Welcome to Russian Indie Night

1. Rushana – Uglami

I started going down the rabbit hole of Russian language music about six months ago, when this first track randomly popped up on YouTube. (Actually, that’s not strictly true, I had a little introduction a decade or so ago. See below.) Anyway, this track is just nice. Nice guitars, adoring voice, a slight Radiohead vibe. It made me want more - and they do have more. There’s another track called Впросак (translation: broke) that I really like too.

The title of this particular track translates as “By the corners.” (I think - I’m literally just copying and pasting things into Google Translate. So lower your expectations, this certainly isn’t a deep dive.)

2. Буерак - Усталость от безделья

The next one is very indie classic in sound. The guitar is perfect, and I love the sparse, DIY video. It’s sort of reminiscent of what English indie music once was. When it was actually good. It seems we’ve really lost the ability to make it now. Everything’s a bit bland and edgeless. So it was refreshing finding this.

My first thought when I watched it was, “Ah, a Russian version of Morrissey and Johnny Marr.” The title translates as ‘Fatigue from idleness.’ Fittingly Smiths-like. (I include another track by the pair later in the list.)

3. Petlia Pristrastiya “Cvetok” / Петля Пристрастия “Цветок” (Official video)

With this third track we get a bit more heavy. I think this band are actually Belarusian, not Russian Russian, though it’s all much of a muchness from this side of Europe. The title means ‘flower,’ which sounds far too delicate for the song’s sound. Likewise it doesn’t quite fit the lead singer’s distinctive elbow-jutting dance moves, nor the broadness of the very Russian-looking bass player.

I think I probably clicked on the song originally because of the attractive, but pensive woman in the thumbnail (a common theme with me). In this case my weakness rewarded me with a great track. I like this a lot, though it’s heavier than what I would normally listen to.

4. Деревянные киты - Утро солнечного дня (lyric video)

We can bring it back down a little now. This one is very arty and ambient. A sense heightened by the operatic vocals of the female singer. Lord knows what it must sound like to the neighbours when I sing along. I don’t even know the words, I just try to mimic the sounds.

The video is beautifully shot and edited. Even down to the font. As with the last one, I shouldn’t be so swayed in my tastes by the feminine form. However, the Japanese-style dress and the amber eyes are quite arresting. It brings to mind the question of where art begins and ends. The artist making the art is an artwork herself, that’s also part of the art. Must I pretend not to notice her and comment solely on the music? Denying my subjective senses and reducing the whole to something less?

5. Не твое дело — Я буду рядом (концерт в кафе “Ветерок” 15.10.2015)

Another video, another impressive-looking woman. (I did say it was a theme.) This video just has the look. The keytar, the black dress, the immaculate blonde hair, the red lips. The neon sign above the diner. Even the Holsten sign above the singer’s head.

It also helps that the song’s excellent too. I do actually listen to it. I don’t just watch the video. It’s title translates as, “I’ll Be By Your Side.” Or something along those lines.

6. Перемотка — Бесконечное лето (Official Music Video) | Peremotka — Endless Summer

Something for the ladies now. A man dressed as a strawberry.

This track is very fun and upbeat. There’s actually another by this band that’s my real favourite. That one’s called Встречная - it really sticks in the head. I felt I had to go with this one for the top ten though because of the sheer indie pop feel. It is Russian Indie Night after all.

(You’ll notice with some of these YouTube titles that they have an English translation alongside the Russian. With the band name rendered in the Latin alphabet as well as the Russian Cyrillic. It’s quite handy for learning the whacky Russian letters. Here we can see that Перемотка is pronounced Peremotka - so that ‘p’ in the Cyrillic is pronounced as an ‘r’ sound, and the weird letter at the start is actually a ‘p’. Very confusing.

Peremotka means rewind.)

7. Буерак — Нет любви

We’re now back for our second instalment of Morrissey and Johnny Marr. I had to include this video because it’s so unbelievably Russian. Our two protagonists are following women through the woods with guns, lol. As if the women are being hunted like animals. The title, Нет любви, translates as ‘No Love,’ so it fits the theme at least.

I don’t think any Russian women were harmed in the making of the video.

8. MIRÈLE - Если бы Любовь (Official Video)

Oh look, another woman.

This one has a more modern sound. There’s a bit of an electro Kate Bush vibe to it. I listen to this a lot. It’s quite repeatable.

According to our old friend Google Translate the title is, “If Love..”

So we’ve moved from ‘No Love’ to “If Love.”

I quite like the Russian word for love. It’s kind of like the English word love if it was spoken by a cutesy Japanese cartoon character.

любовь - lyubov

9. OLIGARKH — Forgive Us

I said earlier that I’d had a brief introduction to Russian music about a decade ago. This was it. The band OLIGARKH. (A clever name for Russian band.)

At the time I was being naughty and looking at Pepe the Frog memes. This track was playing in the background of one of the little meme clips. I immediately thought, “Wow, what’s this music?” It sounded very cool and different. Luckily someone in the comments provided the title.

I should comment upon the fact that there’s a slight dangerous edge to all this music, simply owing to the fact that it’s Russian. Something I felt back then as I watched the Pepe eyes stare back at me from the subversive meme. I listen to a lot of French language music too (I may post an article on that topic), but it doesn’t have that same sense of proscription. We’re not supposed to like Russia. They’re the bad guys. So it’s almost like the days of the Soviet Union, only this time we’re the ones on the Soviet side of the curtain, wanting to listen to the forbidden music on the other side.

That’s maybe a little over the top. After all, these songs are only a quick YouTube search away, but still, Russian Indie Night sounds a bit more illicit than French Indie Night.

Though, ironically, I would imagine a lot the people making this Russian music probably hate the Russian government as much as we in the West hate our own.

10. Molchat Doma - Toska

Finally, a Molchat Doma track. (Yes, I know, it’s another video with a beautiful woman. I’m sorry, I can’t help it.)

Great bassline and guitar. I think this band have a dark, but bright sound - if that makes sense. It’s like a party at the Addams Family residence. It’s another where I could’ve chosen a few different songs from their catalogue.

And with that, I’ll leave it there. Poka-poka.