EP REVIEW: Ziferblat – Of Us

‘…whilst even more accessible to the masses, still retains all of the magic that makes Ziferblat’s material so captivating…’

Author’s Note: It is difficult to know how to define this project, sitting comfortably somewhere between a full LP and an EP. Based off the Wikipedia article for this release, and its shorter run-time, I’ve listed it as an EP, but should the artists state that this is an LP, or something else entirely, revisions will be made to how this review is entitled – Ryan

Ziferblat are a Ukrainian trio composed of twins Daniil and Valentyn Leshchynskyi, on vocals and guitar respectively, and drummer Fedir Khodakov. The band have been around since 2015, with a debut EP released in 2017, followed by an appearance on Ukraine’s ‘X-Factor’ in 2019. A debut record, entitled ‘Peretvorennya’, would go on to be released in 2023.

Yet it seems clear that one major ambition for this outfit is to represent their country at Eurovision, with a long listed entry in 2023 and an entry that came second in their national selection in 2024. This year, however, sees the band getting their wish, with their track ‘Bird of Pray’. Accompanying this song is an EP of English language tracks that the band admittedly recorded with haste in intense conditions. Despite this, ‘Of Us’ feels far from rushed, and instead offers a wonderfully accessible insight into the world of Ziferblat.

‘City‘ is a gloriously bombastic opening number, with its disco stylings being brought to life by the brass fanfares and playful synth melodies. The bridge is a luscious listening experience, with a rousing saxophone solo played out over bouncing, danceable beats. ‘Good Boy, Good Girl‘ drives forwards with a retro-rock flair, with bright synths punctuating the track over playful guitar licks and brilliantly performed bass lines. The guitar solo in the tracks back half is a blistering performance, with a perfectly distorted tone that lends it an undeniably cool energy.

Vocalist Leshchynskyi is a superb performer across the entirety of the EP, with a distinctive, theatrical tone to his vocals that carry both power and whimsy. No more is this the case than on the tender yet cinematic ‘Of Us‘, which feels perhaps a little Elton John in its presentation; you cannot help but feel utterly charmed by the amount of heart that Leshchynskyi puts into their performance. This is also the case on the glittering closing number ‘Reachin’ Out‘, which sees Leshchynskyi demonstrating both his robust lower register and serene, yet captivating upper register.

Of course, the big number of this project is the band’s Eurovision entry, ‘Bird of Pray‘, which wholly eschews any preconceptions one may have of a Eurovision entry. Leaning fully into the band’s art rock and prog rock sound, the track sees them alternating between rapturous, folk-tinged chanting and soaring choruses. The symphonic elements are done in a gorgeously tasteful manner, working perfectly to elevate the track’s rock elements, rather than burying them. Despite the complexity, the band also manage to ensure that the melodies are deeply infectious and accessible; it is the sort of track that will serve as somebody’s gateway to these alternative music spaces, especially when performed upon such a large platform.

There is sometimes a fear that when an artist forgoes their mother tongue in favour of producing something in English, part of their art becomes lost in translation, or perhaps is even willingly discarded for mass appeal. Yet ‘Of Us‘ avoids these pitfalls to create something that, whilst even more accessible to the masses, still retains all of the magic that makes Ziferblat’s material so captivating. There is a real guarantee that, regardless of what the European public make of this band, the alternative music community will welcome them with open arms.

RATING: 77/100 – Mostly Very Good

For Fans Of: The Dear Hunter, Muse, The Family Crest, Dirt Poor Robins

Follow the band on social media below:

Instagram // Spotify

Resources regarding support for Ukraine during the ongoing Russian invasion can be found below. The list is by no means exhaustive.

British Red Cross // Medecins Sans Frontiers // UNICEF // Caritas Ukraine // Amnesty // Prytula Foundation