SNAPSHOTS

Awesome instrumental prog from Russia from this band of seasoned veterans and their guests. This is a very eclectic album in that, as the title infers, each and every song incorporates a completely diverse style. It's like you mixed the Eastern European folk-filled good humour of FARM MARKET with the funky side of VESPERO. Oft times one hears music themes that sound quite cinematic, with others riding the pulsating groove of a kind of Jamaican Krautrock ("Memories"), or a purer representative of the Kosmische Musik tradition ("Trip"), while others are flavored with the bounce of folk traditions ("Foolery" and "Me"). Throughout this album the bass play is a standout for its thick and melodic funky-jazzy grooves, while the drums are tight and supportive, and the guitar work skillful and expressive. The contributions of the guests (vibes, synths, saxophone, voice) are notable and helpful (like VESPERO's Arakady Fedotov on spacey synths during "Trip")

1. "Me" (5:27) plays as if Carlos Santana or Jeff Beck played on a Russian folk song--at least until the nice little bass solo at 2:40--which then sets up the great explosion into heavier jazz rock territory. Quite fun, creative, and well done. (9/10)

2. "Them" (10:45) is perhaps the most cinema soundtrack-sounding song on the album--even through it's several shifts and turns. Bass play, fuzzy, distorted guitar leads, and xylophone-like keyboard are standouts. (9/10)

3. "Chums (5:09) opens with a Spaghetti Western distorted guitar riff and sparse drum play. Then solo lead guitar enters presenting a kind of CHET ATKINS sound. The rolling guitar strums at the two-minute mark bridge to an out and out Country-Rock fusion in which two guitars-one clean and Atkins-like and the other dirty and -like--are kind of loosely dueling while also masterfully supporting one another. Great song! Some nice, familiar melodies in that second half. (9/10)

4. "Memories" (5:15) displays a bit of a Rastafarian side to the band--mostly in the bass line--while the drums and guitars are more rock n roll. The song gets more psychedelic and spacey as it travels with two guitars soloing against each other at the same time in the end. (9/10)

5. "Foolery" (4:49) has a corny, folk-like beat with an incongruous fuzzy guitar and chunky bass. The weakest song on the album--though fans of Eastern European folk might really dig this one. (8/10)

6. "Equilibrium (7:05) sounds like a jazz & funked up Math Rock tune in which the bass play is its most adventurous though it may stand out a bit at times from the rest of the band's weave. Sax and male voices humming are featured in the second half. (9/10)

7. "Trip (8:06) is the true Kosmisches song on the album as guest Arkady Fedotov's space synths steer us into distant galaxies start to finish despite the influences and suggestions of the others. Great job by drummer Eugeny Kudryashov in keeping the ship on course. There is even a little uncredited trumpet (sample? synth?) snuck into the journey in the seventh minute. (9/10)

8. "Hangover" (1:55) is an awesome little weave of complex bass play, melody-establishing fuzz guitar and syncopated hard hits of piano chords to seal off the album's end. Nice! (9/10)

Great performances on solid compositions throughout this enjoyable journey of instrumental music.