Carl Johnson/YCПЕХ! - Split

Labels: Polar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 11 Dec 2017

Tracklist:

1. Carl Johnson - Unworthy Of The Name

2. Carl Johnson - Ice Cold Killa

3. Carl Johnson - Inversion Therapy

4. YCПЕХ! - Эптеп-септеп

5. YCПЕХ! - Эзет-эзет

6. YCПЕХ! - Чай-пай

As a record/cd/tape collector, there are lots of releases that I know I'll probably never come across. A good number of those have come from Polar Summer. They're out there but would be difficult to obtain even if I could. I'll make do with continuing to write about them instead, as I pick up where I left off in my Polar Summer review series.

This split between Russia's Carl Johnson and YCПЕХ! from Kyrgyzstan was released in December 2017 and was limited to 20 tape copies in total. I've covered both bands in previous reviews, so don't have anything extra to add at this point other than that if you like emoviolence from the Eastern block, you're in the right place.

A nice split release is just what I needed, given that I’ve spent most of today wishing it was Friday. I shouldn’t wish too hard though. Opening this split up, Carl Johnson’s ‘Unworthy Of The Name’ wastes no time in awakening the senses. It’s an intro that sees explosive screamo bookended by ringing feedback. ‘Ice Cold Killa’, excusing the gangsta vibes of the title, is an epic approach to emoviolence. It’s part crust, part skramz but with a lot of melody and some punk rock for good measure. The instrumentation is top notch while the vocals are as intense as intense can be. 

Ending their portion of the split with ‘Inversion Therapy’, Carl Johnson bleed one song into the other, leaving you with their most chaotic number (for the first half at least). The latter half is a lot gentler on the ear. This release came before their split with Mrtex, but after their first and only full-length, which I don’t think ever had a physical release. The second half of the split belongs to YCПЕХ! and on their opener ‘Эптеп-септеп’, you get a sound that’s more DIY and raw, yet also more melodic. Less emoviolence, more emo with screaming. The guitars are much higher up in the mix for sure. 

‘Эзет-эзет’ is heavier in tone while still maintaining the live recording, which is where that rawness comes from. I personally really enjoy the different approaches of both Carl Johnson and YCПЕХ! on this split. ‘Чай-пай’ builds with background chatter and gentle guitar. You expect it to explode into life but it leaves you hanging. It’s a glorious way for the split to end, as it ends up being the most emotive song here (in my opinion). YCПЕХ! have amassed six releases to date (I don’t know if they’re still active).

This is one of those releases that really chokes me up, without sounding dramatic. Both bands really cared when they recorded these songs, which shines through. I could sit here wallowing in the fact that I’ll probably never hold a physical tape copy, but it’s not about me. It’s about preserving and sharing great music.

You can stream and purchase the split digitally below:-

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com

YСПЕХ! – Кечир Мени

Labels: Polar Summer Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 10 Oct 2017

Tracklist:

1. Жалбырактар

2. Сызык

3. Сүйүнчү

4. Байчечекей

5. Чайна

6. Cuento de amor de locura y de muerte

7. Акыркы Чыгарма

This is my first jump back into the Polar Summer Records back catalogue since late last year. I couldn't believe it, but then again time is absolutely flying! This isn't the first time that I've written about the lo-fi/raw screamo/emoviolence played by Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan's YСПЕХ!, and it won't be the last.

It was released in October 2017 on a run of just 20 tapes via Polar Summer (and yes, if by some wild miracle, somebody own's a copy they'd be willing to part with please let me know!). I'm on an Eastern European/Central Asian kick right now, there's just something about the intensity of the bands from the region that's got me hooked.

There’s a whole world of undiscovered/under-represented bands from the Eastern block and Central Asia. Granted, there are some shady ones too, but I won’t waste time bringing them to you. Kyrgyzstan’s YСПЕХ! are gracing the blog for the second time tonight, as I focus on their only full-length Кечир Мени. Featuring seven songs and starting with ‘Жалбырактар’, you can totally see and hear why their music is described as lo-fi. It’s a chaotic blend of emoviolence and subtle melody, that’s pierced by crashing cymbals and furious screams. 

