Fabio again, this time with some cool Russian hard rocking goodness.....again he sends a review that I will send along, but I DO happen to know this band, and I know that they rock like a mofo......please check this one out, it is a good one!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motorama – Dialogues (2016)
Filed Under: indie-pop, post-punk
motoramaWhen most people think of Russia, rock music is not something that comes to mind. For many, the amount of Russian bands they know could be counted on less than one hand, and for most on less than one finger. However, the five-piece band Motorama from Rostov-on-Don, Russia has been recording post-punk and, more recently, synth filled indie rock, for the past decade. Even more interesting is that they perform all their songs in English. Though their albums from earlier this decade relied heavily on imitating Joy Division, last year’s Poverty saw singer/guitarist Vladislav Parshin finding his own voice. Following on the footsteps of that album, Motorama’s newest foray into indie pop, Dialogues, sees the band cementing their own sound even more.
The opening track on the album “Hard Times” is surprisingly one of the most subdued songs on the album. Synthesizers take the lead melody and a muffled bass plays a dance-y groove over processed drums while Parshin sings almost mantra like for only the first half of the song. Other songs like “Deep” and “By Your Side” also fall in the same vein of relatively relaxed grooving, but most of the songs on the album are more upbeat and carry elements of Motorama’s post-punk origins. “Sign” starts with a straightforward drum beat reminiscent of punk music, and is quickly joined by a swift, super funky bass line. Muffled guitar chords redolent of Neutral Milk Hotel are the drivers behind the track “Above the Clouds” and feature some of the best vocal melodies by Parshin on the album. The feeling of wanting to dance along to the songs is ever present on Dialogues, and “I See You” is the most representative of this sensation. The rhythm section creates such a funky beat that it’s almost impossible not to as least nod your head along to the groove. While “Reflection” is also groovy, the atmospheric elements of the synth and reverb filled guitars almost make it border on psych-rock.
Dialogues is a great representation of Motorama’s sound and one that further builds upon the ultra dancible melodies and rhythms recorded on Poverty. The instrumentation is different and dynamic enough between songs to keep it flowing, and the album seems to be finished before you even know it. If Motorama is at all indicative of the music scene in Russia, than hopefully we will start to hear some of the other talented bands coming out of the massive country. However, Motorama is also a band that sounds great outside of the context of nationality and it will be interesting to hear the material they continue to release after Dialogues.
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