Volga — Pomol

This Russian collective who are named after the main river that runs through Russia, attempt to mix traditional Russian instruments,vocals and song elements with electronic textures and slamming techno/ electronia beat craft,plus the odd avant-garde nod.

Sadly most of the tracks are either beatscape with just Russian singing on top, or more traditional Russian songs left untouched. They just don’t seem to get the balance between the two  right, getting the interesting hybrid the album promises to be. There also  seems little change in pace or texture for the first half of the album mainly sticking to almost club thumbing  constructions, that sometimes move dangerously close to more club friendly  Eurovision entry’s.

It’s not all bad there are some interesting and grimy edges to some of the beat patterns,that offer up some suprising and inventive moments. Also latter on tracks like kruchu  they seem to get the mix of technology and traditional just right. With the hypnotic synth like throb covered with walling seas of female Russian singing, which mid-way introduces a sampled and streached traditional droning pipe  like instruments .

Sadly like so many albums that try to cross two very different genres this trys too hard and for the most part comes off been very unsatisfying. Really they need to relax thier soundcraft more and a play more natural and in less a contrived manner.