Vander Ikh Mir Lustik

Lively melodies and joyful group vocals characterise this new release from the previously Saint Petersburg-based band Dobranotch. In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, part of the ensemble remained in Russia while others relocated to Germany and gathered new members around them to record this album, the title of which translates as ‘I Wander with Joy.’ Equally at home in the studio as well as live, one of Dobranotch’s most successful ventures is a Yiddish cover of Rammstein’s industrial-metal hit ‘Du Hast’ which has garnered over three million views on YouTube; and it must be said, it’s pretty good although, sadly, absent from this album. On Vander Ikh Mir Lustik, they continue their tradition of unexpected covers with a rendition of the US classic ‘In the Pines’ alongside repertoire from across Eastern Europe; from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, etc. At times they sound very trad, such as on the opening song ‘Antloyf Mit Mir’ but on tracks like ‘Skotshne’ it’s almost like listening to Pendulum or some other 90s electro outfit. Even within tunes they shift their references so that you can be listening to a scratchy Balkan-style fiddle solo with the underlying harmonies of a disco floor-filler.