Motorama
Catching up with Russia’s Motorama; press photo courtesy of the group.
Motorama returned with their new album Dialogues released this week via Talitres and we give you an exclusive listen to the album full accompanied with an interview session. The Rostov-on-Don, Russian quintet couples the favorite sophisticated pop heard from Swedish DIY acts over the years that recall the EU/UK independent acts that dominated the 80s underground. At a time polarizing time where everyone wants to pit east against west, point fingers at the errors in leadership at one country or another; Motorama hones in on the more sacred bonds & graces that can be enjoyed globally by adopting an attitude of inclusive curiosity with a sound that everyone can universally & instantly get into.
Motorama’s Dialogues bridges the gulfs between the musical dialects of dance & DIY rock pop with the utmost graciousness & ease. The state of the world is entertained on the introspective & solemn sorts of stages with “Hard Times”, where the dance grooves take you to the brilliant “Tell Me” that sounds like it could have been born out of an abandoned west coast strip-mall, a bedroom in Stockton, Toronto or London that will stay in your heart & consciousness for an eternity. The pep gets turned up a few notches on the kinetic “Sign”, to the introverted song of solace heard on “Loneliness”, right before rhythms & synth keys make for a rocket-like number that shoots straight for the infinite expanses of sky on “Above The Clouds”. Insomniac restlessness sets the course on the sleepless fixations of “I See You”, where the sentiments press toward the vast & expansive icy waters of “Deep”, where melancholia is mixed with a kind of twee-beat optimism (that is equally grounded into the cold, sobering & somber ground of reality) on “Someone Is Missed”, “Reflection”, to the closing “By Your Side”.
Vlad Parshin from Motorama took the time to talk to us about the new album Dialogues and more in the following interview featured right after the exclusive listen.
Describe Rostov-on-Don this time of year, what’s new, interesting, cool, etc.
The temperature is near 8 degrees above zero, pretty rainy and windy. Good weather for chilling at home, drinking tea, watching movies and playing with the kids. We are not chasing for new and cool things, sorry.
Local inspirations, conversations, thoughts, etc that first began the creation of the new album Dialogues?
The main narrative inspiration comes from our local folklore, from traditional spiritual songs and tales about faith, love, sorrow and mystical worlds. Musically—it’s a mix of everything that I like, from Soviet new wave and post-punk bands like «Nikolai Kopernik» and «Kino» to Nico, Black Devil Disco Club and Kraftwerk.
The electronic & rock elements are seamlessly blended in through the motif of melancholia that permeates the record. How do you all go about achieving this via instrumental arrangement?
About technical things and arrangements, I should say that for the very first time I tried to use electronic arpeggios, african bongos and congos and acoustic guitar that was something new comparing to previous band’s sound. And about melancholia: we have no aim to catch it, to tell you the truth. I don’t really like this feeling, I understand the meaning of this word as some kind of “depression” and this record is not depressive for me at all. It’s about love, sorrow and hope.
Talking with Motorama; press photo courtesy of the band.
Other Russian groups right now that the world needs to hear?
I really do like this band:
Панк Фракция Красных Бригад, “Когда ты понялk”
The name translates like: Punk Faction Of The Red Brigades. But they are pretty underground and I think they don’t want to be heard.
More international causes that the world should pay more attention to?
An artist from Georgia:
Erekle Deisadze, “Mzad Var”
Next big moves for Motorama?
We prefer small moves and they are the same: songwriting and playing concerts.
2017 dreams & wishes?
World peace.
Motorama’s new album Dialogues is available now from Talitres.
