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Prog-jester 
Prog Reviewer 
Joined: June 05 2005 Location: Love Beach Status: Offline Points: 5871 |
 Topic: Russian Prog Appreciation ThreadPosted: January 02 2007 at 12:58 |
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Happy New Year to everyone first of all!
I always wanted to start this thread.Not only because I'm living in post-USSR country and still feeling myself at one with all other post-USSRs countries(as 90% of them do either) spiritually and even musically... I discovered Russian/USSR/post-USSR Prog this year, and this is one of my biggest discoveries up to date.Each band I became aware of, impressed me a lot - not because "wow, we can make Prog!" , but because this Prog is REALLY that great and different from other bands I heard! Just to mention/recommend - LITTLE TRAGEDIES - pure brilliance for keyboard-prog fans! Imagine ELP mixed with a bit of Prog-Metal and Russian Romance tradition!!!Bombastic musicianship and excellent melodic feeling! LT are to release their new DOUBLE album this spring, so Erik - be prepared! 
EXTROVERT - I ain't great Prog-Metal fan, but these guys made me forget about it!Imagine classical DREAM THEATER with a bit of Scandinavian Prog, Art Rock, Russian Ballad etc throen in there! Guys are to release their second album later this year, promising to provide more original sound and manner...I'm going to post interview by me with their bassist (Max) in Interview Forum soon! DISEN GAGE - instrumental and experimental!Melodical and challenging!Imagine 80s Crimson mixed with Art Rock, Russian music, elements of avant and improvised Prog and wrapped into elegant form of instrumental pieces!You know what I'm going to say further, don't you?Yes, these ones are to release their new one soon TOO!!! INFRONT - I've already wrote a bio,and I hope this amazing Art Rock band to appear here soon!Imagine an instrumental mix of ANEKDOTEN, INDUKTI, some Post-rock/metal and Fusion marked with outstanding Melodic feeling!Check their free samples here! AVTOGRAF - essential Legend of Russian Art-Rock(from powerful Hard-Rock/Sympho-Prog of early albums to Pomp-Rock/Neo-Prog of later ones)!They re-united last Summer to make a tour(just check the DVD!), and hundreds of their fans are praying for the new album!!! NYL - the only Russian Neo-prog band I know, and it's very good.Solid structures, great musicianship, nice mixture of Hard/Art-Rock in Kansas/Styx/Queen type with Arena/Pendragon/IQ Neo-Prog.They're working on their new album hoping to release it during the year. ESTHETIC EDUCATION - these guys are from Ukraine, and they play a mixture of Modern Prog with DOORS-like cheerful bluesy insanity.Elements of everything are mixed in highly talented outfit's music.Check their music here (click MUSIC and then SONGS).Begin with their only studio album FACE READING and then check single and live release FLEUR - mellow sophisticated music played mostly on acoustical instruments(recent albumis a bit more modern).Imagine a mixture of PAATOS with MOSTLY AUTUMN with Gothic flavour.FLEUR is from Ukraine too, and their CDs are avalaible on Prikosnovenie label.Listen to some songs here(click on MUSIC and then on songs' names).I plan to add them here too! KARFAGEN - instrumental symphonic prog from Ukraine, influenced by CAMEL and ALAN PARSONS.Well-recorded and written,this is my favourite release from Russian/Ukrainian Prog from the year 2006!Check them at Unicorn rec' site where some samples avalaible. ... I remember somebody asked what is going to be the Discovery of 2007...maybe, someone from the above-mentioned?
give me some time to rest and I'll continue! Also I have some explanations why there is so little prog in Russia/post-USSR! |
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Trickster F.
Prog Reviewer
Joined: February 10 2006 Location: Belize Status: Offline Points: 5308 |
Posted: January 02 2007 at 13:01 |
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Oh, really?
 I've heard two versions: one suggests that the idea of progressive rock somehow contradicts the Slavonic mindset and values, the other one claims that the cold war and the political state of USSR is/was the reason.
