private release
Ubyk : Matryoshka EP (US/RU,2008)****
Ubuyk is a duo project by Russian born singer-songwriter Roman Bleum together with Samantha Tobey. With just voice(s) (often in duet) and with two acoustic guitars mostly they create a successful, rather reflective (UK-folk friendly) acid-folkish mood in their songs, which dreams of a better world while they are already completely successful in providing in their songs. While “Work” is the sad story of everybody’s life dominated by work, with sound images reflecting this like the elements coming in of of a fast rhythmic breath or a telephone ringing, the whole activity is transformed as if their dream is already made true. “Just fine” makes the real reality even sadder, wishing that people and life was at least just fine, which mostly isn’t. Most of the tracks have beautiful female vocal arrangements weaving an even more expressive world into the songs. Warmly recommended.
