There
are a lot of hot-spots for music today. Cross into Germany or head towards
Texas for industrial. Stop by Detroit for electronica. Seattle has a
strong EBM/electronica scene. NYC for its underground trance/goa parties.
UK has the goth-rock scene locked up pretty good. But Russia? Do they even
have music? A resounding "Yes!" comes from the Russian Gothic
Project - a loosely collected group of journalists, organizers and
musicians from the big red country up north. RGP just released their first
CD - a compilation upon which one can find a very diverse and broad
collection of music from some of Russia's contenders in the dark music
arena. I admit I haven't heard of a single band listed here on this 16
track compilation - but frankly, that's what compilations are all about.
Introductions.
For the past three years the RGP have been working on the Russian Gothic Page (http://www.gothic.ru) with an impressive layout, great design and boundless collection of information on their scene. I urge you to check it out if even for a second you think there is no gothic or related scene up their way. They beg to differ - after perusing it a bit, I'd have to agree. There is a strong scene there so it seems.
Also be sure to check out the Russian Gothic Project's compilation area of their web site. On it can be found in-depth information on the bands that contributed to the compilation, their music, contact information - it's really an excellently done site. If there's any band here that you like that you want to know more about, just swing by http://music.gothic.ru/compilation_e.htm and you'll have everything you need. A well put together, professional and informative CD and supporting site.
Now onward to the music of Edge of the Night. There are a lot of musical genres shown here. From ethereal to experimental, rock to electronic. This CD surely runs the gamut of musical make-up. But it's a good representation of what Russia does have to offer to the scene. Some good, some not so…but all trying their damnedest to put Russia on the Gothic Map. Some advice on the CD jacket - use a stronger text. I found myself having to retype web addresses as the text and white-on-blue style used makes c's look like e's, etc. Onward to the tracks!
Contact Information - The
Russian Gothic Project:
E-Mail:
coroner@gothic.ru
Web:
http://www.gothic.ru
Canonis - Snow River
An ethereal, folky sound permeates Snow River. Canonis is a
powerful band with strong arrangement skills. The guitar leads off the
track and when other instruments step up they all come in at once. Vocals
are female fronted with a diva-like approach. Quite a good track, though
the large assortment of instruments can tend to mask the otherwise
beautiful vocalist.
Contact Information -
Canonis:
Post: Islamov T., P.O. Box 36, Naberezhnye Chelny,
Tatarstan, 423805, Russia
E-Mail: canonis@mail.ru
Caprice - Princess Mee
Beautifully ethereal with medieval strumming, Caprice's "Music
Of The Elves" is bright and soothing. The vocals are female again,
and very well done, traipsing along a high-road path. Light and high, the
wind instrument (flute) and string instrument (violin I'm guessing) is
superb during the breakdown. You can almost see the faye in the woodlands
on this one. Princess Mee is good, albeit an acquired taste I'm
sure. But being a Ren-Faire type guy, I was right at home.
Contact Information -
Caprice:
Post: 15-242, Eltitskaya str., Moscow, 121552,
Russia
E-Mail: elvencaprice@mail.ru
Web: http://www.kulichki.com/pmusic/caprice/
Romowe Rikoito - Elegy
Another ethereal style piece with heavy strings, Elegy
differs in that it is slower and moodier. It has a more morose sound and
the vocals are male this time - harmonic and slow. Might be a little too
slow and the instruments are extremely minimal, made up of a string chord
progression that remains throughout the track that doesn't change much at
all - just kind of sits there. There are other instruments that help out,
but this chord hold steals attention as it is set quite loud in the track
and, again, defies the other instruments by just sitting there.
Contact Information -
Romowe Rikoito:
E-Mail: niktorius@mail.ru
No Man's Land - Falling Into
the Night
Picking up the pace now with a goth-rock
ensemble, No Man's Child's Falling Into the Night is a
well-arranged piece of music. Harking back to the older-skool days with a
more Curelike/Bauhausian arrangement, Falling Into the Night has
an impressive male vocalist and the instruments are well represented with
separate music scores that work well together. Lyrics are in Russian, too.
The mood of the song is not lost to those who don't speak the language,
however - the chorale sections are very well done. A good male vocalist,
as I said.
Contact Information - No
Man's Land:
E-Mail: vagonka@gazinter.net
Web: http://www.koenig.su/win/koenig_music/nomans.htm
Neutral - Playroom
Back a little to the ethereal side of things where we began, Neutral
however add a stronger rock style to their strumming style. The keyboard
melody is cool and metal-tinged, the strumming guitars well played, but
maybe set a little too high on the pick-up. Male vocals are low and bassy
and forces the song to drag a bit. Could have used more mix-up of the
instrument scores I think. Pick up the pace a bit and add a little shine
to the vocals. Playroom gets so moody and angsty your depression
will implode you.
Contact Information -
Neutral:
E-Mail: neutral@mail.ru
Web: http://neutral.gothic.ru/
Dvar - Taai Liira
What the fuck is this? Industrial/experimental noise with an
otherwise nice beat, but what the hell is with the vocals? They scrape,
whine, tear into your ears and I SWARE TO GOTH it sounds like the dude is
saying "Arriba arriba ondele!" How the hell did a Looney Tunes
mouse get in the studio? Probably some of the most annoying vocals since…well,
hell, I don't even know.