So what's your take?
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eugene
Forum Senior Member 
Joined: May 30 2005 Location: Ukraine Status: Offline Points: 2703 |
Posted: January 02 2007 at 13:11 |
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I think Iron Curtain situation is/was the reason, and after it's fall everything started to change slowly, and these changes is what we are seeing today. It will take time obviously, but the prog scene on ex-USSR territory is bound to improve, I guess.
Edited by eugene - January 02 2007 at 13:13 |
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carefulwiththataxe
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aprusso
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 16 2005 Status: Offline Points: 312 |
Posted: January 02 2007 at 13:53 |
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You miss the best two: Arsenal and Horizont
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eugene
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 30 2005 Location: Ukraine Status: Offline Points: 2703 |
Posted: January 02 2007 at 14:38 |
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...
Edited by eugene - January 02 2007 at 14:46 |
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carefulwiththataxe
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Prog-jester
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 05 2005 Location: Love Beach Status: Offline Points: 5871 |
Posted: January 02 2007 at 14:41 |
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Well, I promised to continue!
ARSENAL - leading Jazz-Rock band of USSR (still alive and living well!).Led by essential Alexander Kozlov on sax, it's still provides high-class jazz-rock recommended to everybody! HORIZONT - one of the best Symphonic Soviet bands, released only two albums in 80s.Instrumental Prog sometimes edging avant/fusion, marked with outstanding musicianship and feeling of harmony - bloody rare but awesome! AQUARIUM - Art Rock mainly due to BG's(Boris Grebenshikov,the leader) charisma.Beginning with underground experimental rock in early 80s, now AQUARIUM's albums contain elements of Reggae,World and Indo/Raga music. Yes, my version is connected with Iron Curtain.Rock Music was forbidden, and also new trends in it were coming later to USSR - for example,Punk-Rock obsession in USSR has began in early 80s, when the whole world has almost forgot about it to that time.Prog Rock has never been popular not only due to its complexness,it happened because of growing popularity of SOCIAL side of Russian Rock.I mean you could sing (without being able to  ) about absence of sugar, and that what was called Rock. Majority of Soviet Rock listeners sacrifised musical side to LYRICS - so, there's no place for Prog-Rock with its instrumentals and virtuosity.Can you imagine a Prog song about Gorbacheff's new reform?
Considering absense of Prog nowadays - again it's connected with social factors. As you know/understood, among all Soviet Rock bands only 5-10% were Prog/Prog-Related. Others were Punk,Heavy ,more Extreme etc.When USSR collapsed,musical industry did the same surely.Pop Music recovered pretty fast,and almost the same way fast did punks,metallists etc - the TRADITION of these kinds of music has been secured due to its major popularity (in comparing to Prog).When the rest of the world had the Prog Silver Age Birth (with release of "Hybris" and "Images and Words"),we had NOTHING(well, RAINY SEASON's album was released during that time...any exception proves the rule).We have LOST the TRADITION of Prog. When Prog bands from all over the world had their fans and CD releases,we lost almost a generation.As I noticed, Prog in our contries is popular among some 18-20 years-old boys(0,0000001% from all post-USSR population I guess ) and 40-55 years-old men - sons and fathers  . We've missed the middle.The young ones listen mostly to Modern/Metal/Post Prog ,their fathers - to Symphonic/Art...
Now we're having something like Prog had in 80-81 - "something is going to emerge".While the whole world has hundreds of independent labels and thousands of bands, we have only few who are releasing albums by their own means and know each other very well(due to living in Moscow mostly ).Situation can get better - thanks to the Web - just keep searching to new music, proggers , and DO NOT consider it to be average only because it is not Scandinavian,English or Italian.
