Gamardah Fungus 'Trees and Roots' [CD]

This special limited edition release is in a run of 100 copies, modelled around the classic gatefold vinyl LP. It includes printed front, rear and inner sleeves featuring cover photography by Anton Pavlyukov, with design by Andrew Heath. There is also a card sleeve housing a gold vinyl-effect CDr.

Gamardah Fungus is the collaborative project between Ukrainian musicians Igor Yalivec and Sergio Berry, based in the city of Dnipro. Since forming in 2009, the duo has explored the intersections of Ambient, drone, and experimental music, releasing on many labels including Flaming Pines, Polar Seas Recordings, and Hidden Vibes. Their sound world is informed as much by cinema, folklore and mysticism as by music itself, drawing from classical, jazz, noise and minimalism, with influences that include Eric Satie, Krzysztof Penderecki, Fennesz, Stockhausen and Bohren & Der Club of Gore. Over the years, Gamardah Fungus have built a reputation for their atmospheric live performances and conceptual studio work, often inspired by the landscapes and cultural heritage of their homeland.

Trees and Roots marks a significant shift in the duo’s creative process. For the first time, they abandoned the guitar that had been central to their previous work and here they embraced a more tactile, exploratory approach. Sergio used a series of custom electroacoustic instruments using unconventional materials: wooden and plastic boxes, strings, stones and even paper envelopes fitted with piezoelectric sensors. These objects were manipulated, processed through pedals, and layered into intricate textures. Alongside these are Igor’s immersive Ambient drones created by using Eurorack modular synthesizers. Field recordings gathered across Ukraine from over the years add another dimension of intimacy, anchoring the album in the natural and cultural environments that inspired it. No virtual instruments were used; the entire project was captured, mixed and mastered in the analog domain.

Written during an ongoing time of conflict in Ukraine, this album carries with it a deep emotional and cultural resonance. Rather than respond to these challenges directly, Igor and Sergio chose to look inward toward the enduring symbols of their heritage. Trees and Roots is dedicated to the mythology, folklore and natural beliefs of their ancestors. Trees have long been sacred in Ukrainian culture, representing strength, wisdom and spiritual continuity. Each track bears the Latin name of a tree revered in these traditions, reflecting both its physical roots and the metaphorical roots of identity and belonging. In this sense, the album is both a personal and cultural statement: a meditation on resilience, memory and the quiet power of nature to heal and sustain.

The sound of Trees and Roots is meditative yet charged with a fragile tension, balancing organic resonance and abstract tones. Drones swell like distant winds through the forest while percussive textures suggest movement beneath the surface. It is an album of layers and spaces, inviting deep listening and reflection. At its heart lies a quiet determination: to preserve the stories and symbols that shape a people, even in times of uncertainty and upheaval. 

Written, produced and mastered by Gamardah Fungus
Cover photography by Anton Pavlyukov
Artist photography by Yuriy Bulychev
Art and design by Andrew Heath