Contact Information -
Dvar:
E-Mail: el_sadday@mail.ru
Web: http://dark.gothic.ru/dvar/
Damsel's Dream - Elegy for
rhythm-box
After Taai Liira I figured anything
would be an improvement - but the opening keyboard thinga-ma-jig of Elegy
for rhythm-box had me running for the Bayer. However, dump that
annoying opening and the track isn't too bad. A collection of vocals with
a minimal beat and electronics, the female vocals are twined against each
other in an interesting arrangement. The upper echelon vocals are kind of
high though - reaching for a soprano level that is almost mind numbing.
Contact Information - Damsel's
Dream:
E-Mail: devson@newmail.ru
Phantom Bertha - Igni Natura
Renovatur Integra
We're into the heavier electronics
again. Russian lyrics done with a Bauhausian flair, Igni has a deep bass
line and interesting keyboards. However, other than the drum track, that's
about all it has. Very minimal - keyboards, bass, metronomic drum line and
vocals. It could have stood to have more added to it, I'm sure. But
otherwise a decent old-skool punky song.
Contact Information -
Phantom Bertha:
Post: Russia, 191025, Saint-Peterburg,
Nevsky pr., 63-25, Laskin S.
Dreams - Cloud of Dreams
Opening with flowing water and light thunder, Cloud of Dreams
brings us back to more of an ethereal nature, but this time imbued with
trance-like keyboard chords and flowing female vocals reminiscent of My
Scarlet Life. The beat track is bongo-style and very low key, allowing the
keyboards and vocals to mesh together in the first portion of the song. A
stronger beat/bass line comes in later, adding a definitive rhythm to the
piece. Quite well done!
Contact Information -
Dreams:
E-Mail: rwcd@mail.ru
Cyclotimia - Paradise X
Thought Russia was bereft of industrial dance bands early on in the
review, didn't you? Well maybe - but they have a strong up and comer in
the swirly Paradise X from Moscow's Cyclotimia. Combining a
grooving trance/EBM style with industrial samples and flowing
synthesizers, Paradise X is a very nice piece and definitely worth
dropping the X to. Later the drum rolls get more stompable, windy and keys
get a little technoish just to keep things moving along at a good pace.
Rather experimental in places, they could have laid off the
music-swallowing keyboard arrangements at times as well.
Contact Information -
Cyclotimia:
E-Mail: cyclotimia@mail.ru
Web: http://cyclotimia.gothic.ru
Lunophobia - Under the Snow
Synth-poppy, light, breezy, beautiful keyboard melodies, wonderful
female vocals. Under the Snow is a highlight of this compilation.
Fresh and new sounding and arranged with flair and aplomb. Whispered vocal
lines and, a bit later, a great bass line (albeit a little too hidden
under the keys) and drum track. Saint Petersburg bred some fine musicians
in Lunophobia.
Contact Information -
Lunophobia:
Post: Russia, 198096, St. Petersburg, Zina
Portnova str., 11-146, Ivchuk E.V.
E-Mail: sg@ru.ru
Web: http://dark.gothic.ru/lunophobia/
Djembe - Tourdion
Fast violins and strumming guitars in this very ethnic track. Flutes
wind to the clouds with the violins later, twisting in and out of each
other. Gets slower and brooding later with added keys and a bongo style
beat. I can appreciate very much the quality of the violins here, but I'm
not sure it fits a "gothic compilation." A nice song nonetheless
- if you really try you can probably lump it into the ethereal genre if
you wanted to.
Contact Information -
Djembe:
Post: Sablin D., Krasnoobsk 8123, Novosibirskaya
obl., 633128, Russia
E-Mail:
filosof@windoms.sitek.net
Web: http://www.sol.ru/Culture/Djembe/djinfo_e.htm
Kratong - Echoes of Sinking
Ships
My other favorite from this compilation,
Kaliningrad's Kratong create a folk atmosphere with beautiful
string arrangements. Vocals are near-whisper and hidden beneath the
instruments for a nice effect in this case. A very emotional track with
soul-tweaking instrumentals. Very enjoyable.
Contact Information -
Kratong:
Post: 14-9, Svobodnaya str., Kaliningrad, 236000,
Russia
E-Mail: johnny@balttv.com
Moon
Far Away - December of Times
Bells bells bells.
Everywhere bonging bells. Non-rhythmic and not very satisfying at the
outset, the song at least grows after about a minute of bonging around.
Orchestrational keyboards blend in with the ringing and suddenly there's a
chick cumming her brains out on high. It's better than the outset - but
the chick is too loud and blaring on the upper reaches of soprano. You
could deafen the vet's office customers with this track.
Contact Information -
Moon Far Away:
Post: Russia, 163061, Arkhangelsk, P.O.Box
215, Andrey Turusinov
E-Mail:
results_ark@hotmail.com
Web: http://www.gothic.ru/mfa/
TNT Art - Better Than You
Opening with a sample down on society, TNT Art's Better Than You
starts like a chameleon - you expect to hear some heavy industrial.
Instead it goes into a very noisy and brashly orchestrated rock style
song. The arrangement isn't so good, with a very powerful
keyboard/electronic mix with heavy beats and bass. During vocal sections
the heavy orchestral soundings tone down so you can hear the guy talk.
Contact Information - TNT
Art:
E-Mail: tntart@mail.ru
Web: http://www.chat.ru/~stas242/tnt0.html
Cisfinitum - De Profundis
Slow and droning. De Profundis is a sleep-inducing track with
ambient keyboard styles and a droning bass and drum. A little more is
added as the song moves on, but it never quite throws off the sleepy drone
of its rhythm. Female vocals that attempt to meld with the ambient synth
scores later on.
Contact Information -
Cisfinitum:
Post: Russia, 113152, Moscow, Sevastopolsky,
pr., 5-3-6