I really am sorry that such great bands like DISEN GAGE, INFRONT, LITTLE TRAGEDIES, EXTROVERT, KARFAGEN and others mentioned above have so little attention mainly because they are hard to find. They have terrible conditions to create and record their music,and only their talent keeps them from giving it all up Edited by Prog-jester - May 13 2007 at 09:14 |
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Prog-jester
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 05 2005 Location: Love Beach Status: Offline Points: 5871 |
Posted: January 02 2007 at 14:44 |
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Yes, the ones from this year. Some thoughts on topic for Russian-speakers here.Nice thread! |
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The Miracle
Prog Reviewer
Joined: May 29 2005 Location: hell Status: Offline Points: 28427 |
Posted: January 02 2007 at 16:20 |
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Great lists there Igor and a great theory!
 I suggest everuone check these bands out all great!  |
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Prog-jester
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 05 2005 Location: Love Beach Status: Offline Points: 5871 |
Posted: January 02 2007 at 16:25 |
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Thanks Ansen
BTW, right now I'm listening to Ukrainian Symphonic/Fusion instrumental band ER.J.ORCHESTRA(http://www.erjorchestra.kiev.ua/eng/).AWESOME!!! Download their stuff from MUSIC page, you won't regret!!! Imagine CLEARLIGHT mixed with CRIMSON and ANGLAGARD!!! Hey EVERYBODY what are you waiting for? Download it too!!!It's legal and free!!!Great(despite the low quality)! |
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honganji
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 21 2005 Status: Offline Points: 571 |
Posted: January 02 2007 at 17:37 |
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I like Eduard Artemiev, Sepsis, Araks, Farlanders. Of course I like Horizont, Avtograf, Er.J.Orchestra, Karfagen etc which are already mentioned. I have collected many Russian progressive rock albums since early 1980s. In my opinion, the best Russian progressive album is Eduard Artemiev / Teplo Zemli (Warmth Of Earth).
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Prog-jester
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 05 2005 Location: Love Beach Status: Offline Points: 5871 |
Posted: January 02 2007 at 17:45 |
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Haven't heard anything from Artemiev yet Only as a background in Tarkovsky's STALKER
Honganji,please,PM me with list of all Russians/post-USSRs/USSRs Proggers you have!!! BTW,I checked Er.J.Orchestra by your recommendation...they are awesome!!!
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erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 27 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 7659 |
Posted: January 02 2007 at 17:50 |
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Today I played New Faust by Little Tragedies, incredible, what an outstanding and exciting blend of classical, folk, Classic Seventies Symphonic Rock and heavy metal, for sure it will be in my 2006 Album Top 3 By the way, the symphonic thread got more and more competition, today yet another interesting thread, good luck Prog-jester |
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Prog-jester
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 05 2005 Location: Love Beach Status: Offline Points: 5871 |
Posted: January 02 2007 at 18:21 |
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Erik,check the Ukrainian band Er.J.Orchestra!!! This is superb blend of Fusion,Sympho and World music!They MUST be here FOR SURE!!! Good Lord, I discovered them JUST TODAY!!!
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DarioIndjic
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 15 2005 Location: Universe Status: Offline Points: 600 |
Posted: January 02 2007 at 20:54 |
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I only own Horizont and Artemiev(which music i discovered through my beloved Tarkovsky's films),i would like to know other Russian bands ,i will check for the recommendations on this thread to enlarge my russian prog collection. And i understand a little your feeling about your country's prog Prog-jester,because in Yugoslavia there was also very good prog bands in the 70s of which i didnt know anything about before i discovered this site,every corner of the world have his lost/obscure gems,but what a joy is to discover them.There was many great albums in Eastern Europe but due to the politics at the time,there weren't exposed. Edited by DarioIndjic - January 02 2007 at 21:00 |
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Ars longa , vita brevis
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Fassbinder
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member Joined: May 27 2006 Location: My world Status: Offline Points: 3497 |
Posted: January 03 2007 at 00:43 |
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You're absolutely right.
