Review Summary: A quiet kid who loves post-punk.
A note for the readers: I am reviewing the album based on the track list provided at SadSvit's Bandcamp page. On streaming services the track order is different.
It’s not common knowledge, of course, but there is a post-punk scene quietly emerging in Ukraine amidst all the war and bloodshed. As of now, some of these artists already have quite a few releases under their belt, while some only have a few singles and maybe an EP, but you can already see some common traits. First of all, they’ve all started early. For instance, Bohdan Rozvadovskyi aka SadSvit (sad is sad and “Svit” means “world” in Ukrainian) was only eighteen when this album was released, and he already had two earlier EPs to his name. Secondly, they don’t really do long-plays. In 2024, SadSvit will release a longer record that may be considered an LP, but normally he prefers to release his music condensed in short 20-minutes-long packages, such as this one. However, if we interpret an album as a sort of a capsule capturing a particular sound, as opposed to just a collection of songs, then this record, “Neon Dream,” can be considered Bohdan’s first proper album. His previous EPs already contained their share of bangers, but it was clear that he is still searching for his own identity as both a singer and a songwriter. This time, he is clearly focused on a particular mood and sound.
I’ve been thinking for quite a while how to describe that sound for you, but sometimes it’s best not to overthink. After all, the ingredients are pretty simple. First, you need some classic post-punk vocals. Bohdan’s voice is not quite as gravely as that of a fellow post-punk enthusiast Yakiv Marnyi from DK Energetyk, but it still has that otherworldly tone. SadSvit controls his voice quite skillfully, mostly sticking to his lower register for that classic brooding feel, but often switching to a higher pitch when a song requires it. Secondly, you need some guitars that provide the groove and the drive. Those guitar licks are deceptively simple and distinctly post-punkish, always fresh and impactful. Finally, they are interspersed with a healthy dose of electronics that sometimes overtake a song completely to bring you still more groove, rhythm, and dance. The end result is a handful of tunes that wouldn’t feel out of place either on the dance floor if you want to move your discotheque away from the usual electro-pop routine or in your bedroom while you are contemplating the futility of life.
Topically, the album is a tug-of-war between dystopia and nostalgia. The dystopian songs kick-start the album with one-two punch of “Anti-Utopia” and “The Final Day.” The former is a purely electronic number where SadSvit warns us against the dictators’ predilection to get into our heads through their propaganda tools, while the latter adds some guitars and switches the mood from dystopian to apocalyptic. What’s important is that while the lyrics are rather dark, the songs are absolutely catchy and should get you moving in no time at all. However, for the second half of the album the artist switches to the topic of nostalgia. You might think that the guy is too young to have any real nostalgic feelings, but it helps to know that Bohdan had to leave Ukraine with his parents in 2022, when the Russian invasion started, and only came back home sometime last year. So, when “Neon Dream” was recorded, Bohdan was still abroad and obviously missed Ukraine. As such, the two topics are never far away from each other, with songs like “Remember Your Home” (track No. 6) combining the bitter-sweet homesickness with the sensation of something darker lurking in the background. Similarly, the “dystopian” songs are dark but not really hopeless, always projecting defiance and readiness to take a stand against the darker forces of the world.
Are all the songs equally good though? I would say that the ones with fully developed choruses are more impactful, as opposed to those that only have refrains repeating one or two lines. However, the album’s sonic uniformity and focus is an asset here, as it makes all the songs feel like equally important parts of the whole picture. The featured artists are also an important make-or-break factor. For example, SadSvit does a fine job setting the stage for Sweatcult’s feature in “Darkness”, but the feature itself is just a few lines delivered quickly in slightly broken English. Nothing outrageous, but hardly an essential addition. In contrast, Yelysaveta Uhlach from rave project “Struktura Shchastya” helps to close the album on a high note. “Silhouettes” is already one of the strongest and catchiest songs on “Neon Dream,” marking the return to dystopian themes, but Yelyzaveta adds some extra flavor to the song, delivering macabre lyrics with her innocent, girlish voice.
So, there you go. Sometimes it’s better to keep things simple. What exactly is Neon Dream? It is a fine little album of catchy dystopian music. I think fans of the genre can enjoy it even without understanding the lyrics. Who exactly is SadSvit? I think his BandCamp description is the perfect answer to this question. He is a Ukrainian musician who loves post-punk. Simple as that.
