Pantheon

Composer Igor Yakovenko and drummer Petr Ivshin present their new album “Pantheon” on the FANCYMUSIC label. Dedicated to the mythology of the ancient Slavs, the record blends jazz, electronics, and academic minimalism. Yakovenko shapes the melodic landscape, while Ivshin defines the rhythmic pulse. “Pantheon” reimagines Slavic culture through sound, where traditions are intertwined with contemporary influences, creating a distinctive and unrepeatable voice.

“Pantheon” explores the myths of gods, idols, heroes, and rituals of the ancient Slavs. With little written evidence from the pagan era, most knowledge is speculation. The album recreates this world through imagination, drawing on travelers’ tales and surviving chronicles.

Rather than quoting folklore, the music is a cycle of reflections shaped by modern instruments and techniques. Research into the works of Veselovsky, Potebnya, and Hilferding, along with scholarly materials, became points of departure for inspiration.

The cover and illustrations are by artist Nestor Engelke, who practices “wood painting”: carving patterns into wood with an axe to create a form of “proto-painting.” His visuals extend the album’s mythic atmosphere into a parallel world of images.