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Svitlana Nianio — Transilvania Smile, 1994

Release title: Transilvania Smile, 1994
Release subtitle: Original Soundtrack For The Dance-Theatre Performance
Release artist: Svitlana Nianio
Release date: 2023-08-04
Label: Shukai
Catalog: Shukai 8
Formats: 12” LP / Digital
File under: Folk, Classical

Linear notes:
Svitlana Okhrimenko (artist name: Svitlana Nianio) is a Ukrainian artist, musician, and signer. She is one of the most prominent representatives of the independent music scene of Kyiv in the late 1980s — early 90s. She has repeatedly recorded and performed in collaboration with other musicians and bands, such as Oleksandr Yurchenko, Sugar White Death (Cukor Bila Smert’), Ivanov Down, GeeNerve & Taran, and Blemish. Svitlana still performs and publishes new recordings today.
“Transilvania Smile” is one of the first solo works recorded in 1994. During this time, Svitlana repeatedly visited Germany, where she had the experience of playing in parks and on the streets, gathering contacts of the local art scene. Her cooperation with the international choreographic group Pentamonia, based in Cologne and consisting of several girls who performed in theaters, took part in various performances, and were engaged in music. They met in the 1990s during joint performances with "Sugar-White Death." After that, they corresponded, and the idea of doing something together arose. Svitlana attended several of their performances, which inspired her to write music for a new project, and the band members helped to realize their creative ideas. Later, they started rehearsing together.
The name “Transilvania Smile” was invented by the project participants, and it symbolized the mold on the mirror and the reflection of a smiling vampire. However, shortly before the premiere, they changed it to “Firefox”, as the participants actively used flashlights and the play of light and shadows in the scenography.
The premiere occurred in the local Urania theater, previously a gallery. Isabel Bartensein directed the choreography, and Svitlana played, sang, and improvised. She said it was an excellent experience for her and the band. Besides Cologne, they also performed in Aachen.
Later, Michael Springer offered Svitlana to record this material in his "Phanton" studio. They had already worked together and recorded music for their project (Svitlana Okhrimenko / Phanton). Michael was also interested in the Ukrainian independent scene and participated in the creation of several compilations that featured bands from Kyiv and Kharkiv. Svetlana played the piano and harmonium in the studio and also sang. After the recording, the material was never released in its entirety. Two compositions appeared on the cassette compilation “Shovaisia” (Hide) in 1995, some episodes were re-recorded for the “Kytytsi” album in 1999, but for a long time, the full version of this recording remained practically unknown to listeners and was kept in Svitlana's and Michael’s archives.
This album is one of the most personal and insightful works of Svitlana Nianio from the 90s, which you can now get to know in its original form and sound.
Tracklist:
Side A (45RPM)
Episode III
Side B (33RPM)
Episode I
Episode II
Episode III
Episode IV
Episode V
Episode VI
Episode VII


Credits:
Original Soundtrack for the Dance-Theatre Performance “Transilvania Smile” by Svitlana Nianio
Recorded in phantonstudio, Cologne, 1994—1995
Mastered by Michael Springer (phantonstudio)
Shukai team: Dmytro Nikolaienko, Dmytro Prutkin and Sasha Tsapenko
Liner notes by Vlad Yakovlev
Graphic design by (DN)
Svitlana’s stage photo by Christiane Bowinkelmann
Pentamonia Dance Group photos by Olav Faustmann
Special thanks to Michael Springer (phantonstudio) and Guido Erfen

Shukai 8
www.shukai.org
© ℗ Shukai / Svitlana Nianio
2023

Transilvania Smile

Episode III

Svitlana Nianio - Episode III (Transilvania Smile, 1994)

Skeletons in curtain pleats


Hey everyone! I'm thrilled to share some exciting news: my new album, "Toroidal Protocols," is ready for release! It's been a long time coming, and I'm so pleased to be releasing it on a limited series CD run.

"Toroidal Protocols" is a collection of nine tracks that explore the spaces between slow-paced psychedelic velvety soundscapes and haunting rhythmic textures. Subtle acid accents weave throughout, creating a hypnotic and immersive listening experience. This album is a reflection of my creative journey, and I hope it resonates with you. Thank you for listening.


Rather move

cover: nullodyndva


All your words have just gone away
I don’t know what to choose — leave or stay
A thousand reasons block my way
I hope the night will ease this pain


All your words have just gone away
I don’t know what to choose — leave or stay
All my heart is destroyed by darkness
But the ghost has saved me from you

Ghosted

Void Moon

digital/tape: https://libraryofmodernsound.bandcamp.com/album/alternatives

nov 2019 - feb 2020. probably still my fav bassline i've ever written.

i've been uploading a lot of older stuff recently, but should have new stuff soon.

microsamples (don't ask me where):
"DJ Topcat - A2 Untitled" 
"Limp Wrist - Limp Wrist vs. Dr Laura" 
"Toshiki Kadomatsu - Girl In The Box" 
"Hiroshi Sato - Lady of the Nile" 
"Claudia Ashley - C'est La Vie (Part 1)" 
"Bitch Ass Darius - Nympho" 
"Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock - It Takes Two" 
"DJ Deeon - Perc."

[MODE]

From the 2011 album "Sentimental Favourites" – originally released on Dekorder. Available digitally on Bandcamp at the nice price of pay what you want.
https://andrewpekler.bandcamp.com/album/sentimental-favourites

Sentimental Favourites

Name your price

The Twilight Of Your Smile

Molly nilsson - truth

Released May 27th. Night School Records.
CD/LP/Digital.
Pre-Order: http://nightschoolrecords.bigcartel.com/product/lssn016-terror-bird-all-this-time-lp

“All This Time” is the 3rd full length LP from Terror Bird - aka Nikki Nevver - and is by far the most personal, emotionally affecting and musically developed. Recorded at home over a period of 5 months, the 10 songs on “All This Time” document a period of intense emotional upheaval, a period wherein Nevver underwent major shifts in her personal life, rediscovered the solo recording process (previous albums having used live drumming and studio production) and married a raw, personal music with a straight-to-tape aesthetic most in-tune with her early recording experiences. The difference this time is that Nevver’s unique voice - at turns operatic and fragile, untutored and wearing its heart on its sleeve - serves as the perfect conduit for the emotional turmoil in the songs.

Nevver’s voice has grown into a formidable instrument, a towering, unabashed vocal whose resonance curls around the synth and drum machine production, at times duetting with itself, at times scaling the vocal register to reach new dramatic heights. Brought up on the music of the 80s “studio” - The Smiths, Kate Bush, The Cure - Nevver’s music exists beyond modern zeitgeists or considerations, subverting “big production” music into a personal DIY aesthetic. It’s a pure songwriting that outgrows genre and thrives purely on the merits of direct communication between songwriter and listener. 

Each song on “All This Time” serves as a chapter in a narrative that is universal; from the self-doubt and loneliness of opener “The Wrong Way,” to the doomed bedroom romance of “Try To Break Me,” from the masochistic guilt of “Locket” to the near-anthemic “Lust & Violence.” Each song speaks directly, plainly, to the listener, dispensing as much as possible with the unnecessary augmentation of modern pop music; “All This Time” is simply the deeply romantic, part-doomed / part-hopeful songs of a singular, unique talent.

Ghosted

Himruma

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