Leleka Vinilo y CD

Review: By our count, this second 12" on Vakula's own Leleka imprint is the 619th release to sport the Ukrainian's name since his rise to the fore on Firecracker back in 2010. Whilst he's never really hit a bum note it's fair to say some Vakula productions have been more memorably enduring than others, what is undeniable is the fact Vakula has teased out his own inventive niche in contemporary house music. Arriving in the same sort of how'd they do that black and white spattered vinyl as the first Leleka release, proceedings commence in typically sumptuous fashion with the cloud bursts of fizzing analogues and kaleidoscopic textures of the seemingly infinite "I Wanna Dance With You All My Life" a track retains a glacial, glowering abstract poise throughout. From here, Vakula veers into detuned afro rhythms on "Still Time" sounding very much like Juju & Jordash anointing Ballistic Brothers era Ashley Beedle with their brand of dubwise house. "Bug Powder" commences with a vocal sample swamped in dizzying stereo effect before morphing into an equally swampy outer galactic house swagger, before dovetailing slickly into the thick set analogue fudge of "Arrakis."

Review: Ukranian house mystic Mikhaylo Vityk returns with a suitably epic new Vakula LP, A Voyage To Arcturus, issued through his own Leleka label. Those with a more considered grasp of literary matters will no doubt recognise that Vityk has taken titular inspiration from A Voyage To Arcturus, the 1920 novel penned by Scottish writer David Lindsay with each of the sixteen tracks also named after chapters from the book too. By his own admission, this is more of an imaginary soundtrack than outright album, and as a result there is little here one could call deep house. Spending some time with it does however confirm what a singular talent the Ukrainian is!

Review: Ukranian house mystic Mikhaylo Vityk returns with a suitably epic new Vakula LP, A Voyage To Arcturus, issued through his own Leleka label. Those with a more considered grasp of literary matters will no doubt recognise that Vityk has taken titular inspiration from A Voyage To Arcturus, the 1920 novel penned by Scottish writer David Lindsay with each of the sixteen tracks also named after chapters from the book too. By his own admission, this is more of an imaginary soundtrack than outright album, and as a result there is little here one could call deep house. Spending some time with it does however confirm what a singular talent the Ukrainian is!

Review: With Vakula's long awaited debut album proper finally surfacing from Firecracker HQ this summer, the Ukrainian deep house mystic has taken something of a break from his usually prolific release schedule in order for fans to fully indulge in the sumptuous 16 track set. Sensing enough time has passed, Vak issues a fifth 12" on his highly prized Leleka and the first this year. Much like previous Leleka transmissions, the attention to detail on presentation is matched by the richness of production, with the latter aspect apparent from the off with detailed live percussion that drives "Excitement" forth. Both "Dream Drum" and "Smiling Moon Dog" is Vak in more psychedelic mood whilst he saves the best to last with the blooming analogue beat down of "Night Walks".

Review: Indulging his more restrained, darewesay mellow side, Vakula is back at Leleka with Dusty Baron in tow for a healthy spread of soul-drenched house cuts heavy on the real-deal funk ingredients and low on the electronics across two mighty slabs of vinyl. Dusty Baron's "Accidental Shot" is particularly ear-snagging with the gorgeous filtered live bass flexing and jazzed out keys, while its counterpart "Follow Shot" cools things right down with a blissful flute and piano arrangement built for the most luxuriant lounge you could imagine. "Follow Shot" gets some choice slow-house remixes on the second platter, but let's not forget Vakula's own sublime jams dealing in high-grade deep house at the start of the package.