- It took me an embarrasing amount of time to realise that a two minute sample isn't an adequate measure in evaluating a song's worth. Like a DJ set, diving in at a random, uncontextualised point will only present a sound itself, rarely its function overall. While this doesn't always make a difference, in other instances, it's of vital importance. Like with Vakula's five-tracker Slavic Mythology for example.
The young Ukrainian is a producer who enjoys playing with subtlety. A random, fleeting inspection of his music will uncover fairly standard sounds, but not the careful progression that precedes them. Like a slowly sprouting plant, Vakula's reclusive melodies dance inevitably upward, their movement imperceptible at any one point. The drums are like a constantly rising and falling sun, beating out a rhythm behind. In opener "41600," the "plant" is like a thin, piercing organ sound, which wavers faintly like leaves in a breeze. In "Field," a soothing, organic arp, akin to water trickling down a stream. You get the idea, anyway; there's always a gentle, evolving undercurrent of something more than kicks and bass.
That doesn't always equal success, though. While Vakula's tracks show more thought than many of his contemporaries', they're still highly conventional, using the same tricks found elsewhere. Deep-houser "Kiev" for instance, would sound at home as the B-side to Trentemøller's "Le Champagne," a track produced eight years ago. The problem is, the hats are always placed "correctly" and the bass always dies down at just the "right" time for the lead synth to appear. Again, you get the point. While many producers can get away with conventionality by dint of otherwise brilliant music, Vakula isn't quite there yet. He's well on the way though.
Tracklist 01. 41600
02. Kiev
03. Two Parts
04. T H E O Sun
05. Delay
06. Field