Svjata Vatra

Blogfoolk – Svjata Vatra “Svitlyi schljah” review by Ciro De Rosa 2013
Non è musicista di primo pelo il trombonista Ruslan Trochynskyi, dall’Ucraina all’Estonia, dagli Haydamaky agli Svjata Vatra; oggi è il vocalist e frontman di una band che furoreggia nella scena folk revivalista del paese baltico.Il nome Svjata Vatra, che in ucraino vuol dire Fuoco Sacro, calza a pennello a questo quartetto nu folk ad alto tasso rock e punk, che può ricordare esperienze affini in terra polacca. Compagni d’avventura di Ruslan (voce, trombone, falce) sono Kulno Malva (fisarmonica, voce, cornamusa estone), Juhan Suits (cornamusa estone, scacciapensieri, corno di legno, whistle, voce) e Martin Aulis (batteria e percussioni). “Svitlyi Schljah” (in ucraino significa più o meno “un cammino più luminoso”) è la quarta uscita discografica di una formazione che veste anche panni multimediali, visto che in passato si è “imbarcata”, nel vero senso della parola, in un progetto musical-teatrale su di una nave che ha veleggiato nelle acque del Baltico, toccando tutti i paesi rivieraschi; un altro progetto li ha visti protagonisti di un documentario su un viaggio musicale nei Carpazi. Il significato della raccolta “Svitlyi schljah” è così spiegato da Ruslan: “L’album inizia con lo spirito della primavera, cui seguono le feste dell’estate, poi le tradizioni invernali augurali di salute e fertilità”. Dai canti di gioco infantili ucraini alle danze, dai canti augurali alle scorribande balcaniche, bordoni e fiati, peso ritmico rock e funk, Qua e là uno scacciapensieri si impone a sorreggere come fosse un basso o a incunearsi nelle melodie. Il disco si apre con “Zajchyk”, un canto infantile che descrive la preparazione del pane, elemento base della cucina dei popoli: parte con un attacco di torupill, poi su un serrato gioco ritmico agiscono fisarmonica, flauto e trombone. La successiva “Jaanike, poisikene” è una canzone associata al solstizio d’estate in salsa funk. Siamo nella festa più importante per gli estoni, con l’accensione dei falò, ai quali è importante partecipare se si vuol assorbire buone energie per essere felici l’anno successivo”, mi spiega ancora Ruslan. Cadenze balcaniche per il tradizionale ucraino “Mak”, un canto infantile che parla del papavero, simbolo di fertilità, ma molto usato nella cucina e nella farmacopea tradizionale popolare. Ancora un’usanza popolare è il tema del canto tradizionale ucraino “Oi u poli dva dubky” (Due querce nel campo): un ragazzo offre alla ragazza dei frutti di bosco, che rappresentano una proposta di matrimonio: se la ragazza li accetta e li mangia, la proposta è accettata e il matrimonio si celebrerà. Seguono due canzoni cosacche: il folk-rock di “Kozak guljae” – pubblicato anche in singolo per le radio – dove corno, scacciapensieri, fisarmonica e whistle fanno squadra, dando vita ad un sound compatto ed affascinante, che lascia trapelare qualche rivolo celtico, e “Jak by Meni syvy kin” che si si muove a ritmo di rock-ska-unza unza, tra assoli di cornamusa, che si infila tra fiati e base ritmica. Voci, tamburi e bordoni nll’attacco di “Оi syvaia ta i Zozulechka” (Il cucù grigio), un’altra canzone tradizionale ucraina eseguita nel periodo natalizio, in cui il canto rituale si appoggia alla melodia del torupill. Mid-tempo, invece, per “Tuman iarom” (La nebbia ha coperto il dirupo), un canto cosacco con andamento da ballad, che Ruslan ha appreso da sua nonna; il testo parla della nebbia e dell’impossibilità di vedere cosa ci sia oltre. Poi, alcuni simboli diventano visibili: una quercia (radici e famiglia), un pozzo (anima), l’acqua (relazioni pure) e una sciarpa (matrimonio): fuor di metafora, le cose importanti della vita non sono chiaramente visibili. Tocca poi al folk-rock della title track, “Svitlyi Schljah”, con il trombone di Ruslan che si fa spazio tra whistle e fisarmonica, qui si riprende la metafora delle scelte di vita rappresentate simbolicamente da sentieri che si aprono di fronte a noi. In “Tvoi guby, jak maky”, la bellezza di una ragazza è paragonata ai papaveri che sbocciano. “Lalala” è una sgroppata, uno di quei brani trascinanti, tutto ritmo e sudore che dal vivo fanno saltare e ballare il pubblico. Un canto polivocale, “Tule tulele”, è ancora un invito a partecipare ai falò estivi, mentre mantiene una forte tensione “Tulesõnad!”, che chiude l’album, ricordando che il fuoco è fonte di tutto, ma occorre saperlo maneggiare. - Ciro De Rosa