The live sound that’s been achieved here is what it’s all about for me. ‘Сызык’ even contains so excellent bluesy/jazz-like instrumentation that’s really stripped down and interesting. I wasn’t expecting it, but it works so well. We need more skramz jazz. At this point, as if it wasn’t obvious already, I must say that no translation is taking place here. I don’t understand Kyrgyz or indeed Russian, which is also prominently spoken in the country.

‘Сүйүнчү’ has a weird country vibe going on throughout its very short playing time and if it wasn’t for the occasional scream, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was an interlude. It isn’t though and it leads into ‘Байчечекей’, where YСПЕХ! use dual vocals to open proceedings. If you’re a fan of The Body, you’ll appreciate this song for its gentle abrasiveness (if that’s a thing!).

‘Чайна’ wastes no time reaching top gear, as YСПЕХ! show their live intensity once again. The song’s mid-section is graced by some beautiful introspection before yet another short blast of emoviolence. One thing I definitely didn’t expect on this album was a song title in Spanish. I don’t know the reason behind it but that doesn’t matter. ‘Cuento de amor de locura y de muerte’ has a more pensive musical approach and uses subtle noise during its first half, before more abrasive screamo takes over, accompanied by Spanish spoken-word. 

With no time to take stock of what’s going on, album closer ‘Акыркы Чыгарма’ takes over. It’s a sprawling epic track that just exemplifies the honest, raw approach that YСПЕХ! take with their music. The slightly repetitive nature of the instrumentation is actually refreshing and hopefully, you’ll understand what I mean by that. I’m always in awe of just how creative bands can be, wherever they’re from in the world. 

Music in its purest form is bigger than any individual, which is kind of obvious I guess. It’s important to give time and space to bands like YСПЕХ! as they have shaped (and continue to shape) music as we know it in regions where sometimes freedom of speech, and expression can be frowned upon. You can’t help but be moved by it.

As I eluded to above, Polar Summer are long sold out of their limited tape copies. You can stream and purchase the album digital from YСПЕХ! below:-

YСПЕХ! Instagram - @yspeh.band

Polar Summer Records - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com

YCПЕХ! - Уят

Labels: Polar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 11 Mar 2016

Tracklist:

1. 29 Грамм

2. Le Coffret

3. Сары Челектеги Бир Кичинекей Окуя

Earlier this week I tried to explain to somebody why I like heavy music. During that chat, we got onto the subject of listening habits and playing the same songs over and over. I said that my listening habits were a bit like having ADHD in that I'm always looking for different bands, lesser known and weirder bands. Never being content with those I already know (to an extent). When I was having that conversation, I didn't think I'd be writing about a lo-fi and experimental emoviolence band from Kyrgyzstan but there you go.

I'm on a bit of a deep dive at the moment, which includes Russian label Polar Summer and bands from Eastern Europe/Asia. Having written about Russia's More Future Suffering a few weeks ago, it's time to delve deeper again and discover what YCПЕХ! (or yspeh) are all about to this newcomer.

Apparently this entire EP was recorded using the dictaphone on an iPhone 5, which is probably a first for me. It does; however, make sense with the off-kilter, lo-fi screamo of EP opener ’29 Грамм’. It’s thirty-seconds of harsh vocals and erratic yet melodic guitar, backed up by rustic percussion (no doubt thanks to the phone’s recording capabilities at the time). 

‘Le Coffret’ sounds somewhat fuller initially thanks to the plucked guitar. I don’t know if it was professionally recorded but that’s how it comes across, before the rest of the band comes in with more rawness. I love the opposing atmospheres between the more relaxed guitar passages and the explosive bursts in between. There’s a real structure to the song, which is something I didn’t think I’d be saying.

‘Сары Челектеги Бир Кичинекей Окуя’ closes this single-sided EP in quite dramatic style with it’s lengthy instrumental build-up before exploding with freakishly high-pitched screams that sit deeper in the recording but still manage to extrude as well. Musically and in general, YCПЕХ! are excellent on this release. 

They have released plenty of music since this EP surfaced in 2016 and I’m still to discover it all properly. The tantalising prospect of releases with greater volume and production values build anticipation for sure, but this EP is a great listen as it is. 

You can stream and download the EP via bandcamp below:-

Tape copies from Polar Summer are long sold out.

YCПЕХ! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yspeh.band

Polar Summer Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/polarxsummer/