in towards the end! "Acid Release" serves as the perfect foil to the grandiose opener, doing exactly what it says on the tin with a dusty bump ridden throughout. Flip over for the vaguely (but accurately) titled "Music", which features a killer female vocal turn that sounds like it was recorded at the bottom of a well. "Smooth Sketch" features some off kilter Theo style mindf*ck weirdness while "Johnny" picks up where "Music" left off with that memorable vocal, this time adding some lovely jazzy keys and superbly crafted chords to the sonic equation.

Review: Vakula, perhaps Juno's favourite Ukrainian export since Mila Kunis, returns to 3rd Strike Records and together they deliver perhaps their finest work to date. Everyone seems to have pulled out all the stops on Saturday with 3rd Strike enlisting the Nthcreative design agency to produce some striking sleeve art and Vakula excelling musically. Whilst his work to date for Firecracker, Ethereal Sound and Quintessentials has been filled with pedigree, there's a sheen of specialness that cloaks the four productions here which grabs you as soon as the introspective strings that punctuate the sumptuous deep bump of "Touch" grace your senses. Complementing this is the slinky freeform beatdown bliss of "Gospel Keyboards" which is naturally big on the melodic flourishes. On the flip "Crossing" eeks out a glacial throb, all rusted jacking rhythms and frosted basslines, before taking a swift left turn into a delightful pattern of ivory swirls. The final arrival of fuzzed out acid melodies demonstrate how versatile a producer Vakula is. Proceedings end on the title track, another excursion into ethereal beatdown filled with jazzed melodic touches which kind of sounds like Anton Zap remixing the Cheers theme tune (definitely a good thing).

Review: Indulging his more restrained, darewesay mellow side, Vakula is back at Leleka with Dusty Baron in tow for a healthy spread of soul-drenched house cuts heavy on the real-deal funk ingredients and low on the electronics across two mighty slabs of vinyl. Dusty Baron's "Accidental Shot" is particularly ear-snagging with the gorgeous filtered live bass flexing and jazzed out keys, while its counterpart "Follow Shot" cools things right down with a blissful flute and piano arrangement built for the most luxuriant lounge you could imagine. "Follow Shot" gets some choice slow-house remixes on the second platter, but let's not forget Vakula's own sublime jams dealing in high-grade deep house at the start of the package.

Review: Eternally on-point SpeedofSound delve into 2017 in slo-mo soul style as Ukraine producer Vakula and longstanding Japanese maestro Kez YM whip up four restrained, deep drift grooves. Vakula takes the lion's share with three superlative twists: "Track One" rocks with a dusty jazzy groove and warehouses of space between the elements, "Track Two" morphs and melts a simple-but-devilish filtered disco loop while "Track Three" strips back the layers to reveal a wheezing bluesy whisper over lolloping trippy drums. Kez YM's "Drain Away" brings the EP together. Chunkier in the drum department and arranged with a unique counter melody in the percussion, it's pure hypnosis.

Review: Japan's Sound Of Speed has been around since 2000. Starting with an LP by a little someone called Jimpster, the label has progressed slowly, preferring to release music of a high calibre instead of constant singles and digital downloads. This time, we're treated to our favourite Ukrainian, Vakula, and Kuniyuki, a Japanese deep house producer who has been closely affiliated to his native Mule Musiq since 2005. Kuniyuki kicks things off with his version of "Session North #1", a triumphant parade of growling basslines, beautifully intricate melodies and cleverly arranged percussion - a real peach! Vakula steps up with his say on "Passage To The Moon", creating what is basically a neo-jazz piece masqueraded as a deep house track - long, winding strings mixing so effortlessly with crisp drum machines and gentle synth pads. For side B, the pair exchange remix duties, with Vakula injecting his familiar jazz-filtered style on "Session North #1" and Kuniyuki created an unusually desolate patchwork for "Passage To The Moon", one has you lost within its mutating arrangement right form the first kick. Magnificent house excursions.