Gogol Bordello meets the Kalevala, dance music that makes a difference! Trombonist Ruslan Trochynskyi had played in Ukrainian folk rock band Haydamaky. In 2005 he moved to Estonia and formed the group Svjata Vatra (holy fire in Ukrainian) with local Estonian musicians. These days it is the trio of Kulno Malva (accordion, bagpipes), Juhan Suits (bagpipes, wooden horn, whistle) and Martin Aulis (drums, percussion). Ruslan, the spiritual leader of Svjata Vatra, is a unique trombone player as well as a keen vocalist, and along the way using the scythe as a rhythm instrument. As previous releases, their fourth studio album "Svitlyi Schljah" (A Brighter Way) blends Ukrainian and Estonian roots, kiddies' game songs and runo songs, with punk and rock aesthetics.
© Walkin' T:-)M - Tom Keller

Svjata Vatra (Holy Fire!) are classified as fire-folk and labelled the “Estonian Gogol Bordello” – with Estonian pipes and Ukrainian trombone, you’ll notice yourself dancing to the most outrageou Balkan rhythms!
JESPER BORUP agent Rosa – The Danish Rock Council www.spotfestival.dk
I must say that one of the best concerts i saw at the festival Tallinn Music Week was the one on saturday evening at Jazzkaar by Svjata Vatra. Out of the bands i caught Svjata Vatra stood out as a great liveband with a broarder appeal that the genre would normally allow. Svjata had an energetic authentic mix of eastern europe balkan and the baltics folk – any audience is guaranteed a good time and an exceptional musical experience. The way they do their thing relaxed and honest really gets to you. I like the mix of Estonia and Ukraine, and i especially loved the vocals, trombone and acordian. As mentioned above their show is really professional and at the same time honest and relaxed – it is allways nice to see a band that easily breaks the edge of the stage and dosent seem to try TOO hard. It just comes natural to them and thats rare nowadays. As i see it they can play at any european festival with a broad genre-profile.
JAN SNEUM media DR – The Danish Broadcasting Company www.dr.dk
I did enjoy the live performance of the Svjata Vatra at the jazz club very very much. Seen / heard from my side I think Svjata Vatra has the same drive, energy and solid roots in both ethnic musik, rock and jazz as fx Mano Negra (Manu Chao)…. Also it’s obvious that your band already is having a great exprience as a live act. So I see a lot of potential in the band – also outside Estonia. You are already doing many things all around Europe, so it seems as if you are on the right track allready.
- Tallinn Music Week

Svjata Vatra (Holy Fire!) are classified as fire-folk and labelled the “Estonian Gogol Bordello” – with Estonian pipes and Ukrainian trombone, you’ll notice yourself dancing to the most outrageou Balkan rhythms!
JESPER BORUP agent Rosa – The Danish Rock Council www.spotfestival.dk
I must say that one of the best concerts i saw at the festival Tallinn Music Week was the one on saturday evening at Jazzkaar by Svjata Vatra. Out of the bands i caught Svjata Vatra stood out as a great liveband with a broarder appeal that the genre would normally allow. Svjata had an energetic authentic mix of eastern europe balkan and the baltics folk – any audience is guaranteed a good time and an exceptional musical experience. The way they do their thing relaxed and honest really gets to you. I like the mix of Estonia and Ukraine, and i especially loved the vocals, trombone and acordian. As mentioned above their show is really professional and at the same time honest and relaxed – it is allways nice to see a band that easily breaks the edge of the stage and dosent seem to try TOO hard. It just comes natural to them and thats rare nowadays. As i see it they can play at any european festival with a broad genre-profile.
JAN SNEUM media DR – The Danish Broadcasting Company www.dr.dk
I did enjoy the live performance of the Svjata Vatra at the jazz club very very much. Seen / heard from my side I think Svjata Vatra has the same drive, energy and solid roots in both ethnic musik, rock and jazz as fx Mano Negra (Manu Chao)…. Also it’s obvious that your band already is having a great exprience as a live act. So I see a lot of potential in the band – also outside Estonia. You are already doing many things all around Europe, so it seems as if you are on the right track allready.
- Tallinn Music Week

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2012/apr/05/estonia-tallinn-music-week
…Many of the Baltic bands didn't shy away from theatricals and campness. The singer of Estonian-Ukrainian "fire-folk" band Svjata Vatra had the audience singing along to his every word, while he juggled fire and played the sword,

http://thequietus.com/articles/08465-tallinn-music-week-review-pussy-riot
…Svaja Vatra are an alarming bunch. For a start, they look like an unhinged band of muscular farm hands and they proceeded to create a fist-pumping rally-like atmosphere thanks to the audience knowing all of the words to all of the very strident songs. This gig was a lot of fun, believe you me, and I say that despite the fact that there were bag-pipes being played be a man who looked as if he was experiencing rather more pleasure than one should when blowing into those things. There was leaping. There was shouting. There was rhythmic cutlass-bashing and there was setting fire to things. Within reason, these are all active ingredients for a fine night out, I’m sure you’ll agree.

