MOPA comments on the tracks of Ukrainian artists
The concert of the French band My Own Private Alaska is scheduled for September 10 in Kyiv. And although the quarantine ruined all plans, we hope this event will take place.
The band released their first EP "MOPA" in 2007 and presented their famous debut full-length "Amen" in 2010, which Kyiv residents were able to appreciate live the same year. The band performed several more times in the capital and some other Ukrainian cities. In 2014, My Own Private Alaska ceased operations altogether, but this year, with renewed vigor, work began on fresh material, but the band's large-scale live performance plan had to be revised through a pandemic.
In preparation for the band's arrival, we asked the musicians to listen to some Ukrainian artists and share their impressions. So, specially for Neformat.com.ua, the vocalist of My Own Private Alaska Matthieu "Milka" Miegeville appreciated some Ukrainian tracks.
Matthieu, in particular, noted that the media sometimes ask him about this, but French bands usually do not impress him as much as Ukrainian:
"I’m blown away by the quality and the originality of lots of bands here! I mean it! I discovered real excellent bands/projects. Ukrainian musicians have something that lots of french musicians haven’t. I mean it, there’s no demagogy. The artworks of the bands are also most of the time reaaaaally beautiful."
Date Rape — Incomplete (screamo, Kyiv)
I like the fact that the band sings in its own language, not in English! It reminds me of the beginning of screamo late 90's...
Way Station — Clouds Dropped Down (post-rock, Kyiv)
Guitar Delays & Echoes always work! I like this Mogwai / Russian Circles stuff… The guitar is very pretty in this band.
Krobak — Broken (are Little Victories by the Ship of Life) (post-rock, Kyiv)
Violin is also really interesting in post-rock. I like the title of the song especially! It’s really tragic and cool. I’d like to hear this band with a fat sound / fat production, it deserves it.
Light Matters — Emotional Violence (punk, emo, Kyiv)
It’s quite cool to hear this kind of double-voice on this project. Well written. Like antifolk, emo vintage. The title of the EP is fun :wink:
Memorials — Песня скотобоен (melodic hardcore, Simferopol)
Quite amazing for us to listen to some Ukrainian hardcore screamings! The language sounds good. I like the use of larsens in it. Must be cool on stage.
oh, deer! — vigilante (screamo, Zhytomyr)
The artwork is really cool. Original hi-range screaming, I thought it was a girl! Some math-rock parts are interesting.
Nice wings, Icarus! — Kids vs. Machinery (post-rock, Kyiv)
The title of the song is excellent! Original stuff, with this instrumental, hi-speed post-rock… Violin is also still cool here.
DZ’OB — Deti (avantgarde, Dnipro)
The sound and the production is really pro on this track. Amazing electro/machines part… Beautiful contemporary melodies. Wahou! Ex-cel-lent!
The Sunset Survival — Delusion (melodic hardcore, Lviv)
Cool drummer! Really good parts, vintage emocore style... The production is rough but good.
Ghost Cities — shoot the sun (avantgarde, contemporary jazz, Kyiv)
I’m really impressed with how original this project is too... Crazy saxophone and beautiful musical textures, good work!
My Personal Murderer — Mayday (alternative rock, Kyiv)
Strange use of major / minor. It looks like depressive Beach Boys meeting the Melvins on LSD! Damn original too!
Signals Feed The Void — Не Твоя Біда (post-punk, Kherson)
Beautiful photo as artwork. Cool to have this post-punk band not in English also, this voice is something quite unheard for us! Good complementarity with the two guitars...
Gamardah Fungus — Natural Storm (ambient, Dnipro)
Cool drawing also. It’s really reaaaaly good to have these guitars used as "ambient keyboards"... wahou, it’s oniric and powerful. Like Mastodon covering Pink Floyd without drums!
sophistication. — wooden swing (acoustic, Kyiv)
I like this girl. Incarnated folk with excellent textures and voices... Congrats.
the worst is yet to come — women’s routine (screamo, Sumy)
I like how this girl breaks her voice when she screams. Really cool. The mix of it is good. I didn’t find’em on Facebook, I’m sad!
Заводь — Уже заря зажглась (часть 5) (black metal, Kharkiv)
Damn, the artworks are crazy! Pink album for cold metal = cool! Sound is a bit DIY but the composition is good, original, strange, with good "post" guitars.
Vovk — Endless Waterfall (progressive rock, math rock, stoner rock, Kyiv)
I adore the beginning of the song. The riff, the rhythm, the sound… I especially like math rock, and here, with some post-hardcore parts, it’s terrific! Really!
Septa — Emet, "truth" (alternative, metalcore, post-hardcore, Odesa)
Real cool voice, beautiful textures… Damn, I’m again blown away by the quality of composition! The excellent band also! Great sound!
For tickets follow this link.
More about My Own Private Alaska:
https://www.facebook.com/myownprivatealaska/
http://www.myownprivatealaska.fr
https://www.instagram.com/MOPAofficial/
Photo by kirai gigs and Lilian Ginet
