leleka

2018 Top 3 – Readers List

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This is a short recap of what our readers enjoyed most on Hipodrome, a top 3 of the most appreciated albums, compilations, mixes and other stuff.

Albums

Vakula – Metaphors [Leleka]

The most appreciated album by our readers is ‘Metaphors’, the album from the Ukrainian master Vakula. ‘Metaphors’ is slightly different from some of his full-length excursions, focused as it is on the gently unfurling, head-in-the-clouds world of ambient music. Of course, much of the music is still gently rhythmic but the vibe remains thoroughly horizontal throughout.

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2018 Top 3 – Readers List

Vakula – Metaphors [LELEKA009]

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Immersive listening music from Vakula, created in the hidden depths of the Ukraine. ‘Metaphors’ is slightly different from some of his (admittedly eclectic) full-length excursions, focused as it is on the gently unfurling, head-in-the-clouds world of ambient music. Of course, much of the music is still gently rhythmic – check for example, the pulsating arpeggio lines and tumbling kalimba melodies of the strangely foreboding “Proem”, or the spaced-out, keyboard demo rhumba rhythms underpinning languid opener “Smooth Movement” – but the vibe remains thoroughly horizontal throughout. While the standard is high throughout, we’re particularly enjoying the two versions of “Tale of Eternal Thought”, with the weightless bliss of the “Different Version” standing out.

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Vakula – Metaphors [LELEKA009]

Dusty Baron – A Little Comedy, A Little Drama [LELEKA008]

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The album ‘A Little Comedy, A Little Drama’ by Dusty Baron is the result of collaboration of Moldavian fellows Eugen Kara, Ivan Slivka and Dima Scripnic. Inspired by French and Italian psychedelic electronic music of 60s and 70s, cartoons and the comedian genre of absurd, the trio tried to incarnate their vision of the Space into a LP comprising 13 tracks. Vintage synthesiser lines and classic drum machines create a hugely entertaining blend intoxicated with universal love. Now and then you trace the combinations of techno rhythms rushing into the futuristic vertical, and sometimes the sound transforms into a blend of absolute and exotically influenced reverie.

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Dusty Baron – A Little Comedy, A Little Drama [LELEKA008]

Vakula – Dedicated To Jim Morrison [LELEKA007]

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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. This album is Vakula’s thoughts in time and out of season dedicated to Morrison, the poet, the musician, the soft mad child, the great man. ‘Enter again the sweet forest, enter the hot dream, come with us. Everything is broken up and dances’.

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Vakula – Dedicated To Jim Morrison [LELEKA007]

Vakula & Dusty Baron – Leleka 4 [LELEKA004]

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disc

Dusty Baron aka Latecomer may be a recent arrival on the scene, but he plays like a true veteran. A mysterious export from the around same eastern latitudes as label boss Vakula, their music sounds just as rooted in the post Soviet Russian landscape as it is in the post industrial North America which gave rise to all the soul and machine funk that is the driving inspiration for so many of today’s roots conscious electronic artists. Vakula takes the controls on Side A with dubwise and exotic production skills whilst Side B showcases The Baron’s heavy heavy chops, with drum programming as deft as his keys work, and a sound which is equal parts earthly and heavenly. Sides C & D (on bonus 7”) see V step up to offer two takes on Follow Shot, continuing the theme of techno tinged jazz cosmism.

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Vakula & Dusty Baron – Leleka 4 [LELEKA004]

Ashes To Machines – Resistance EP [LELEKA003]

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In his continuing quest to explore ever broader and more ambitious musical territories than those records from his existing, already expansive, yet still relatively young back catalogue have done, Konotop’s spiritual warrior Vakula brings us the latest installment of Leleka. This time, it is with the aid of the pan global operation known as Ashes To Machines aka Lionel Corsini (DJ Oil) & Jeff Sharel. Remixes propel the organic sounding originals further towards the future, with Vakula, Ji Dru & Sandra Nkake and Juju & Jordash all adding their own unique interpretations, while equally showing the depth of understanding they all have for more esoteric musical forms.

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Ashes To Machines – Resistance EP [LELEKA003]