http://www.loudandquiet.com/2012/04/10-reasons-to-like-tallinn-music-week/
… A “fire-folk” band of truly masculine proportions. Live, they do not stop fucking your brain. Trombones, bagpipes, fire breathing and sword eating. It’s all here. Book them for your circus now.

http://sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=35427
…From the town of Viljandi comes the “fire-folk” band Svjata Vatra, fronted by singer Ruslan Trochynskyi who moved from Ukraine in 2005 and formed the band with Estonian musicians. The band, whose name means “sacred fire” in Ukrainian, is famous for using naked flames in its shows and for its rendition of the Ukrainian folk song “Kalina-Malina,” which has become a massive hit in Estonia. At a concert at Tallinn’s Teater NO99, fans sang along with the band.
- Tallinn Music Week

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2012/apr/05/estonia-tallinn-music-week
…Many of the Baltic bands didn't shy away from theatricals and campness. The singer of Estonian-Ukrainian "fire-folk" band Svjata Vatra had the audience singing along to his every word, while he juggled fire and played the sword,

http://thequietus.com/articles/08465-tallinn-music-week-review-pussy-riot
…Svaja Vatra are an alarming bunch. For a start, they look like an unhinged band of muscular farm hands and they proceeded to create a fist-pumping rally-like atmosphere thanks to the audience knowing all of the words to all of the very strident songs. This gig was a lot of fun, believe you me, and I say that despite the fact that there were bag-pipes being played be a man who looked as if he was experiencing rather more pleasure than one should when blowing into those things. There was leaping. There was shouting. There was rhythmic cutlass-bashing and there was setting fire to things. Within reason, these are all active ingredients for a fine night out, I’m sure you’ll agree.

http://www.loudandquiet.com/2012/04/10-reasons-to-like-tallinn-music-week/
… A “fire-folk” band of truly masculine proportions. Live, they do not stop fucking your brain. Trombones, bagpipes, fire breathing and sword eating. It’s all here. Book them for your circus now.

http://sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=35427
…From the town of Viljandi comes the “fire-folk” band Svjata Vatra, fronted by singer Ruslan Trochynskyi who moved from Ukraine in 2005 and formed the band with Estonian musicians. The band, whose name means “sacred fire” in Ukrainian, is famous for using naked flames in its shows and for its rendition of the Ukrainian folk song “Kalina-Malina,” which has become a massive hit in Estonia. At a concert at Tallinn’s Teater NO99, fans sang along with the band.
- Tallinn Music Week

Svjata Vatra, also well received at Maa Ja Ilm this year, is another promising new band, with potential not yet fully realised. Leading it are the charismatic vocals and trombone of Ukrainian Ruslan Trochynskyi, who was a member of the meaty Ukrainian folk-brass-rock band Haydamaky and now lives in Estonia, where he has put together a quartet with Estonian musicians on bagpipes, accordion, flute and percussion, playing a mix of Estonian and Ukrainian trad plus some originals. On this debut album it feels like most of the energy is coming from Trochynskyi, with the rest of the band not really gelling yet. His vocal and trombone are strong but not fully supported by the other instruments, and the very literal, stark recording doesn’t enrich things. Numbers that could be powerful, such the chant-like Revolutsioon, don’t peak as they could. The percussion, largely of just darabukka & tambourine jingles, could do with being wider in tonal range and less tentative, and the accordion could do more but tends to sit back or out rather than really digging in. The bagpipes and flute help a lot when they’re playing, but in much of the album only two or three of the band seem to be contributing at a time, increasing the feeling that there’s a key player missing. - fRoots

Svjata Vatra, also well received at Maa Ja Ilm this year, is another promising new band, with potential not yet fully realised. Leading it are the charismatic vocals and trombone of Ukrainian Ruslan Trochynskyi, who was a member of the meaty Ukrainian folk-brass-rock band Haydamaky and now lives in Estonia, where he has put together a quartet with Estonian musicians on bagpipes, accordion, flute and percussion, playing a mix of Estonian and Ukrainian trad plus some originals. On this debut album it feels like most of the energy is coming from Trochynskyi, with the rest of the band not really gelling yet. His vocal and trombone are strong but not fully supported by the other instruments, and the very literal, stark recording doesn’t enrich things. Numbers that could be powerful, such the chant-like Revolutsioon, don’t peak as they could. The percussion, largely of just darabukka & tambourine jingles, could do with being wider in tonal range and less tentative, and the accordion could do more but tends to sit back or out rather than really digging in. The bagpipes and flute help a lot when they’re playing, but in much of the album only two or three of the band seem to be contributing at a time, increasing the feeling that there’s a key player missing. - fRoots

