Modul: “Again, Truly Yours and Bright”

Time to announce the publication of another fine work from Modul, the minimal techno stars from Krasnodar.  It comes to us as a 55-minute podcast via the Highsessions netlabel that’s operated from the same city by Sergei Zarin (below).  Typically these podcasts are given over to work by Zarin himself, but on this occasion Modul have been granted the chance to publish a one-hour mix.

It clearly was not an easy decision.

We’re drawing attention to the recording for two reasons.  Firstly, we’re already big fans of Modul and more than happy to advertise their ongoing labors.  Secondly, the band’s members – Evgenii Shchukin, Evgenii Fomin, and Aleksander Tochilkin – have fashioned “Again, Truly Yours and Bright” exclusively from the work of other Russian artists.  They show a very discerning taste, too, and we therefore recommend this podcast as a way to acquaint yourself with some of the more interesting minimalist DJs of the moment.

Zarin versus Modul: the battle for podcast supremacy is on.

“Again, Truly Yours and Bright” opens with Lazzich, to whom we recently drew attention for a Siberian compilation that was attempting to gather electro-talents from around the nation.  Lazzich’s background seemed a suitable context for this technical challenge.  Trained as a nuclear engineer, he has now established a name for himself as somebody who happily acquires, deconstructs, and reinvents late-Soviet electronic instruments.  The collaborative, similarly (re)constructive  labors of other musicians are now rebuilding audible, digital unions against a fragile social backdrop.  The World Bank announced today its growing concern over social failings in distant Russian cities, especially those dependent upon one industry.  Any metaphors of cohesion or renovation are more than welcome.

Lazzich is not the only familiar name in the playlist.  Moscow’s Frunk29 have also been the object of our attention before, as has Mujuice, whose baroque compositions continue to appear in a multitude of online venues, each time justifying his reputation as one of Russia’s finest young talents.  Modul are keeping an eye on him.

Scsi-9, also on display, are part and parcel of the excellent Pro-Tez label, producing top-notch techno on a regular basis.  We’ve offered a background to their work elsewhere on this site, together with their colleagues B-Voice and KHz, whose “Gain Zero” is the second track in the mix.  This deep/techno duo are the driving force behind the continually impressive online radio station Deepmix.ru; fittingly enough, it’s their contribution that takes “Again, Truly…” into its more danceable section.

As these little lists continue, it’s clear that 55 minutes of your time will provide a very nice introduction to a burgeoning genre.  While this activity continues apace, Zarin takes a welcome “break” at the end of Round One.

Heaven forbid, thought, that we confine ourselves only to things tried and tested.  Hence we’re happy to note the inclusion of a young outfit from Stavropol, known as Die Sekte, two of whose members we see below on a sunny southern rooftop.  The band has been in existence for almost three years now, and started as a deep, minimal and tech-house project.

They claim, however, to have a good ten years of DJ-ing behind them. Looking at this and other images of Die Sekte, there must be some pretty funky playgrounds in the south.

Whatever the logic of their math, however, it’s heartening to hear that Die Sekte place a heavy emphasis upon what they term “constantly developing musical experience and production skills, too.”  Time and effort, they hope, will “give us the opportunity to attain a high quality of work and a beautiful sound.”

In short, therefore, we highly recommend “Again, Truly Yours and Bright” as a wonderful snapshot not only of existing talents in the minimal/deep field, but also as a quick, easy, and entertaining manner with which to stay abreast of “high-quality work” from far-flung towns.  The alternative will take you a lot of time, effort, and bus tickets.

This mix opens with an ambient, almost ghostly into from Lazzich that shuns all dancefloor percussion for several minutes.  It presages the very impressive pacing of the recording as a whole: it builds slowly and gracefully, winding its way towards the beautiful closing number by Scsi-9 that is structured on the most human and heartfelt motif of the podcast: a lone, melancholy trumpet.  It embodies the general mood with which Modul offer us of the fruits of their labors:  it’s one hour of the “brightest Russian deepness [sic]!  Only Russian artists.  Pure dreams, friends, and some beats.  Enjoy!”

We did.

PLAYLIST:

01. Lazzich – Syuiioo
02. B-Voice & Khz – Gain Zero
03. Die Sekte – The Cold Sand
04. Modul – Sandy Wind
05. Lazzich – Baby
06. Die Sekte – Smile
07. Mujuice – Rabbit
08. Frunk29 – Alenkin Нome
09. SCSI-9 – Autumn Love
10. Modul – Air Tool
11. SCSI-9 – Vesna, Lastic & Elliott

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