LITTLE VICTORIES

Krobak's "Little Victories" album is the second studio release for this Post Rock band from Ukraine, following their album "The Diary of the Missed One" in 2008. The album is totally instrumental, encompassing atmospheric passages of emotional music consisting of violin played by Marko, bass by Asya, guitars by Igor and drums by Natasha. The musicscape generated has hints of Godspeed You! Black Emperor in the way that it builds gradually and patiently with repeated musical patterns, glazed over with some sweet slices of violin. It is the violin that tends to stand out often, played with finesse throughout. The medleys range from melancholy and dreamy to ferocious distorted guitar blasts. The music virtually pounds like a heartbeat and then softens to a lull in the quiet serenity of acoustic vibrations.

Each track is augmented by its own unique sound, very different than most instrumental albums I have heard lately. The music is housed in an attractive package with striking artwork by Kuba Sokolski depicting a deep sea fish, pencil drawn in an ancient Oriental style with simplistic lines and two tones. The artwork mirrors the music that is equally simplistic and to the point. When heaviness is required it is presented in the raucous distorted guitars, and when peace is needed, it is stripped back, brought forth in lush passages of violin and acoustics. Listen to 'And there by the River I lost my Glasses' and 'Amnesia' for some great examples of this band's style. "Little Victories" is an album that should appeal to those who enjoy the Post Rock style that has emanated from the likes of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, without the brooding darkness that usually accompanies such music.