Bichkraft – Big Red Robe

Last year we were introduced to Ukrainian debutants Bichkraft by way of their first full-length Mascot, released on Wharf Cat Records, and we were very happy to hear the Brooklyn label took another chance and traveled to Kiev to meet with them. We understand they barely made it out alive, but at least they did bring back a new, exciting record by the adventurous four-piece.

Shadoof is a bit of a departure from their previous record, but that is actually quite typical for second albums. It sounds that the young band is in that phase in which they are shaping things into the right form by expanding their horizon and not letting convention dictate. The record shows them moving between their trademark psychy punk to noise and techno – and they even blatantly dared to write a pop song.

The ease with which the guitars weave together into a big mess without getting incohesive on their second single Big Red Robe perhaps displays the best example of the band perfecting their craft. They probably made the right choice by not playing it safe and not accepting to be pinned down into that corner with all the other deafening drum machine bands – exactly why we, for one, are all that more excited to see what they come up with next. Bichkraft might not have moved into the direction we would have expected, but would anyone really have been satisfied if they had?

Order Shadoof here silly.