I had some dear friends who were members of the Siberian jazz scene many years ago. Names like Roman Stolyar, Sergei Belichenko and others produced music equal-to or better than their contemporaries in Moscow and St. Petersburg for a while. Nikolay Smagliev & Dr.Jazz seem to be keeping in that Continue Reading
Russia
Nina Kraviz – Treats 001
From Nina Kraviz’s Bandcamp site: “treats is the younger, bratty sister label to trip, specialised in cool music for the dance floor that seems to ignore the idea of genres. To prove this point the first release brings together two tracks that have been roasted in Nina’s sets for months Continue Reading
Albert Kuvezin And Yat-Kha – Re-Covers
Albert Kuvezin’s legendary band Yat-Kha is one of the few in Russia that blends industrial rock and khöömei, the traditional throat-singing technique that has similarities to music in Mongolia proper and even Tibet in a modified form. In this album, the band covers 14 songs, including tracks originally performed by Joy Division, Led Continue Reading
Various Artists – TAL Music: Music from the Caucasus – The Archive of ORED Recordings, 2013–2023
As much as I try to absorb as many new releases and great reissues as possible, I’m only one man, and sometimes treasures slip through the cracks. I wish to thank Praveer Baijal, who, besides being a great and good guy, is also a man of exquisite musical taste, for pointing Continue Reading
Petyaev-Petyaev – Incomparable Greatness
Brothers Peter Petyaev (saxophone) and Pavel Petyaev (guitar) released a collaborative album near the end of January 2026. It is free in its improvisational greatness but subdued in energy. This is not a nuclear blast of energy but a gentle romp that sounds active enough to be interesting without making your eardrums burst. Continue Reading
Various Artists – Eternal Turns: intelkinetix²
From Eternal Turns’ Bandcamp site: “Eternal Turns presents the second compilation, ”intelkinetix²“ — a snapshot of the contemporary experimental scene. The release features exclusive works by the label’s residents and like-minded sound artists, united by a shared pursuit of new forms, technologies, and methods of working with sound. The compilation Continue Reading
Sababa 5 & Anton – Forgive – Прости
From Batov Records’ Bandcamp site: “Sababa 5 are back once again on our exclusive Middle Eastern Grooves series with another double-sided 7” titled ‘Forgive – Прости (Prosti)’: a funky release featuring the voice and lyrics of Anton Koliadko. ‘Forgive’ opens with a simple, vintage-sounding, syncopated hook led by the bass, Continue Reading
Various Artists – Antonovka Records: Young Flowers: Music of Kazakhs from Orenburg Region
The top ten albums of 2025 from the Russian World Music Chart will be announced soon, and this year has been exceptional for ethnic and world music. One standout album comes from Antonovka Records, a label that was originally based in Russia but is now located in Chișinău, Moldova. If you’re Continue Reading
Mirocaw – Phytophthora Ramorum
This release is undoubtedly one of the spookiest of the year. Mirocaw hails from Moscow, Russia, and their music can be best described as eerie and unsettling. It evokes that feeling you get when walking through a dark swamp, sensing that something is watching you, intent on your destruction. It’s Continue Reading
Slava Lobanov & Peter Shalamov – Garden of Flowing Streams
From the Slawic Group’s Bandcamp site: “The debut jazz recording by the duo of Slava Lobanov (of Fuzziliers, Juice Oh Yeah, Pereuchyot, the Flash Fever) and young pianist Peter Shalamov, who met in Istanbul where they relocated to after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is inspired predominantly by iconic recordings Continue Reading