Yuri Andrukhovych, Mertvyj Piven'. Made in YuA.

Virtually each time when "Mertvy Piven" releases a new album it seems that this one is definitely the best. And it is not even about that in the course of maturing any group seems to play more professionally – here everything is relative, and technical mastery is not yet a guarantee of quality. But "Mertvy Piven" constantly changes, tries to create something new – and does create it. "Made in YuA" is not just a dedication to UA, although it is here that Yury Andruhovych acted not only as the author of the lyrics, but also as a full-fledged participating performer. (In contrast to "Criminal Sonnets", where he only read his poems, on this album Andruhovych took an active part in songs performance – and he even performed one of the songs himself. There is another sparkle performed by him – but you will hear that yourself already). "Made in YuA" is poignant texts with the genetic spirals of subtexts, delicate – excuse my tautology – rock melodiousness with burlesque and grotesques masks, with the already branded atmosphere of transparent dusk. As though a crystal – hard and cool outside, but live and changeable inside. The magic crystal charming both with its form and the content.

Well, and another remark: it seems that out of the whole Ukrainian "old school" underground it is this group – one of, unfortunately, few ones, who burns indeed, not just glimmers. As well as a dozen years ago, "Mertvy Piven" is a real, powerful battle unit able to inspire much brighter and contradictory emotions than nostalgia. Thank you)

Anton Jozhik Leyba (Hedgehog)