Spencer Smith of WHAT'S THE POINT? from Cologne wrote:

FULL DISCLAIMER: My views (as well as feelings) are biased on account of having the honor to have already experienced this living piece of art not only on stage but also on a personal level over a few beers in a dimly lit bar in Cologne.

First off, I’m not sure I’m into the idea of describing this album from a musical perspective. To be honest, I don’t think anyone should. No words can describe the power, intensity, insanity and overall brilliance that is found within the seven songs of Morwan’s Svitaye, Palaye. Already have I tried to pitch the musical endeavors of Morwan to fellow promoters as well as critics but alas, despite their passionate interest and love for the musician’s overall work, I always walk away feeling as though I’ve failed at explaining what is in all reality a rare and genuine piece of art that is reflective of the world we live in.

Let’s not beat around the bush. We’re at war (with strong fears that it’ll only get worse) and the morale of the common people is drastically fading away. A desire for decadence as well as selfish-hedonism has left us struggling deeply to connect with one another not only in terms of unity over our crumbling surroundings but also on the most basic of personal levels.

And then comes Alex Ashtaui aka Morwan, a walking reminder not only of the struggles/fears that face us in the east but also of the overall struggle to capture a moment of simplistic beauty in-between all the hardships the Ukrainians collectively endure. Those of you who have had the opportunity to see him live should know what I’m talking about. And if not, then I’d prefer to not sit in a bar with you in the future.

You don’t need to know Ukrainian to feel and understand the emotions which are invoked from the beginning, middle and end of this record. And when you think about it, you don’t really need to put any serious thought into the ritualistic process of listening to this album. INSTEAD, you need to let your heart and imagination do all the work for you. That’s when you’ll see (and feel) what I mean. The previous critiques were on point in describing the essence of what’s inside Svitaye, Palaye in terms of emotional chaos and all the painful feelings that follow the devastating experience of fleeing the great horror that is the war in the east. But, with that being said, there’s so much more here!

There are glimpses of beauty found here, the truest form of beauty. It’s the kind of beauty that is found in the few memories left of a simpler and more innocent time, the kind of beauty that is found when a stranger insists on buying you beer in a bar and asks where you’re from when you’re short on cash and have no future set in stone, the kind of beauty that is felt and seen when finally resting on a park bench and watching children smile with their parents relieved that things are okay for at least a moment.

The word “ART” has most certainly become a heated topic in terms of how we define it, especially when you consider the fact that we’re living in an age is that is starved for genuine originality as well as sincerity. For me, the greatest works art have always pertained to everything and anything connected to the universal suffering of human existence, not just in sense of pointing it out (as well as all the human hypocrisies that have followed) but also the never ending struggle of coming to terms with it as well as the pursuit of justice and peace on its behalf. With all of that being said, Morwan’s Svitaye, Palaye is one of those great pieces of art and arguably one of our strongest yet.

Because of Morwan, I have experienced what is undoubtedly a piece of genuine beauty without the need to be nostalgic and frustrated at the idea of our generation being out of touch with reality. There will now forever be a piece of my heart in tears over this album and I can’t wait for you to experience this as well.

If you find yourself being one of the few individuals in possession of Svitaye, Palaye in physical form, please know that you’re not only holding a piece of modern art, but a future relic of a history that we’ll never forget. Slava Ukraini!