Lucy Fitzgerald 
Brothers Ivan continue their long-running work with “Ukrainian Folk Music, Vol. IX: Long Road to Freedom”. This release brings together 15 tracks over about 43 minutes, built around Ukrainian folk material and shaped with a clear focus on traditional sound and storytelling. The project sits comfortably within their ongoing series, where older village songs and images of everyday life are kept alive in recorded form. Throughout the album, the track list alternates between calm, reflective pieces and livelier folk numbers. Titles like “Small Cherry Orchard”. “Oh, the Vineyard”. and “Buckwheat Pancakes”. point straight toward rural life, food, land, and seasonal routines. The performances stay close to acoustic roots, with vocals leading the direction and instruments supporting without crowding the space. Everything is kept direct, almost like a gathering where songs are passed along in real time.
There are quieter moments, such as “A Snowstorm” and “Moon, Light up the Night”. where the pacing slows, and the atmosphere opens up a bit more. These sit next to brighter pieces like “I Sing, I Sing,” which brings a more upbeat energy into the mix. The contrast between these sections helps the album stay engaging from start to finish without losing its folk identity. Brothers Ivan keep the focus on tradition rather than studio polish or heavy arrangement. That choice gives the record a grounded character, with each track serving as a brief glimpse into cultural memory. Nothing here tries to overextend itself, and that restraint helps the songs land with clarity.
My personal impression is that the album works best in quiet listening moments where the details in the performances can be noticed without distraction. I also found myself drawn to how naturally the vocals sit on each track, almost as if they were meant to be shared rather than performed. “Ukrainian Folk Music, Vol. IX: Long Road to Freedom”. closes as a steady continuation of Brothers Ivan’s archive of folk material, shaped by simplicity, voice, and cultural memory.
Listening to songs so you don’t have to! Just kidding :D, you totally should. Music blogger by day, nurse by night
