progressive
Total Station “Semiconductors” 2010
This is the second release of Saint-Petersburg’s experimental
project Total Station which was made in the vein of free avant-
prog.
This record was made by analog synths and tone generators player
Vladimir Kabanov with Ivan Rozmainsky, leader and keyboardist of
Roz Vitalis which is one of the most important modern progressive
bands in Russia.
Two long tracks named as two common semiconducting materials -
germanium and silicon. This way of entitling compositions is
developing a subject of a first Total Station record, Live At
Radio Weimar, which was devoted to the first steps of
electrification of the Soviet Union.
Contrast between rough and heavy industrial noizes and gentle
piano accompanied by flutes instantly changes to agressive
staccatos and dark electronic howls, but in the same time the
sound keeps as clear as a lo-fi record can be. The harmony lines
rapidly dissapearing in atonal sweeps, but when you’re starting to
forget the beginning, it’s coming back, sometimes as a whisper and
sometimes as a hypnotic manifestation!
I think that this strange and unusual record will be a nice
surprise for every fan of improvised non-jazz music.
Uwe Papke.
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alt.link
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Horizont “Summer in town” 1985
This unique album have a many different reviews on english on “Progarchives”,you can read it here
http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=4942
Чебоксарская группа Горизонт – случай уникальный,играя с семидесятых годов,”инструментальный ансамбль тракторного завода”(это не шутка,а официальный статус команды),умудрился выпустить на фирме Мелодия(!) два полноценных альбома сложного симфо-авант-прога на виниле.Впрочем “Лето в городе” получилось ещё довольно мягким.Второй альбом “Портрет мальчика” нарисовался куда мрачнее.
Горизонт,несмотря на полную забытость отечественными слушателями,неоднократно переиздавался на CD на Западе и наряду с Високосным Летом,одна из наиболее известных классических русских рок-групп.
DOWNLOAD MP3 ALBUM/ СКАЧАТЬ АЛЬБОМ МР3:
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GONG(Russian line-up) “Pentanine” 2004
- Arkady Kuznetsov / Electric guitar
- Alexai Pleschunov / Bass guitar
- Meehail Ogorodov / Keyboards, hand drum & percussions, recorder, underwater voice
- Pierre Moerlen / Drums, vibraphone, xylophone, programming
Special Guest:
- Alexander Lutsky / Muted trum
“Pierre Moerlen’s last album, sadly. Recorded in 2002 but not released until 2004. This one’s a bit of an oddball release in and of itself. Daevid Allen had long taken back over the helm of Gong. Pierre had stuck to the Gong name when Daevid departed and eventually, officially became an offshoot under the moniker, Pierre Moerlen’s Gong. Gong is something of a hydra headed thing. Some of the guys in that outfit split off into Gongzilla and here’s Pierre in a totally new outfit with Russian musicians. Recorded in St. Petersburg, Russia no less. Where as Gongzilla has been doing things in a less electronics style, these guys don’t shy away from the synths.
The opening Flyin’ High is almost a little tribute to DA’s Gong. Airway To Seven is more in the style of songs on Expresso II with a little ’70’s cheese fusion tossed in, but not too much. Pentanine part one, ah the hypnotic vibes or xybes, not sure I’ve ever learned to tell them apart, dreamy. Au Chalet sounds rather unique to this version of PM’s Gong, it’s got a lot of that Gong’s elements, but the stamp of one of their own inventions.
Trip a la Mode, nice, very Crimson Discipliney or maybe Trey Gunn-ish. Reminiscence starts off with an odd synth whooshing and then Pierre launches into a nice vibing a nice track for letting your mind wander back into the past. Interlude, just that. Classique’s another one very close to some of the old PMsG. Pierre holds down a great groove on the drum kit and shows why that drum machine craze of the ’80’s was so regrettable. Lacheur is another song to satisfy your PMsG craving you may have been having, most of the songs being somewhat laid back, this one is a bit more heavy Has a nice section for the keyboardist to synthesize at the end.
Bleu Nuit brings to mind some Bruford material from a while back. The guitarist definitely has some Holdsworth in him. Pentaine part two a little PMsG meets Shamal. Montagnes Russes the Russian Mountains has a special guest on muted trumpet doing an impression of Miles. Troyka wraps things up spiraling vibes or is it xibes once again?, ends with the sounds of a light rain and some odd clips of voices.
There’s just so much of what I liked about the old Gong/Pierre Moerlen’s Gong present here and it’s not stale rehash. I wouldn’t have been surprised to see this lineup still making good albums to this day.”
Review from
http://www.progarchives.com
* Пьер Мерлен (ударные, вибрафон, ксилофон, программирование),
* Аркадий Кузнецов (электрогитара),
* Алексей Плещунов (басгитара),
* Михаил Огородов (синтезаторы, рояль, перкуссия, блок-флейта, «подводный» голос),
* Александр Луцкий (труба).
