Crafted against the backdrop of a war-torn society, this album delves into the theme of war itself. Given the shift in the conflict’s trajectory by Putin exactly one year and one day prior, the release date of February 23rd, 2023 is especially significant, as “Concert №1 “23/23” explores the evolution of consciousness during the tumultuous time.
The newest release from Ukrainian experimental / noise / avant-garde act Gravitsapa signals a demand for the listener’s full attention, as they engage with the complex, minimalistic soundscape that is both challenging and compelling.
Over the course of sixteen years, the Ukrainian band Gravitsapa has gone through a creative path from christian alternative rock through experimental math-rock and post-metal to a unique avant-garde form which is difficult to classify.
The band combines two poles of direction: underground and academical, offering conceptualism and avant-garde composition to the underground environment, and vice versa, unbridled wildness and primitivism to the restrained academic environment, using music as a tool to lead a listener into altered states of consciousness.
“The key factor of our new release is that it is an album of avant-garde music released and written by artists during the war and about the war as they perceive it from their specific point of view.” – comments the band.
We caught up to learn how the war changed their creativity and what experiences and conclusions were received during the war and conveyed to the album.
Also, the very evolution of our music during the 17 years of our existence is a separate interesting story, which we could also touch on without departing from the main context.
“It’s been a year since we’ve been living in new conditions. In the new being, which forms a new consciousness.” – comments Gravitsapa
“Our new offering is a relevant creative response to this radical time of change that fate has given us.”
This album is about the evolution of consciousness during the times of war.
The music on this album was equally influenced by academic music composers John Cage and Morton Feldman, as well as underground electronic music projects such as Ramleh and Zoviet France. All of them were united by a patch of psychedelicity. This album can be considered psychedelic not as a genre of rock of the 60s, but as music that puts the listener into a state of altered consciousness.
Track 1: Hemostasis
Its full unofficial name is: Blood Baked in the Sun.
The sun, which helps to heal wounds, both those received in combat and psychological trauma, is a collective image of metaphysical archetypes that contribute to raising morale and hope that we will not come out of this war half-dead, but determined and uplifted, with forces of nature, truth and the whole world on our side.
Track 2: Oculi Mortis (Eyes of Death)
The one who remains alive after meeting with Death changes radically.
We all dream of eternal Life, but without Death, Life loses its value. Who has looked into the eyes of Death, reevaluates everything, both his own life and the values of humanity.
This track is most influenced by John Cage and Morton Feldman due to its looping minimalist repetitions.
Track 3: Vox Evolutionis (Voice of Evolution)
“Hear the voice of Evolution: Change or die!” is the message spoken at the end of this track.
Being radically changes, challenging doomed conservatism. Ideologies and stereotypes that do not resonate with reality lead us to extinction.
Radical changes are the only way for us now! Adaptation to new conditions of existence, which we are unable to change, here is synonymous with the concept of living in harmony with the universe.
This track is the most soothing and ambient.
Track 4: Plebs Electa (Chosen People)
This track contains the idea of the whole album: crisis – stress – making efforts in the fight – finding strength – catharsis – the second birth of the main Character.
The leitmotif for this track can be a verse from the New Testament – John 1:45-46:
“45. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
46. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?”
