Sure, music can be about entertaining people, a soundtrack to a night out, background music to a great party, something to sing along to, or to dance to. And there is nothing wrong with that; it has been the driving force behind musical creativity for millennia.
But using it only for such a purpose is to miss a trick. Music can have something poignant and important to say and still be entertaining; Yev’s debut album is proof of that. Making music allows you an elevated position, a platform with which to talk to people en masse, so why not use it?
Yev’s songs generally adopt earnest and often tragic themes, many inspired by the resilience of modern Ukrainian refugees, something close to his own cultural heart, stories of the displaced, the dispossessed, and the disenfranchised; they are heartfelt, thought-provoking, and tell timely and timeless tales. But if the subjects are often challenging, the music is instantly glorious.
If opener, “Refugee,” is a balladic blend of Western soul and Eastern heart, “Witness” is a song whose blistering sonics and vocal crescendos remind you of the late, great Jeff Buckley. And comparisons don’t get better than that.
“Last Prayer” adopts an interesting balance of deep and heart-aching lyrics and soulful groove, a sort of gospel piece blended with smart pop moves, and “Kozark’s Lament” is an emotive waltz spins us through East European sonic traditions.
Yev is that rarest of things, an album of poignant themes put to accessible tunes, lyrics which remind us that not only is there darkness in the world, but even more black clouds seem to be gathering on the horizon day by day but also music that make such complex subjects easier to understand.
It’s an important album; it is just a shame that there is still a need for such music to be made. But, sadly, I don’t see that ending any time soon.
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