Musics Of The Soviet Union - Various Artists

Advantages: A powerful experience to make you think
Disadvantages: Too much thinking makes the brain ache

..., percussive sections. *** *** *** The Background *** *** *** Few, if any, of you will have lived in fear of the midnight knock on the door by secret police, the fear that you will be taken away to some terrible interrogation centre and subjected to unspeakable tortures. We can only guess at the effect it must have on the human spirit. Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), an intensely shy and private man, the leading composer of the Soviet Union, lived with this fear for much of his life. It’s against this background that he wrote his Eleventh Symphony, subtitled “The Year 1905.” Bear with me while I pad the picture out a little: it makes a difference to one’s appreciation of this remarkable work. Shostakovich found early success with his music and, as a good communist, tried hard to reconcile his creative spirit with the need to satisfy... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A modern quirky genius
Disadvantages: Perhaps too quirky for some; Sometimes doesn't 'flow'

...Regina Spektor's third album, "Soviet Kitsch", is quite a listen. The Soviet-born singer/songwriter crafts sublime piano-driven pieces, baring similarities to Tori Amos and Kate Bush. In many ways, it's pop music, but with a quirky difference, and with roots in the New York anti-folk and punk scene. The album covers the usual emotional bases; the frail "Carbon Monoxide", the quirky and upbeat "Poor Little Rich Boy", the anthemic "Us", the confrontational "Your Honour". The songs are also intelligent, both in their construction and in terms of the lyrics; a voice that swings from pure emotion to childlike innocence to sarcasm. Ideally, these songs need to be heard live; the album, in many respects, seems to be like a musical soundtrack to a production that is best experienced live. That withstanding however, the album is still solid... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Original, multi-cultural tunes and exotic interludes
Disadvantages: Occasionally sounds repetitive, bland product design

...not to appeal to anyone. The Richest Man In Babylon is, in my opinion, one of their best offerings. Rolling Stone gave it 4 out of 5 stars, and for me this still doesn't justify how good this album is. It features live instrumentation, and incorporates the diverse voices of various artists from many countries - including Iceland's Emiliana Torrini and various jamaican rappers. The album is arranged meticulously. It's dreamlike opening track "Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes" (perfect relaxing music) drifts into more upbeat tracks such as "Meu Destino" and "Liberation Front" (reminiscent of sexy 60's tunes). Best listened to late in the evening, or on a hazy summer day, the album's main influence is Indian music; exotic traditonal melodies, as well as heavier tribal bhangra. Tracks such as "Facing East", "Interlude" and "Exile" all feature Indian... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful