Abstraktor

Four musicians from Voronezh have set aside the guitar to carve new paths in progressive pop. At the center of their sound is Yaroslav Borisov’s piano, providing both rhythm and melody for the ensemble. Their hometown, located along the Don River, 500 km south of Moscow, is not far from the Ukrainian front, a geographical reality that adds urgency to their music—a way of looking beyond the constraints of their society while subtly critiquing the political and cultural climate.

"Mat", the band’s second album, blends jazz fusion, contemporary classical, and Slavic traditions into a bold yet accessible synthesis. The title, meaning “mother” in Russian, suggests deep roots and universal introspection. Their influences are diverse: the fragmented rhythms of “Burja” evoke Mew’s alt-prog structures, while the melodic grandeur nods to post-Britpop bands like Keane and Puressence.
Within this framework, variety thrives. Tracks like “Ne šum, ne šum” (“No Noise, No Noise”) embrace Eastern European folk harmonies, elevated by the prominence of the flute. In “Vidit Bog” (“God Sees”), Borisov’s minimalist, percussive ostinato channels the mood of Wim Mertens but intertwines unpredictably with avant-garde dissonances and dramatic rhythmic shifts, supported by Alexander Bityutskikh’s drumming and Oleg Salkov’s bass.
“Burja,” the most multifaceted track, flows through contrasting themes, referencing Hans Zimmer’s ominous motif from Interstellar's “No Time for Caution,” while Ivan Sukharev’s vocals add a narrative quality both hypnotic and surreal.

Sukharev’s lyrics balance poetic imagery with implicit reflections on contemporary Russia. In “Čto-nibud'” (“Something”), lines such as “A tear trembles, a goat blows smoke, and the smoke spreads without distinguishing who is right, who is wrong” evoke disorientation. Elsewhere, tracks like “Egorina Gora” (“Egorina Mountain”) reveal discomfort with the political status quo: “A long curve leads to the government house. There, behind the doors, a cold wall waits.” This blend of cryptic lyricism and critique sharpens further in “Možno poznat'” (“One Can Understand”), whose verses shed light on the album’s title:

You can tell by the merriment
That she is not a true mother.
The beer does not intoxicate, the honey is not sweet,
And the vodka is not bitter.
The vodka is not bitter, the violin does not ring,
And joy brings no joy.
I would rise and go to my child
And bring them order.
But the coffin planks have clasped my legs,
I cannot stretch them out.
Yellow sands slip into my eyes,
I cannot see through them.
The damp mother earth has pressed me to her chest,
I cannot breathe.

With "Mat", Abstraktor demonstrate their versatility and ambition. Through adventurous arrangements, intricate lyrics, and a vivid sonic palette, they deliver an album that invites listeners into a world of light, shadow, and subtle revelations.

(This English adaptation was produced with AI-assisted translation)

30/12/2024