V/A "Even the Forest Hums: Ukrainian Sonic Archives 1971-1996" 2xLP

Clear Sky Blue and Sunflower Yellow vinyl. 

The first comprehensive collection of its kind, Even the Forest Hums: Ukrainian Sonic Archives 1971-1996 explores the flourishing Ukrainian music scene of the late 20th century—much of which was recorded under strict Soviet control.

Historical liner notes by Kyiv-based writer and filmmaker Vitalii “Bard” Bardetskyi.

Even the Forest Hums: Ukrainian Sonic Archives 1971-1996—the first comprehensive collection of Ukrainian music recorded prior to, and immediately following, the USSR’s collapse. From subtly dissenting Soviet-era singles to DIY recordings from Kyiv’s vibrant underground scene, the compilation chronicles the development of Ukraine’s rich musical landscape through rare folk, rock, jazz, and electronic recordings.

“This record is a labor of love and a long time coming,” says label owner Matt Sullivan. Over the course of the last five years, Sullivan, alongside producers David Mas ("DBGO”), Mark “Frosty” McNeill, and Ukrainian label Shukai Records worked tirelessly to compile a carefully curated, chronological playlist. But behind the scenes, ongoing war & politics would shape the evolution of the tracklist, which originally featured both Ukrainian and Russian artists. “We found ourselves in the midst of a larger political issue; what began as a broader overview of a sonically underrepresented region suddenly became quite the controversial project,” Sullivan continues, “so we decided to pivot and focus only on Ukrainian music. There were times when it felt impossible to bring this project to fruition, so to be sharing it with the world today is truly humbling and long overdue.”