“The whole nation resonates under a groove:” Light in the Attic Records announces the release of Ukrainian Sonic Archives 1971-1996

Light in the Attic Records has announced a new release, “Even the Forest Hums: Ukrainian Sonic Archives 1971-1996,” (“Аж гай шумить”) slated for Oct. 18. This compilation of original music by Ukrainian artists features 18 tracks, showcasing a range of styles from subtle Soviet-era dissident singles to DIY recordings from post-referendum Kyiv’s vibrant underground scene. 

The 2xLP is housed in a gatefold package showcasing Ukrainian artist Maria Prymachenko’s iconic folk paintings. The vinyl edition features a 20-page booklet with artist photos & liner notes in both English and Ukrainian, pressed on Clear Blue Sky & Sunflower Yellow wax; the CD edition features bonus content housed in a deluxe, 64-page hardbound book.

According to the project’s authors, the compilation is the result of five years of teamwork between Seattle’s Light in the Attic and Ukrainian label Shukai Records. The compilation was curated by David Mas “DBGO,” Mark “Frosty” McNeill, and Matt Sullivan.

The chronological playlist was initially intended to include both Ukrainian and Russian artists. However, because of the ongoing war, the tracklist was refined to include only Ukrainian songs. 

“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,” said Sullivan Attic founder and album curator. “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.” 

The compilation includes folk, rock, jazz, and electronic recordings—such as the 1971 song “Bunny” by folk-rock group Kobza, and the 1990 track “Play, the Violin, Play” by Kyrylo Stetsenko, featuring a then-rising pop star named Tetiana Kocherhina.

“Music has always pulled Ukrainians out of the abyss,” writes Vitalii “Bard” Bardetskyi in his liner notes for Even the Forest Hums: Ukrainian Sonic Archives 1971-1996. “When there is no hope for the future, there is still music. At such moments, the whole nation resonates under a groove. Music, breaking through the concrete of various colonial systems, is an incredible, often illogical, way to preserve dignity.”

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Livyj Bereh, a Kyiv-based volunteer group working to rebuild in regions affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine. 

Copy editing: Ben Angel