The Ukrainians. Kultura and Pisni iz The Smiths.

We might talk exclusively of their drive. Besides, we might talk of that for a long time – and everything said will be the truth, as there is enough drive in their music for more than one group. Still, it is not the whole truth, though in this particular case the combination of punk and Ukrainian folk gratifies not only with the fact of its availability, but also with the skilfulness of its performance. By the way, there is some zest in performing Ukrainian texts with English accent – at least here it sounds somehow appropriate. But please, pay attention to the texts themselves and to their content. Frankly speaking, first I myself even was surprised with them - though they were written by people in England who were not here for a hundred of years, they are still actual for Ukraine today. Then I understood – after all, it is punk. If a person conciously performs punk, then by definition he should take and feel the problems of the society very sharply. And here geography is not very important, because no matter how different people might be, their problems are practically everywhere the same. Certainly, here the ability to analyse is required. Still, you can’t in any possible way call "The Ukrainians" idle-headed people. Another confirmation to this is the fact that completely lyrical songs composed and performed by them sound very well. After all, only a person who is able to feel love sharply is able to feel problems sharply.

Anton Jozhik Leyba (Hedgehog)