Alexei BORISOV & Jeffrey SURAK "Ulitsa Novatorov"
The Locus of Assemblage | mass06 | 3" CD-R | 2002

According to the press release, Alexei Borisov is the one of the very first precursors of new wave, industrial and electronic music in Russia . He began his adventure with "subverssive" music styles in the early 80-ies. As for his co-partner Jeffrey Surak, I think he's widely known to our readers from numerous releases under his own, or his project's names, and last but not least from the interview we did some time ago, so a wide introduction is not necessary here. However, it's not the first Jeff's common project with artists from the former USSR , if I'm not wrong. Anyway, when listening to 'Ulitsa Novatorov' I got an impression it's not him who put the finishing touches here. I don't know how big share he had in it, but it's out of his canon... The 3" CD-R includes four interesting examples of new electronics, I can't still find a suitable label for. This sound indeterminacy brings to mind Mille Plateaux releases - ethereal tones based on sound particles, micro noises, delicate bits, additionally prepared and manipulated sound processes - feedbacks, loops, repetitions. There is something interesting about this record- when it seems that we are finally able about to pinpoint the area of music Borisov and Surak actually explore, a new element suddenly appears which destroys such suppositions. A nice listen - it stimulates you to get to know both guys' solo works closer, which's good.

[krzysztof sadza]