Kvitnu is a standout Ukranian label run by Dmytro Fedorenko (Kotra) which started at the end of 2006 with the main purpose of spreading the electronic experimental output from the Ukraine through the support of emerging names in that scene, as well as by developing regular live events, festivals and other kinds of public presentations in the Ukraine.
Usually their physical releases consist of exquisitely crafted cardboard packages designed by Zavoloka, one of Kvitnu’s more relevant artists, which makes each edition a very special and precious piece for collectors. We chose to review three new EP’s from Kvitnu.
Zavoloka “Svitlo”
Digital download, Kvitnu, 2011
www.zavoloka.com
Starting with “Svitlo”, a new and long awaited three-track EP from Zavoloka, the outstanding, prominent female artist from Kvitnu and probably the most well known electronic artist from Ukraine, the EP is a comeback since her last released album, back in 2007. It’s not easy to describe the tracks on this release, but I can warn you that you can expect a lot of experimentation in a luminous manner (‘svitlo’ means ‘light’ in Ukrainian), filled with a lot of bell sounds along with sparkling, eerie pads which lead you on a journey through an icy land. [7.5/10]
Plaster “Zyprex 500”
Digital download, Kvitnu, 2011
www.plastersound.com
Our trip through recent releases from Kvitnu continues with “Zyprex 500”, by the Italian duo Plaster, a six-track release that surprised me mostly with the maturity of the compositions and the intricate beauty of landscapes evoked by effective electronics accompanied by saxophone and flute melodies, turning this record into a captivating and exceptionally beautiful conceptual work. [9/10]
Sturqen “Colera”
Digital download, Kvitnu, 2011
www.sturqen.com
Our last stop on this tour is “Colera”, from the Portuguese act Sturqen, consisting of César Rodrigues and David Arantes. “Colera” means wrath and it is certainly not an easy listening adventure. In fact, this record gives sense to his name and is a 27-minute exercise of anarchic noise experimentation. The release notes describe properly what you can find in this record: a new anarchist exploration of sound, an uncontrollable desire to lose control, a group of machines sweating. I must confess, the overly anarchic experimental noise is not my cup of tea; I see this kind of experimentation more as a test tube for more structured subsequent compositions. Nevertheless some feeling and direction and an underlying concept behind all these layers of noise can be recognized. For sure the fans of this genre will be amused. [7/10]
— Nelson B.