But, somehow, I always considered Aquarium to be in the same row as Kino, DDT, Nautilus Pompilius, or Mashina Vremeni, i.e., lyrics-oriented. And (sorry, sorry, sorry everybody who loves Aquarium), I just can't stand them. Well, not them. Him. Because of his manner of singing and, mostly, because of his lyrics.
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DarioIndjic
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 15 2005 Location: Universe Status: Offline Points: 600 |
Posted: January 03 2007 at 01:04 |
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That was the same in socialist Yugoslavia,after the so called new wave movement in the late 70s (same as punk movement in UK) ,prog disapeared forever from the Yu rock scene,because lyrics became more important than music.
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Ars longa , vita brevis
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Prog-jester
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 05 2005 Location: Love Beach Status: Offline Points: 5871 |
Posted: January 03 2007 at 04:51 |
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Yes, BG has always been more attentive to lyrics than to musical side.Anyway,there can be at least 10-20 art-rock songs in his entire career . I think AQUARIUM's adding happened mainly due to The Miracle's unquestionable authority...he the grey cardinal RULES this site!!! 
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eugene
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 30 2005 Location: Ukraine Status: Offline Points: 2703 |
Posted: January 03 2007 at 07:03 |
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I kinda agree with Fassbinder here - Aquarium are lyrics-oriented band as well as majority of Soviet bands. Poetry of BG is not everybody's cup of tea - my first wife, for example, was getting furious about them, I however consider good part of them to bear a touch of Genius, as opposed to Kino and Nautilus Pompilius. As lyricist, Shevchuk from DDT is my favourite and Makarevich (Mashina Vremeni) is also great. But all these bands are definitely song-oriented with emphasis on lyrics. Musically all of them are very mediocre, with rather primitive vocals melodies and simple easy accessible musical arrangements.
All in all these bands are falling in footsteps of Russian Bards, with only difference that bards are accompanied by a guitar, and these guys are accompanied by a band, transforming bards tradition in a modern way, making it more accessible for modern listener, and bringing it closer to their audience.
IMHO all these bands, being an interesting and important musical phenomenon of Soviet culture, have nothing to do with Prog whatsoever.
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carefulwiththataxe
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Dick Heath
Special Collaborator 
Jazz-Rock Specialist Joined: April 19 2004 Location: England Status: Online Points: 12813 |
Posted: January 03 2007 at 13:35 |
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Just been introduced to Sepsis (does anybody know of the whereabouts of the original band members?) by Alan Freeman of Ultima Thule, which continues to be a great store for European prog. BTW Freeman suggests the bandto sound a hybrid of Yes with the quirky time signatures of the Magic Band.
Gunesh from the old eastern central part of the old USSR, i.e. Turkmanistan, needs to be mentioned for their eastern biassed jazz rock. Apparently Peter Gabriel tried but failed to obtain the services of their drummer/leader Rishad Shafi in the late 80's. |
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The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS.
CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
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Prog-jester
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 05 2005 Location: Love Beach Status: Offline Points: 5871 |
Posted: January 03 2007 at 13:36 |
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Well,I'm really interested in what way was the Soviet public divided back in 80s...I mean nowadays most of the young Russian proggers I communicate with tend to despise Russian Lyric-oriented Rock and rather throw themselves into hardly-bearable avan-stuff instead of listening to a single song from BG or DDT.Do you know how it was back in 80s?Did Prog listeners from USSR despised RusRock bands?
Personally I appreciate the marked sides of both - lyrical one in RusRock and musical one in Prog.There are good examples of nice lyrics along with great prog on our scene,BTW - just to name EXTROVERT and FLEUR as examples. And there are hardly-bearable ones - like...well,you know,these Gumilev-fans... hope,NotAProgHead won't kill me for the words I wrote - as long as I know he likes their lyrical side as much as the musical one
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Russian Prog Appreciation Thread
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Prog-jester wrote:
