A rapidly-paced tribute to Ukraine

In 1999, a vivacious force emerged from Manhattan: Gogol Bordello. Punk rock, with a twist of polka, incorporates both English and Ukrainian lyrics with enough instruments for a small orchestra. In addition to rock staples like guitar, bass and drums, Gogol Bordello features violin, accordion, saxophone and marimba, and that’s just the start. Their sound is feisty, raw, and charmingly turbulent, and their newest album is no exception. Not for the faint of heart, Sept. 16 release Solidaritine screams in the face of corruption with 13 fast-paced tracks.

The album’s first track “Shot of Solidaritine” ushers in a brief guitar strum before lead vocalist Eugene Hütz takes the mic. His eerie, rich delivery of phrases like “deep deep deep obscurity” in the first verse possesses a storytelling quality. From there, anticipation builds to a chorus brimming with elegant, soprano backup vocals and layered instruments. The song jumps between melodies until a quieter, isolated repetition of the opening verse offers a contrast to the final return of their folk-like symphonic chorus.

“Focus Coin” doesn’t waste time. The single opens with paradoxical lyrics that challenge the listener’s view of oneself: “Have you noticed you just can’t focus? If you can’t focus, how can you notice?” From there, Hütz ponders distrust, an ambient theme throughout the piece. The singer hints at politicians, complaining that people lie “professionally.” He states that his ex-girlfriend and her new man believe in “the flat Earth,” a debunked-myth popular for its absurdity. “Focus Coin” urges listeners to question honesty; deception will continue, but listeners must focus to avoid buying into lies that others “sell.” The tune closes with a high-pitched siren emulating the breakneck timing of the repeated chorus lyric “Lying lying lying.”

The album’s other single, “Take Only What You Can Carry,” captures the desperation of Ukrainian refugees forced to flee their homes. Gogol Bordello takes lyrics from the 2015 poem “Take Only What Is Most Important” by Serhiy Zhadan. The band collaborates with the Ukrainian pop group Kazka. Together they sing about the struggles faced by millions of Ukrainians following Russia’s invasion. The theme is emotionally shattering but necessary to spread awareness, encourage empathy and ultimately spark change. The song’s quick tempo communicates anxiety, briefly soothed by the harmonization of Hütz and Kazka vocalist Oleksandra Zaritska.

Gogol Bordello teams up with Zhadan and Kazka, in a fearless anthem for Ukraine: “Forces of Victory.” Though Ukrainian lyrics appear throughout the album, “Forces of Victory” differs as it’s almost completely in Ukrainian. The track trickles in with edgy, muted strings before an explosion of violin. Layers of polka-laced percussion, charge towards a powerful verse that draws from rock elements such as hard-hitting electric guitar chords and steady, head-banging thumps. The tone consistently flip-flops between the verses and chorus, creating an illusion of two different songs entirely, yet grounded by theme and repetitive phrasing. Poetic lyrics speak of bravery and resilience, while chants “I can’t go on, I will go on” consider the battle within oneself during times of crisis. 

“Imaginary Son” creeps in with a short catchy melody of string-picking, then flows into Hütz’s comparatively softer vocals as he sings to a child, presumably his imaginary son. With a captivating build, this song is significantly calmer than others on Solidaritine, until the chorus hits double time. Though Gogol Bordello’s signature whiplash transitions are exciting, this song could benefit from a consistent pace. The listener begins entranced by character and story development before the thrust of a whirlwind chorus strays from the theme.

In Solidaritine, Gogol Bordello leans into sharp transitions, diverse instrumentation, impossibly fast tempos and brutally honest lyrics more than ever before. The pace and tone often change multiple times within one song, which threatens to overwhelm. However, the rambunctious and unapologetic nature of their music also defines them. In a world of increasingly polished production, Gogol Bordello’s untamed artistry is quite refreshing.