«Pentanine» — последний прижизненный альбом Пьера Мерлена. Записан в мае—июне 2002 года, выпущен на CD только осенью 2004 года. Переиздан для распространения в Европе фирмой Musea Records.
DOWNLOAD MP3 GONG/СКАЧАТЬ МР3 GONG:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=A7J0DDUB
P.A.U.T.I.N.A. “Thoughts Aloud” 2010 EP
Exellent mix of different musical styles – jazz,metal,progressive rock…I feel sometimes influences of King Crimson,but full misical picture of the band very original, and make themself one of most interesting collectives from Crimea.
ПАУТИНА – это синтез, образование разноплановых форм мышления и чувств.
Нынешний вид группа ПАУТИНА, после долгих преобразований обрела в середине 2009 года. В том же году идет череда концертов на летних фестивалях, концертных площадках. Энергетика живых выступлений подталкивает к студийной работе, и так, в начале 2010 года появляются записанные композиции. Эксперименты со звучанием не оставляют равнодушным слушателя, погружая в атмосферу неизведанных ощущений и приглашают в путешествие за бесформенной идеей.
Записаны 3 композиции: PFSII ( про Половину Фонарного Столба и Искосок), Time (Время), Troglobiont (Троглобионт).
ПАУТИНА это скорее организм, нежели машина, более образ, чем воплощение, вероятнее запятая, нежели точка.
DOWNLOAD MP3/СКАЧАТЬ МР3: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MO0H2655
Extrovert “Razbudiv okean” 2005
Hello friends,before I go to little holidays,I want keeps you something really exellent…
This great album from the seasoned Irkutsk musicians will stir interest in a broad spectrum of listeners. It will appeal to both the younger fans of the heavy guitar riffs, and to the old-schoolers, who, brought up on the art-rock classics, will discover in it a plentitude of sweet melodies and structures. Masterfully performed in Russian, this exotic album enriches the world of prog-rock and gives yet another reason to be proud of the Russian bands that play quality rock in languages other than English.
DOWNLOAD MP3 / СКАЧАТЬ МР3:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=D747A0OF
Roz Vitalis “Unapproachable Light of the Sky” 2009
Unofficial Live Album
track-list
1. Irresponsible (26-04-09)
2. Thinking About Cheshire Cat (26-04-09)
3. Autumn Crocus (01-05-09)
4. Wooden Bear/Annihilator of Moral Hazard (01-05-09)
5. Compassionizer Medley (Piano Solo)/Disruption/Theme from the Great Gig in the Sky (01-05-09)
“Unapproachable Light of the Sky, Live at ESG-21, Spring’09” is an unofficial album registering an experience of ROZ VITALIS live gigs in Experimental Sound Gallery which is the cult underground place in Saint-Petersburg. It is a very special club creating special atmosphere. Ivan Rozmainsky – mastermind of ROZ VITALIS – uses (together with “usual” synths) a treasure of this club – acoustic vertical piano “Krasny Oktyabr” (“Red October”). It enriches sound of the band. At least, therefore, this recording is not a substitute for official live album of the band “Live at Mezzo Forte, Moscow, September’09”. Track-list includes both some unreleased stuff and excerpts from fifth studio album titled “Compassionizer” which is one of the most famous ROZ VITALIS releases. These excerpts – “Annihilator of Moral Hazard”, “Compassionizer Medley (Piano Solo)”, and “Disruption” – together with theme from Floydian “The Great Gig in the Sky” impressively concludes this album. Recommended for all lovers of experimental music including elements of avantprog, symphoprog, psychedelia and other styles.
Download MP3:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OWGZAAXO
Dialogue “Pod odnim nebom” 1981
On this very rare record Dialogue perform classic late 70’s sympho-prog.Themes for conceptual russian lirycs are typical for art-rock bands – forever ethic questions,secrets of human soul…
Excellent present for all who wants find something absolutely new and exotic from classic progressive rock.
Melodia “Labyrinth” 1974
Nice mix of jazz and progressive rock.This excellent album is a real 70’s classic,forgotten long time and found again
Infront “Wordless” 2005
“INFRONT ( originally INVISIBLE FRONT ) is a Moscow-based instrumental band, formed at the end of the 20th century by four musicians from various backgrounds and experiences who decided to join their efforts in creative energy storage and capture of non-verbal contact resonance. Their efforts in reaching for both inner and outer harmony are incarnated in a series of self-sufficient compositions with distinct, memorable themes. As regards their style, it may be defined in most cases as progressive-rock/post-rock/fusion, with similar genres taken into account.
The band features two guitars – Garry Uporoff, Dmitry Chernishev, bass – Alexander Meshcheryakov, and drums – KS (plus Oleg Anurin on keyboards and flute).
Their full-length debut album, “Wordless”, was released in October 2005 by the RAIG label. The melody, stylistic versatility, compositional variety, and sense of proportion shown by the five musicians are the things that most draw the attention of reviewers and listeners. Bands such as ANEKDOTEN, INDUKTI, TOOL, DJAM KARET, and KING CRIMSON are usually mentioned among their sources of inspiration. Highly recommended for all lovers of modern prog, and for those who are interested in exploring Russian prog!”
Igor (Prog-jester) – January 2007
DOWNLOAD MP3 ALBUM / СКАЧАТЬ МР3 АЛЬБОМ
Arlekin “Disguise Serenades” 2008
ARLEKIN is another Prog-Jester’s project (also KROBAK, STONED JESUS, VOIDA, FUNERAL OF THE SUN, etc). Inspired by 80s British Neo-Prog movement, it has anything Neo-Prog is loved/hated for: theatrical ”out-of-tune” vocals, emotional lyrics, long tracks with complex structures but without ”in-your-face” musicianship. With early GENESIS, Fish’s MARILLION, IQ and Clive Nolan’s SHADOWLAND being main influences, ARLEKIN’s debut demo/album suffers from low recording quality, but if you’re into underground lo-fi stuff you may even enjoy it. This is for you, perverts 
Alexander Kostarev Group “Live@InProg” 2003
With a funny neo-barock intro of 9 seconds this well recorded concert recording starts. The group plays firstly some heavy and upbeat and energetic progressive instrumental rock with at least some small portion jazzrock abilities and some rhythmic changes, and with a straight rocking drive with endless energy, played by some Hammond organ and other keyboards, lots of vibrant violin, fuzz guitars and some flute mostly. This is composed music with an improvisational kind of rock drive. This could easily have been a band from the 70’s –thety sound a bit in the direction of a group like early New Trolls perhaps but wilder and not with a complete orchestra-. These fine progrock days aren’t necessarily over and wrongly understood when repeated, when it comes so honestly and spontaneously like here. The non stop playing and the mad electric guitar solo’s with violin improvisations are just a few times slightly intellectual and demanding, but always in time the band and compositions pull both freaking members back in place. Also the time limitation perspectives give balance to the loaded tension and provide the listener enough time to breath. There are also fuzz guitar freaks out on top of this rock drive. The electric bass is rhythmic on its own and the flute contribution is at times compelling. The combination of instruments works very well. “Oasis” is a quieter track of the first part, where the violinist plays tabla instead.
Last larger composition in 5 parts is a symphonic rock piece with more melodic and rhythmic changes like obvious in classical music, varying from true classical to other influences into rock. This composition has some demanding violin skills. We hear some more fast improvisations by flute, and there seems to be some use of bassoon, but one has to listen carefully to know just where. Also in this piece the music is very energetic over the top, even more stimulated by the mad bass and the electric guitar wizardry, but the composition has some fewer quieter moments too.
A recommended release to fans of truthful progressive & symphonic rock.
Gerald Van Waes
“Psyche Van Het Folk” Radioshow
1. Intro
2. Вегетарианец
3. Тяжелая Вода
4. Чистилище
5. Безбожный Хакер
6. Оазис
CONCERTO GROSSO #1:
7. Part 1. Allegro
8. Part 2. Largo
9. Part 3. Menouetto
10. Part 4. Adagio
11. Part 5. Presto. Finale
Mirrorside “Telharmonium” EP 2009
Mirrorside is the studio progressive-indie rock project led by Max Morton. The project’s style develops with each release, currently absorbing such jenres as vintage electronic, symphonic music and jazz. Mirrorside creates conceptual, plot-oriented tracks with somewhat mystical, steampunk feel, at the same time leaving enough place for rock fundament.
Mirrorside was founded in the beginning of 2009 by Max Morton (vocals, guitars, keyboards, sounddesign). He invited his old fellow-musician Denis Barinoff to play bass and take part in composing. Both had songwriting, performing and studio experience to join their creative forces in a new project. This collaboration gave birth to the four-track EP called “Telharmonium”. It was released in the internet, available for free download. On the final stages of recording, Denis decides to move to India, so Max keeps working alone at his recording studio.
Immediately after releasing Telharmonium, Max began developing the concept for Mirrorside debut album, that is expected to be released in May 2010. There will be even more ambient soundscapes, machinery samples and symphonic elements, as well as simple groovy riffs, big polyphonic voice arangements, fat synth lines and pristine sound.
Ekklesia “Demo” 2009
Demo album of the new art-prog-fusion instrumental Ukrainian band.
