Kyiv-based label Mystictrax presented a new compilation album COUNTEROFFENSIVE. It includes 13 tracks by Ukrainian and foreign electronic musicians — it was released on Bandcamp and USB players in a limited edition
Mystictrax added that they created the compilation ‘to bolster the morale of the Ukrainian military, to whom we all owe our lives’. The tracks for COUNTEROFFENSIVE were recorded also by musicians who are currently fighting on the front lines or working in military structures: Raavel, Distortion (UA) and Bodro.
Among the other names on the album are Brit Ufaze, Aura Nox from Germany and Spanish producer Lefrenk, as well as local artists Lostlojic, DJ KISSLOVE, Poly Chain, Radio Futur, Lectromagnetique, Sider, Luschn and Rusiiick.
Mystictax will transfer all profits from the release to the Musicians Defend Ukraine fund.
More about the tracks from COUNTEROFFENSIVE
Raavel — WKID
‘This is one of those rare cases when even a military career during the war did not stop the thirst for music and did not put a musical career on pause. Valeriy Raavel, whom we all know and love for his album Insect Replicant, which was released via Mell G Juicy Gang Records label, and for his dynamic performances at ∄ in Kyiv, proves to everyone that Ukrainians are invincible’.
Also check out Raavel’s mix recorded especially for DTF Magazine.
Distortion (UA) — Purple rave
‘Distortion (UA), who defends common sense from the occupiers on the front lines, continues to surprise with powerful hooks. Known for tracks with Diffuse Reality, LAP, Your Character and Backpocket Slammers, Purple’s rave composition (a reference to Prince?) will keep you on your toes. After the defense of Kyiv in 2022, his body is full of debris from a mine explosion. However, Oleg not only continues to fight, but also writes new music and is preparing to publish a book’.
Bodro х Rusiiick — Vilna Dusha
‘Electro mutant from Chernihiv — Bodro now in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but sometimes has a few days to create some intellectual electro mazes for our minds. Known for releases on Swiss LBR Records and local Polygon and Dnipropop, he created the song Vilna Dusha (Free Soul) in collaboration with singer Rusiiick’.
Along with the compilation album, he released a music video for the joint work, shot by Ukrainian director Anton Satanovsky.
Lostlojic — Wings of Lina
‘This is a speedy electro grenade by producer Lostlojic, known for his last album Mamay (Deeptrax) and Distant Star (DMX Krew remix) on the Infinite Pleasures label. This time the author was inspired by motivational poems of poetess Lina Kostenko, and with the help of a crazy synthetic saw added new content to her words’.
Sider — Peremoga
‘Ukrainians are not heartbroken, but endlessly creative people. This track is proof of that. The musical accompaniment and moral support for our brothers on the front lines comes from Sider, a musician known for his Day by Day recordings and tracks that always successfully combine ethnics with breakbeat’.
Poly Chain — Stolen Treasure
‘Sasha Zakrevska always supports Ukrainians with dark and strong tunes like Stolen Treasure. The title of the track raises the theme of how russians steal museum pieces, jewelry, paintings and antiques’.
Ufaze — Nihilist
‘The man hiding his face behind pixels is known for records on his own label Slow Process, which even DJ Stingray has remixed. The host of a regular program on Subtle Radio gladly agreed to join our project’.
Radiant Futur — Clipdating
‘Kyiv-based artist Radiant Futur has dedicated his entire life to music. A frequent participant of ∄ Community Events, Closer, CXEMA. He has releases on Muscut, Mystictrax and many self-released works. He created Clipdating especially for the compilation — these are gorgeous melodic cascades and bass landscapes of the planet of Radiant Futur’.
Lectromagnetique — Lockheed Martin
‘The Ukrainian electro producer has vinyl releases on European labels Underground Music Xperience, Gladio Operations, Blind Allies and others. After the outbreak of a full-scale war, he launched his own digital publishing company. Lockheed Martin is a heavy electro base that can’t be confused with any other due to its distinctly dark style’.
In December 2022, Mystictrax released the compilation Code. It consists of 10 tracks by Ukrainian producers, where electronic music is combined with the sound of Ukrainian folk musical instruments.
The label’s team explained that they tried to ‘expand the concept of Ukrainian electronic music’ with their compilation, so they combined ‘electro, techno, breakbeat and garage with bandura, kobza, floyara, folk singing and unique samples collected on Ukrainian land’.
Bezsonnia, the debut EP by Kyiv-based DJ and electronic musician Sominaryst, was released on Mystictrax in August 2023. The release, which consists of six tracks, is created in the genres of electro and breaks. Read more about Bezsonnia.