The first thing that I notice about this cd is the beautiful cardboard packing it has. Nice print and really taken care of. If the music is as nice as the sleeve... Svjata Vatra is founded by the Ukrainian musician Ruslan Trochynskyi, who was a member of the Haydamaky group, a once legendary band. He started to play with students of the Viljandi culture academy in Estonia. The result is this group Svjata Vatra in which Trochynskyi, together with three other musicians, bring both the Estonian and Ukrainian tradition alive. The basics are the Ukraine oral tradition and the Estonian runo songs and bagpipe tradition. They mix these styles in a very effective and creative way. The cd starts with a beautiful song called Esimene mida ma. A sad accordion, a mystical flute and intense vocals make this a very melancholic song. Followed by the dance tune Tantsulugu which has a nice brass sound with some Celtic touches. Great is also the Estonian Ma olin enne nuori miesi, which is so typical for the Estonian area that it will not easy be mixed up with any other style. This song contains some nice, very earthy male harmony vocals and has a strong drive. On the Ukrainian traditional piece, Kelle hobune seal seisab, you can hear the same typical Ukrainian melancholic as in the opening tune. This song is very nice and brought right out of the heart. Voortants is a dance out of the Estonian bagpipe tradition with uplifting percussion. Almost at the end of the cd the group makes a short trip to Armenia with the Armenian traditional song Armeenialugu. A very nice tune with more oriental influences, clearly from another part of the world than Ukraine and Estonia, but a strong addition to the cd. So I can conclude that it’s not only the sleeve that is beautiful. Svjata Vatra recorded an intriguing cd of high quality. I think they found a perfect balance between Ukrainian sadness and Estonian down to earth mentality. (Eelco Schilder) - Folk World

(Svjata Vatra 4740156910834)

Second album from charismatic Estonia-dwelling ex-Haydamaky Ukrainian singer-trombonist (and occasional duduk player) Ruslan Trochynskyi with Ukrainian and Estonian trad songs and originals. His energy and skill isn't matched by the Estonian band, on accordeon, Estonian bagpipes and two percusionists; a smear of reverb would have helped enliven things.
- fRoots

Svjata Vatra "Kalyna"
Label: Own label; 2008
Well, it’s not a secret that I liked the first Svjata Vatra CD a lot. This Ukrainian-Estonian band that is founded by the Ukrainian musician Ruslan Trochynskyi, combines the best of both worlds and actually it doesn’t stop there. On this new CD the band discover new areas and influences can be heard from many Nordic and Eastern-European countries. They easily blend traditional sounds with jazz, Celtic and even some light brass sounds fill the room. On this new album they sound really relaxed and have a happy kind of folk(rock) that is very easy going. Some beautiful bagpipe pieces like in Song of sunrise where they blend really beautifully with the trombone. The style of this song is so nice that I easily forgive the false note one of the bagpipers is playing. The same for Verhovyna a very nice Ukrain traditional in a bagpipe-brass setting. The sound of Svjata Vatra changed a bit. Their music became more accessible and although not as surprising as their debut album, Svjata Vatra is still a great folk band with often beautiful and sometimes just straight on easy-folk.
www.myspace.com/svjatavatra
Eelco Schilder

- Folk World

Svjata Vatra "Zillja zelenen’ke" Own label, 2010
The third release by the Estonian-Ukrainian band Svjata Vatra is a double release with an audio CD and a Live DVD. After their surprising debut album and strong second CD, Svjata Vatra develops more and more into a professional band with an international sound. Their music is a more and more balanced mix between ethnic, brass and rock. The musicians get their inspiration from their home country and beyond. Influences from the Balkan are often heard. A song often ends or starts with an up-tempo danceable melody and the total atmosphere is much lighter than on their first album. Svjata Vatra is now an uncomplicated festival-proof band for international stages. The DVD gives you an idea of what you might expect when you get this band to your country and I do think it’s about time we see them on some Western-European festivals this summer. - Folk World

Svjata Vatra "Zillja zelenen’ke" Own label, 2010
The third release by the Estonian-Ukrainian band Svjata Vatra is a double release with an audio CD and a Live DVD. After their surprising debut album and strong second CD, Svjata Vatra develops more and more into a professional band with an international sound. Their music is a more and more balanced mix between ethnic, brass and rock. The musicians get their inspiration from their home country and beyond. Influences from the Balkan are often heard. A song often ends or starts with an up-tempo danceable melody and the total atmosphere is much lighter than on their first album. Svjata Vatra is now an uncomplicated festival-proof band for international stages. The DVD gives you an idea of what you might expect when you get this band to your country and I do think it’s about time we see them on some Western-European festivals this summer. - Folk World