Three new dance recordings from Siberia arguably share a philosophical connection. Does their place of origin lead to a specific worldview - something that endures as their authors travel?
In a musical environment that is either frustrating or constantly changing, any claims to permanence will ring hollow. Four new releases speak in support of humility. Just in case...
Moscow's "Beryoza" community has published a second compilation reconsidering some Russian pop-songs of the 1990s. From provincial quarters comes a genuinely national worldview.
A couple of bass compilations emerge simultaneously from St. Petersburg. One of them gives voice to the hard, physical effort needed to run a net-label. The other turns to reverie.
A young musician from Omsk enjoys increasing success with international labels, yet still expresses gratitude for friends at home in Siberia. Some other, simultaneous publications show a dwindling faith in community.
The young, yet productive netlabel Santon Records has announced an important compilation: "Crystal Waves." It showcases a wide range of artists working in future bass, trap, fidget house, and similar dancefloor styles.
Various sources of inspiration try to compensate for paltry normality. They include drugs, nostalgia, and staring at the sky. One young musician from the city of Penza hopes to bring those fleeting solutions together.
Sounds from Bryansk, Novosibirsk, Mariupol, and Tallinn use a dream-pop or shoegazing aesthetic to suggest some realms beyond solipsism. In order to move past private experience, though, selfhood must first be erased.
New future bass and hip-hop recordings from Ukraine and southern Russia all celebrate the importance of fickle fantasy. Interestingly enough, however, these artists begin to see imagination as a social principle.
"Dirty Deal" is a Latvian collective of beats producers, bass music, and abstract hip-hop. A compilation album has just been published, showcasing eighteen of the nation's youngest talents. Between them all, a unique worldview takes shape.
