MP3 ARCHIVE OF RELEASES

Release 4

1. Krasnaya Kniga - Koka-Kolodno
   City - Tula
   vookstock.narod.ru
   Various experimental musical underground flourished in the former USSR at that time. The same is valid for Tula as well: unknown band named CHERNOE SOLNTSE was announced among the participants of the four-day rock-festival, but it didn't dare perform. Not many people remember now what caused debut failure, but it's well known that the newly-made team changed its name to KRASNAYA KNIGA (RED BOOK) soon afterwards. The band performs a lot, produces new material. More detailes about the band are available at the site.
2. Underbiz - Al'ternativnaya Mechta
   City - ST.-PETERSBURG
   www.underbiz.narod.ru
   "UNDERBIZ" is a special caliber in the alternative music. It is a wild combination of melodic and hip-hop: intellectual bits of Toshnyak, guitar jumble AFRO and «sharp» texts of M.C.PoLLution(Lyuban)+ wordman – bass. During concerts, «Stena zvuka» (sound wall) is behind them. Undoubtedly, “UNDERBIZ” has a soul. Not everyone is able to see it, but it is deep. One can be lost in it. Band “UNDERBIZ” was formed in Petersburg in 1998. Initially, there were two otherwise-minded: Toshnyak (bitmaker) and Lyuban (recitative, vocal), who made music in a different way. The third otherwise-minded is AFRO (guitarist). He joint the band, added drive and new ideas, and an excellent core was formed. Actually, after AFRO joint the band they started developing in the drection of the rock. An army of fans was formed. «The mighty of this world» recognized “UNDERBIZ”. Specifically, one could say about the band members – one should be really crazy to play the genuine alternative music.
3. Boom! - Koma
   City - Kaliningrad
   www.boom-core.ru
   1999 year is the time of birth of “BOOM!” band and also the time of its first concerts. “Samoobman” album was recorded the same year. This album absolutely doesn’t correspond to that level, where the band is now. Now this opus is lost in shaggy dust and it is unlikely that there is at least one copy of this studio work. Year 2000: Saxophonist Leha “Morgan” Gudukin joined the band. Mikki Mouse replaced Nick. The song “Chto tu vubiraesh?”, which is the one of the most popular concert items of “BOOM!” and rarity track “F.B. (Dostal nas vseh)”, which wasn’t performed during the concerts since 1999, were recorded. Year 2001: the band changed completely. Mikki Mouse left the band. One of the best bassists of Kaliningrad Alexander “Sem” Shevtzov replaced bassist Epon. This structure of the band remained unchanged till now. There were many performances in Kaliningrad, recording of “Koma” song, which has been done specially for “Zona Zvuka” collection. Year 2003:Trumpetist Arthur joined the band. The first tour beyond the bounds of Kaliningrad district and the first win of “Urban Ispolnitel Goda” nomination accordingly to Kaliningrad hit-parade No1.
4. Ray Audio - Leto Li To
   City - Cherepovetz
   specialradio.ru/i/rayaudio
   The band was formed in 1993. Since that moment the following two albums were released: “Na krushe” and “Anfilada”. Musicians participated in Cherepovetz Rock – festival in 1998. The style of performed music varies from art-rock to brit – pop. Mikki Mouse
5. Amontilado - Philosophers' Phone
   City - ST.-PETERSBURG
   www.amontillado.sp.ru
   The band was formed in 1992 by Andrey Bahurin, Egor Roldugin and Mariya Sokolova. It was the first band to use electro-balalaika. In its early years “Bochonok Amontillado” was mainly performing in “Tam-Tam” club. Then, the conception of re-pulse style has been formed. Re-pulse – it is electric depressive music biased to American aesthetics and also pronounced social position of isolation from society. As a result of this (although quite indirectly) in 1997 the band changed its name to “Amontilyado” (should be written as “Amontilado”, where “l” should be written with tilde, which is phonetic symbol of sonant). EP-album “Tri istorii” was recorded at the same time. CD “Krovavui tzirk” , which includes "Philosophers' Phone" composition, is the end of existence of the band. As a matter of fact, this song should be considered as musical-alchemical formula.
6. Dekabr' - Svetilo
   City - ST.-PETERSBURG
   www.amontillado.sp.ru
   The band was formed in St. Petersburg in 1998 from the bits and pieces of "TRAUBEN KALZIUMÚ" band. At that time the band consisted of: Mikha Semenov, vocal and texts; bass – guitarist Aleksey Afanasyev, who was already noticed in "NO ONE GETS FUN" band and in his own project “RUBU”; young and infamous drummer Danila (Kimbl) Vinogradov and also infamous guitarist Igor Yuganov. From beginning the musicians tried to avoid stamps and style limits. The band recorded its first demo, which consisted of 8 songs, in February of 1999 and actively began to give performances on the stages of St. Petersburg. The first concert took place on 20th of February 1999. This date is considered as beginning of official chronology of the band. Daniil Vinogradov left the band on his own initiative in 2000 and Oleg Bondarenko replaced him. Moscow label "Anti-rock Rec." released 2 CD of the band at once: "DEKABR 1999-2000", which includes all demo-versions of songs of that period and concert album “DEKABR V MOLOKE”. At the same time the band was awarded the prize of audience sympathy at “Sprait marafon” festival. From September of 2002 to January of 2003, the band was recording the album named “Zimnyaa skazka” on the “NEVA” studio. The presentation of the album took place on 9th of May 2003. At the moment the band is preparing the new programme and actively performs on the stages of our huge Motherland.
7. Plutonium - Spokoino
   City - Kazan
   plutonium.knet.ru
   Plutonium band was formed in autumn of 1999 after musicians of the team (Oleg Burilov – guitar, vocal, Sergey Kargin – bass, Nikolay Pihtovnikov – keyboards, Aleksandr Romitsin - drums) invited Micha Kulagin (ex-"Indrunk") to be the second lead – vocal. On 20 June 2000, Plutonium recorded single "Ona idet…" at studio "Volga-production" (Kazan city). The single was immediately included into broadcastings of Kazan radios (radio “Nastroenie”, “Volga-radio”). This record became the beginning of a new phase in creative activities of the band. Its style transformed from the heavy granzh into the music based on the alternative fank. In November 2000, the band took part in festival "Ravnodenstvie - 2000". This performance was the last one for drummer Sasha Romytsin. His place was taken by Maksim Polyanin "madmax" – the person whose efforts made the rhythm-section of the band to be inclined to drum&bass. In October 2001, musicians took part in festival "ravnodenstvie-2001" together with band Zdob si Zdub. At the beginning of January 2002, debut promo album “V efyre” was released on label Bars-records. It was recorded on studio Ohotnikofff Records (Kazan). It had outstanding success: festivals – "Serebryanaya Volna", "Ural-Rock 2002" (Grand Prix), "Ravnodenstvie - 2002" and, at last, "Stariy noviy Rock-2003" 13 January 2003 in Ekaterinburg.
8. Vishnya Aleksei - Novyi God
   City - ST.-PETERSBURG
   alexcherry.om.ru
   Aleksey Vishnya was one of the key figures of rock parties in St. Petersburg in eighties. It became famous first of all as talented sound – producer (DK, KINO, etc.). The owner of very rare countertenor Aleksey often sings own songs and also records them. “Novogodnyaya” song was written in 1983 and has never been published. Given composition is the special release under Yanshiv’s label for Recommended Records.
9. Iddi - Solntse
   City - ST.-PETERSBURG
   www.iddi.ru
   March of 2000 is the time of birth of “IDDI” band. Bassist Andrey Vedernikov-Basuganskiy (ex-Ad Libitum) became the founder and informal leader of the band. Besides Basuganskiy (bass, drum-programming, vocal) the band included: Polina Runovskaya (vocal); Dmitriy Leykin (guitar); Aleks NeUstas (keyboard, Jew’s harp, vocal). Creative search and caused by it disagreements made vocalist Polina Runovskaya to leave the band in February of 2001. In summer of 2001 “IDDI” band sent the "AKIN" single to Moscow to participate in promo - collection "PROPAGANDA". Ekaterina Vartanova (vocal) joined the band approximately at the same time. “IDDI” left for Moscow on 31st of January 2002 to participate in "Propaganda” festival, where its music was named “ideal sound-track for Tarkovskiy’s movies”. On 26th of April 2002 the band participated in programme of "SKIF VI" festival. The band has finished recording of “OZHIDANIE” album in Autumn of 2002.
10. Sumasshedshiye Koyoty - Slomai Bloki
    City - Moscow
    www.crazycoyotes.ru
    “Slomai bloki” composition is included in the new unfinished album of “Sumasshedshie koyotu”, which preliminary was named “Razobratsya plan”. During the time of its existence, since 1997 the band has recorded 3 albums, combining the electric experiments with live sound. The direction, the musicians are working in, is named by them as “Rastafan”. More details about the history, events and news of the band can be found on the site www.crazycoyotes.ru
11. Zveroboi - Letim!
    City - Moscow
    www.zveroboi.ru
    Moscow band “Zveroboi” was formed at the end of 1995. Present band and the real team was formed when the band was joined by guitarist Aleksey Iovchev (April, 2000). Despite of “classical” set of instruments and “classical” playing techniques (pulling the strings by fingers, closing and opening of vocal cords), the band sounds unusually. It is due to musical style of “Zveroboi”, which still hasn’t been determined thanks to lots of different inflexions (here is folk, and punk, and romantic rock). Original poetry of “Zveroboy” entirely lies on the conscience of Dmitriy Sosov, the bass-guitarist of the band. Music and arrangements of the songs are the results of collective creative work of “Zveroboi” band.
12. Lebedev-Uvarov - Vcherashniy Agdam
    City - Moscow
    www.maxlebedev.ru
    Inclined to stylize, talented poet and musician Maksim Lebedev – Uvarov is a typical specimen of “Moscow school” of Russian rock with its conceptual mixtures and badly hidden irony over material. Wonderful arranger, he rather “draws” than share the “feelings”, that’s why he positioned himself in typically Moscow context. Creative work of Lebedev – Uvarov, which is absolutely “capital” because of both its spirit and pure playing topic approach, is quite expressively presented in other releases of Recommended Records series.
13. Vova Siniy - Ty Budesh'
    City - Sneginsk
    specialradio.ru/i/vovasiniy
    Live legend of underground Soviet rock – stage. An example of black humor performed by ex-member of “Bratya po razumu” band, who remained to live in secret town 4#70 ( now Sneginsk), for the sake of upbringing the children in “siniy” style. He released “Dlya togo i givu” album under “NP records” label in Ekaterinburg, recorded material for double album, has difficulties to release it, doesn’t give up and continues to create new material.
14. Vdryzgviola - Ne Bol'no Tak
    City - Moscow
    vdryzgviola.com
    VDRUZGVIOLA. This word is about 5 years old, but we play together only for few months. The band was created by two people: Kondaurov Dmitriy (vocal, music, guitar, lyrics) and Kondaurov Stanislav (drums, mad energy). Kravchenko Egor, wonderful person and unique bassist has joined VDRUZGVIOLA in 2002. Shura “Chek” Lampitch, the member of “ANTICLONE” band, always helps us as second guitarist. The first performance of the band took place in 2003. Exactly the year 2003 can be considered as the year of foundation of the band. VDRUZGVIOLA – it is a team. Here everybody feels responsibility for what we are doing, everybody is a patriot of the own music and as a result of broad musical preferences, in our creative work we try to combine the great number of moods. Everything, what makes us think about one or another visualization of life of the Human being and what makes us moving, makes us stronger. It is modern and well-timed music, intended for image – association perception, which creates positive impression and urges to see the things, which we don’t have time or desire to see.
15. E.Bit! - Pim Pim Pim
    City - Kaliningrad
    specialradio.ru/i/e-bit/
    E.bit! [å-dot-bit] is the band, which consists of 3 people: Chaika Elena, vocal; Vitaliy Smolinskiy (dj Small), vocal, arrangements, remixes; Dmitriy Bondarenko, music texts, arrangements, was formed in 2000. Its style varies from “sinty” pop and “jungle” to “disco – house”. E.bit!. The first single “Zolotoy Os’minog” immediately became the radio hit of fm-stations of Kaliningrad (ex.Koenigsberg). The next single “Pim-pim-pim” was even more successful and took the 1 place in hit-parade “ Kaliningrad in rock”. Because Kaliningrad district is isolated, E.bit! more often gave performances on stages of Lithuania, Poland, Byelorussia than on stages of Russia. Except, probably, only “KAZANTIP” festival in Crimea, where the band participated few years on a row.
16. Starost' - Shtrikh-Kod
    City - Vologda
    starost.dem.ru
    Techno – laboratory “Starost” originated in distant 1995, when in November at one fucking club (may it rest in peace) Kolyan met Geko during one stupid party. Kolyan proposed to spend time more seriously than simply decompose it at such stupid parties. It was decided to create a band, which will specialize in extreme. Of course, at that time there was no single thought to play “industry”. At that time all ideas were directed to slaughtering thrash / death compositions with various doom and grunge traces. Despite the fact that at the moment Vologda claims only 158th place among the capitals of Russian rock-n-roll, the band “Starost” doesn’t stay still, actively performing in Russia.
17. Frezi Grant - Ya Zhdu Zvonka
    City - Rostov – na Donu
    www.frezy-grant.narod.ru
    The band was formed in spring of 1997 at the faculty of philology and journalism of RSU. From beginning the band consisted of: Michael Dobrinskiy, Andrey Zaditovskiy and Eduard Zinchenko (ex - bassist). The historical meeting with Vlad Reznichenko, who became the present and permanent drummer of the band), had happened in the summer of the same year in the student camp “Limanchick’, which is on the coast of the Black Sea. 30 of October is the date of concert, which took place in the Palace of Culture “RIIZhT”. Also this date is considered as official birthday of “Frezi Grant”, which was named after heroine of A.Grin, who rescues the drowning in the sea sailors. Keyboardist Kirill Kucherov had joined the band two years later. His joining - it is a beginning of the new phase in creative work of the band. The band has changed the bassist at the end of 1999: Eduard Zinchenko was replaced by Yuriy Shelkov. The band performed in local Palace of Culture, participating in the rock festival “Entziklopediya rostovskogo roka” and also gave few concerts in different Palaces of Culture and clubs of the city. “Frezi Grant” gave performances in St. Petersburg in Autumn of 2001, and more than once was performing in Krasnodar. “Ya gdu zvonka” song (2001.) is one of the most popular in Rostov (na Donu)
18. Sputnik - V Dalekiy Rassvet
    City - Amsterdam
    specialradio.ru/i/sputnik
    It is one of the most bright and romantic Russian rock bands, which can be distinguished by its exceptional melodiousness. The first album, “Favorite Songs of the Soviet Cosmonauts”, was released under “On!Culture Factory” label in 1998 by: Nelli Dvorko, vocal; Vladislav Budnui, bass; Dmitriy Beloyartzev (his nickname is D.Riba); German Popov (his nickname is “Our Man From Odessa”) and Maksim Shaposhnikov (OJ Goldfinger). The band was formed in Amsterdam by emigrants from Odessa and secret Ural town 4#70. The band was developing aesthetics of Soviet romanticism of the most pure and lyric school, mixing the positive mental melodies with modern, but minimalist arrangement. The band has changed by 2001 (by the time of release of “Echo planetu” album), because of everyday and aesthetic contradictions. Nelli’s voice remained the symbol of the band. Members of the band: Nelli, vocal; Budnui, bass; Sergey Burluk, drums; Gleb Karlovich, electric and acoustic guitar. Also, the first keyboardist of “Nautilus Pompilius” Victor Komarov has left his mark in “Sputnik”. “V Dalekiy Rassvet” is the bright sample of the 3rd life phase of the band, which abandoned the importunate electric drums and percussion in favour of melody and voice space.
19. Yugra - Peremeletsya
    City - Riga
    specialradio.ru/i/yugra
    The guys took the name after Siberia place, which is taking the clean air of Yugor taiga, which raises the clouds by the trunks of Siberian pine, which is marked by merging of great Ob and Irtysh, which gives the larger power than cosmic energy and which endows its blessed clowns and allied – soul tramps with distinct figure. Nevertheless, the band is located in Riga, which is quite far from Yugra (3000 km). So, these enormous distances, which separate families and close to team people, strongly affect Roman, the author of “yugra” songs, and therefore the names and topics of the songs. So, the solo CD of the band is a strong alloy of capricious Baltic and blizzard Siberia. This CD was released under “Zori i Zarnitsu” name as a special enclosure to “Recommended Records” collections.