DYATLY

Veni, Vidi, Vici - freely adapted from Julius Caesar OLE LUKKOYE come, see and conquer throughout. Their compilation 'Petroglyphs', released on Trail Records in the same way, already had 'packed a punch' five years ago due to a proper retrospective overview about their stylistical development and variety. Now in 2015 they are back with an album consisting of new recordings. Boris Bardash and Frol are companions since the beginning, during recent years percussionist Yuri Lukyanchik should also be counted to the band's core. Furthermore they are collaborating with a bunch of other musicians, live as well as when it comes to studio efforts.

Vocals with transcendental respectively shamanic expression always play an important role for the band, this so much the more here on 'Dyatly', presented by Ness Yanushkovskaya and Boris. Four tracks are really extended ones, solely the song, whose title I mentioned at the very start, steps out of line. OLE LUKKOYE offer fine tribal percussion driven excursions, mirroring a blend of ethno, kraut and psych elements. I will not exclude that the album might be a matter of a controversial discussion. For one or two this may be a tad too monotonic over the course ... but those who already have got a disposition for such a musical approach, and/or are willing to invest enough time, will be totally captured sooner or later, that's for sure!

OLE LUKKOYE are stepping up with the initial idea to stay as close as possible to the original live sound based on intuitive spontaneity. Only some percussion and vocals are overdubbed. Well, the percussion ... although it all starts a little bit creepy due to the appearance of a howling wolf ... Kommuna Ra immediately evolves into a superb direction. They are evoking a mesmerizing trance atmosphere which is coupled with a belly dance Middle East flair due to djembe and darabouka. This might not be that spectacular as such, but augmented by a well put bass line and Ness' improvised vocals the band's uniqueness establishes more and more.

In between Frol appears with an animal-like expression of his bassoon and gradually synths as well as the echoing space guitar are attaining more impact. Wow ... this song serves a really captivating while hypnotic flow at the best possible rate. As stylistically most divergent let me also mention the song Bela Dama which shows some leanings to triphop, just closer to a Ozric Tentacles alike manner. 'Dyatly' offers more than sixty inspired minutes of trippy music. The crystal clear sound is striking. I find this a successful blend of vintage ethno atmosphere and modern technical approach. If you're looking for a new challenge you shouldn't miss that.

Russian ensemble OLE LUKKOYE has been a feature in the Russian music scene fro more than a quarter of a century at this point, initially formed by Boris Bardash, Alexander "Frol" Frolov and Andrei Lawrinenko back in 1989 and then going through a few line-up alterations as the years and decades have come and gone. They have around a dozen albums to their name at this point, live productions and compilations included, although many years have passed since they released any new music at this point. "Dyatly" ("Woodpeckers") is their first studio album since 2006, and was released by the US label Trail Records in 2015.

Ole Lukkoye's particular blend of folk music-inspired elements, space rock aesthetics, effects and electronic and bass details that at times is somewhat closer related to modern dance music and trance makes for an intriguing blend. Their elongated journeys are hypnotic and compelling, and the use of vocals and chants also adds a mystical sheen to them that makes these escapades all the more alluring, at least for someone born and raised within a western culture. Fans of a band like Ozric Tentacles should be first in line to give this album a spin, and then especially those more fond of the folk-tinged exploits by that band.