NEW RELEASE: An "eclectic collection" of music by an eclectic British performer (06/18/00)

NEW RELEASE

An "eclectic collection" of music by an eclectic British performer

EAST BARNET, England - Stepan Pasicznyk, formerly accordionist and co-songwriter with the indie/world/folk band The Ukrainians, has released a solo CD called "Ludwig's Eclectic Collection."

The Ukrainians achieved considerable international success writing songs in Ukrainian and performing at venues ranging from Ukraine's second anniversary of independence in the center of Kyiv, through to the Bumbershoot and Glastonbury festivals in the United States and England, not to mention numerous European festivals and venues. It also recorded a sound track to a Nike advertisement.

Mr. Pasicznyk, who likes to point out that his surname "means something like beekeeper," was involved with the band during the "Ukrainians," "Vorony" and "Kultura" LPs, and the Smiths covers EP.

He noted that "Ludwig's Eclectic Collection" is meant to be "a representation of my experience of being of Ukrainian-Irish descent, and yet born here, a British citizen." Ludwig, he explained, is the nickname by which he is known in the British Ukrainian community.

"Chaban," a sheepherder's song, is given the Ska treatment juxtaposed with Ukrainian village folk music and vocals. "Halychanochka," a song about a woman from the Halychyna (Galicia) region of western Ukraine is given "Latino" treatment. An old Kozak song, "Zasvystaly Kozachenky" is given an instrumental "dance" type treatment. Thus, musician-songwriter pointed out, the transition from whistling Kozaks to dancing Kozaks happens in a few strokes of the keyboard.

"Song for Y. Shukhevych" (1984) was co-written with musician M. Stebiwka, a.k.a. "Stebs," of Wolverhampton. It is a tribute to the well-known political prisoner, and a protest song about Ukraine's plight in the former Soviet empire. "Carpathian Trickle" is about Ukraine on one level, but starts out like an Irish lament - a reflection of the similar histories of these two nations. "Refugee Nation" addresses tragedies such as Kosovo in a way that a descendant of another "refugee nation" might relate to it.

The Potutory referred to in the "Potutorsky Waltz" is the home village of Mr. Pasicznyk's father. Located in the part of Ukraine ruled by Austria-Hungary, at one point during World War I it was on the front between the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires. The village, Mr. Pasicznyk said, is alive with relics of some of the fiercest fighting in which the Ukrainian Sichovi Striltsi (Sich Riflemen) were involved in their struggle for Ukraine's independence. The duet reflects this point in history with a Viennese sounding theme. (The image on the CD/tape cover, by an artist from Ukraine named Myron Yatsiv, is of a soldier from this army.)

After this selection the CD suddenly goes from 1919 to 1999. "You've Gone Sour on Me" is straightforward rock-n-roll, while "Name on a Wing" is a country-style song about intercontinental love doomed to failure. The eclecticism is evident as "Hard to Hang On" is done in a dance/pop style, and "Saturday Will Never Come" is white reggae. Next come "So Near and Yet So Far Away" and "Is It Too Much to Ask," both big-band rock-n-roll. Then there is "Gertrude," a Bavarian-style thigh slapping drinking song.

The finale is "Miracles," which, according to the musician, is a celebration of everything good about life, especially becoming a parent for the first time.

"My Ukrainian dad bought me an accordion when I was 9 years old and got me involved with the music scene in the British Ukrainian community, and my musical intuition was helped along by my Irish mum, an accomplished fiddle player," Mr. Pasicznyk said. "In typical Irish tradition, our family band comprised my mum on fiddle, sister Mariyka on guitar, and myself on accordion playing Irish and Ukrainian music."

The price of the "Ludwig's Eclectic Collection" CD is $16 (U.S.), or $23 (Canadian), shipping included. Checks payable to Stepan Pasicznyk should be sent to him at 74 Jackson Road, East Barnet, Herts, EN4 8UU, England.

The CD is available from: Soyuzivka, UNA Estate, P.O. Box 529, Kerhonkson, NY 12446; telephone, (914) 626-5641; fax, (914) 626-4638; e-mail sqss@aol.com; and the Ukrainian Book Store 10215 97th St. Edmonton, Alberta TSJ 2N9; telephone, (780) 422-4255; fax, (780) 425-1439; e-mail, ukrbkst@planet.eon.net; website, www.ukrainianbookstore.com.

Readers may contact Mr. Pasicznyk via e-mail at stepan@pasicznyk.fsnet.co.uk.

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