Horta. Pisni ostrova voli.

(item from the "Rare Discs" section)
From time to time, I get positively surprised by how our musicians manage to decorate music of any style with something of folk, something recognizably Ukrainian. This time as well. The mix of rap and hip-hop that “Horta” from Zaporizhja offers is decorated with such music patterns that one does not even need to know the language, one hears at once that it is Ukrainian. Fairly speaking, such tendencies are very pleasant. As it means that in the world ocean of music the Ukrainian current will not get lost – as it has its own face differing from all the rest. But the main thing is that it means that Ukrainians are not ashamed of their own face, they do not forget its features, do not let it petrify. Constant training of muscles of joy and pride – and this is the sort of music that "Horta" plays – by all means results in strengthening of roots. And people who have strong roots – they are not subject to external authorities, they grow from the ground and into the sky, and not from salary to salary. By the way, the name "Horta" also has the obvious root – on the Hortytsa island, there was the center of Zaporizska Sich, and that is where this group is from. Its debut album is nothing like childish or thoughtless, it is a serious claim for serious attitude. Besides, this is just a wonderful start – and it promises wonderful continuation.

Anton Jozhik Leyba (Hedgehog)