Arsenal “Arsenal” 1979 (+2 Bonus tracks)
First LP album of Arsenal.Was re-edit on CD with 2 bonus tracks under the name “Opasnaya igra”.What can I say else?Forever jazz-rock classic.
Hard TON “These Stars Are Not Yet In Sight, When The North Passes By”
If we were looking for a recent mashup of keyboards and strings, of (future) electronic and (old) analog traditions in ways that were equally disrespectful of established genres, we need look no further than Hard TON (above). The offshoot net-projectof R.A.I.G., “Accessory Takes” has just published for free download his album, “These Stars Are Not Yet in Sight, When the North Passes By.” For a third time, we’re offered the theme of “something” that might be constantly discernible against the background of time’s passage. And, with equal frequency, that search takes place in between genres, in empty places that are “always there,” no matter what labels or tags are chosen. The very creation of styles, in fact, also creates gaps between them, places of nothingness that can only be investigated with minimal music and a modest worldview.
Feniks “Live” 1983
The most massive purges against rock music in the USSR began in 1982, and practically none of the real rock bands in our country have survived them.
The pop-ensemble called “Arax” was officially forbidden, but two musicians illegally tried to revive it under the name “Feniks”(”Phoenix”). Having played for two years, this band was also forced to split due to the constant pressure from the authorities. Feniks successfully combined popular Russian-language songs with art-rock structures and serious instrument mastering.
Visokosnoye Leto “Lavka chudes” 1972-79
Visokosnoye Leto (Leap Year Summer) was founded by Moscow singer/guitarist Alexander Sitkovetsky and keyboardist Chris Kelmi in 1972.
Their shows consisted of three parts: an art-rock song program (40 minutes), opera “Enchained Prometeus” (45 minutes), and rock’n’roll songs (30 minutes).
The band split up in 1979. The former band members formed a new line-up for Mashina Vremeni and the bands Rock-Atelie and Autograph.
The compilation album CD “Lavka Chudes” (Shop of wonders) was recorded around 1978 in a studio booth in the Moscow Institute of Theatrical Arts, where the first tape albums of Mashina Vremeni and Voskresenie were recorded later. Because of the split-up, which occurred shortly after the recording, the album was officially released only in 1996, at the initiative of former band member Alexander Kutikov.
Track list:
1. Uvertura (Overture)
2. Pochititel’ Snov (Dream thief)
3. Lavka Chudes (Shop of wonders)
4. Mona Lisa
5. Rondo vne Tonalnosti (Rondo out of tune)
6. Zerkala (Mirrors)
7. Pesnya o Buntare (Song about a rebel)
8. Paradox
9. Mir Derevyev (World of trees)
10. Sataninskiye pliaski (Satanic dancing)
Domashniaya rabota 1991 Ep
Good progresive rock from…Uzbekistan!With elements of jazz and fusion.Very rare!
Mashina Vremeni "Greatest hits" 1969-1977
It was the time when rock stars like Visokosnoe leto, Arsenal, Udachnoe priobretenie, and Rubinovaya ataka were prominent on the russian rock scene. And the most popular of all, Mashina Vremeni, who made a long way from rhytm’n’blues to the most difficult hard rock and prog,attained absolute celebrity in 77 and… I don’t like to talk about what happened after. For us Mashina Vremeni will always be this band from the 70’s,who left such amazing songs, like the hit “Tumannie polya”about the world after a nuclear war.
Listen to THIS and…nothig else.
Roz vitalis"Compassionizer" 2007
Roz Vitalis began in 2001 in Saint-Petersburg and it is their fifth studio album. The back of the album cover says: “The goal of this concept album is to unmask and reveal the spiritual evil of the modern humanity’s materialist vainglory”. Well, I for one would have composed something entirely different, but that’s what’s great about music is that you can hear the sound of other people’s thoughts, views and way of life. The album in general has a quirky, otherworldly sound to it, which is why I don’t necessarily link the music with the said concept behind it, but their idea is as good and valid as any other. A point of reference could be (early) Art Zoyd and at times even Univers Zero (and the composers who influenced those bands as well) but only as a general guiding idea of the style of music. In some tracks I even hear traces (stripped down and bare) of industrial (“Wakatte Kudasai” and “Annihilator Of Mortal Hazard” for instance) and electronic music (for example, “Autumn Of Hypocrisy”) which might be more pronounced in their earlier releases. The music is keyboards based and lead with electronic drumming, and while there’s a guitar in this particular album, it does not pronounce its presence too much. What I can say is that this album has made me want to listen to their other albums as well. It is intriguing, explorative, with a weird and somewhat gloomy atmosphere (like I love it) and what matters most to me, enjoyable and makes me want to listen to it again. … A journey album. Avestin http://www.progressiveears.com/asp/reviews.asp?album…
