SCYTHIAN

Among these, there are quite a few from Central Europe. Danylo and Alexander Fedoryka's father, as their name suggests, fled the Ukraine after the Second World War. They are therefore from the first generation of emigrants. Trained in classical music in their youth, they recognized themselves more in popular music as teenagers.
They chose their surname, Scythian, in homage to their Ukrainian roots, the Scythians being a people of nomadic horsemen who lived in Eurasia between the 7th century BC and the 3rd century AD.
Born in Virginia, they moved to Washington, D.C. for their studies and it was during this time, in 2002, that they created their band, which combines Celtic, Eastern European and Appalachian music, with strong country and bluegrass influences.
In nearly twenty years they have released a dozen albums, including the most recent Roots and Stones. Playing fiddle (Alexander), guitar and accordion (Danylo), they are joined by Ethan Dean on bass and banjo and Johnny Rees on drums, as well as Alex's wife, Catie Parker on the song Virginia.
Thirteen tracks make up an album where the Fedoryka brothers' energy is not only palpable but thunderous. Their folk-rock is contagious and it's hard to resist pounding your feet while listening to this record. All the tracks were written and composed by the two brothers and deal with various themes. Duffy's Cut, for example, is a song about the Irish railroad workers who dug tunnels in the American East. Sail Away Johnny evokes the Irish emigration. The Motherland is about the Ukraine while Je Suis Coureur Des Bois refers to the French-Canadian trappers whose music influenced Scythian's.
A very energetic music. It's a pity that they are not better known on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Autoproduit - www.scythianmusic.com