Grassroots’ is by no means a political statement. It is true that this project has emerged from and was widely influenced by recent political and social events in Ukraine that resulted in many people being wounded and killed. However, its only aim is to provide support and help to families affected by those events – hence ‘music-driven charity project’ would be the most suitable description for it.
The compilation comprises of two CDs: representing Ukrainian artists and international guests who have performed in Ukraine over the course of their careers, respectively. Both parts are arranged specifically to create a proper musical flow that ranges from intro-like ambient interludes to more of a dancefloor friendly sounds and back to downtempo/experimental beginnings. It goes without saying that the content of the compilation is rather diverse, since each CD offers music from artists representing different scenes and backgrounds.
The first CD kicks off with ambient tinged ‘Alta’ by Klockworks affiliated artist Etapp Kyle and then goes on in a similar vein through Woo York’s abstract rhythms and Subforms’ dub techno chords. The infamous Vakula provides a bridge between the first part of the CD and its four-to-the-floor course by his sample-fuelled ‘Little Improvisation’. The mission is picked up by SE62 and his MLIU-flavored house tune and Stanislav Tolkachev’s signature trippy techno. Sunchase’s bass explorations and Kotra’s avant-garde experiments then give a proper ending to the Ukrainian part of the project.
Semantica’s head honcho Svreca starts the second CD with arguably his most experimental work to date. UK techno hero Perc goes even beyond that sampling the recording of Ukrainian anthem from Maidan and incorporating it into his epic track called ‘Eternal’. Dustin Zahn of Enemy Records and Drumcode then gives back dancefloor feel to the project and hands it over to Polish master Jacek Sienkiewicz and former Panorama Bar resident Murat Tepeli who do their best in shaking things up. The CD continues with ASC’s industrial-influenced ‘Falling apart’ that represents the project’s edgiest peak and ends up with a beautifully crafted ambient piece by Benny Rodrigues’s new project Tears From Malmok.
All profits from the ‘Grassroots’ project will be transferred to
Maidan Family fund and re-distributed between short-term support initiatives targeted at families of Maidan victims, medical treatment and rehabilitation of physically challenged individuals, and long-term aid for under-aged children who lost their parents in the events otherwise known as Maidan 2013/2014.
Take a first listen and share the track clips via soundcloud
