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
