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Victor Morozov is a Ukrainian singer/songwriter who has
participated in many of the major cultural happenings
that have recently transpired in Ukraine, and this
summer marks the appearance of his latest release, Treba
Vstaty i Vyity. Although he has worked in several
different styles of music, Morozov is primarily a
bard-he interprets poems, writes songs around them, and
then performs them. His sung-poetry has been a major
influence on the rock bands in Ukraine today, such as
Plach Yeremiyi and Mertvyi Piven, and he continues to
act as a 'godfather' for these Lviv bands.
A significant presence in the Ukrainian music scene for
over twenty years, Morozov is perhaps best known in
North America for his work in the Ne Zhurys! cabaret
ensemble and for his album Chetvertyi Kut, recorded with
the Fourth Corner musical trio. Morozov's latest Treba
Vstaty I Vyity (Stand Up and Leave) is listed as an
album by both Viktor Morozov and Chetvertyi Kut. It
retains acoustic guitarist Oleh Yarema and adds bassist
Oleh 'John' Suk, and Andrij Piatakov on drums and
percussion. This rhythm section, on loan from Mertvyi
Piven, is one of Ukraine's best. Morozov handles all the
vocal duties and also plays acoustic guitar.
In what is an extended example of the art of
sung-poetry, Treba is a collection of ten songs written
by Kost Moskalets. In addition to being one of the best
poets in Ukraine today, Moskalets is also a musician,
having composed and performed many songs during his
tenure in Ne Zhurys!. His song, 'Vona,' was first
covered by Morozov on Chetvertyi Kut and then by Plach
Yeremiyi on their second album (the latter's recording
became a huge hit in Ukraine in the late 1990s). All the
music and texts on Treba were written by Moskalets;
Morozov and Yarema did the musical arrangements.
The album's songs alternate between acoustic, two-guitar
ballads, and Latin-tinged numbers. They are united by
Moskalets's poems, which are somber reflections on a
damaged world, interlaced with sporadic glimmers of
hope. The album's title track opens with an anthem-like
call to arms. The second song, 'Stare Kino,' (The Old
Movie House) begins with chords that recall Aerosmith's
'Dream On,' but instead of Steven Tyler's annoying wail,
Yarema's guitar emerges to introduce Morozov's chilling
delivery of a tale of fleeting happiness. Then the band
switches gears and offers 'Alina,' the album's catchy
pop tune. Among the CD's other highlights are 'Kolyshnii
Idol' (Former Idol, in which Suk and Piatakov emerge
from the uncharacteristic restraint they demonstrate on
the album) and 'Svitlyi Nektar,' (Brilliant Nectar) a
farewell letter to Lviv. 'Ostannia Zyma' (The Last
Winter) closes the album by cracking open a window of
optimism. A raspy, Tom Waits-style delivery and a great
slide-guitar break make this the album's best song.
Victor Morozov's mastery in singing poetry is unlike
that of other musicians in this genrehe respects the
text and presents it on an even level with the music.
His ability to change his voice, sometimes within a
song, injects the tunes with a dynamic quality, which
keeps them from monotonously running into one another.
Treba is an excellent album created by a veteran of the
Ukrainian music scene. Carefully crafted, it is a long
overdue gift to music fans from one of Ukraine's most
professional and talented artists.
reviewed by Mark Andryczyk
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