Russian Gothic Page - PURPLE FOG SIDE "Neototemism"

PURPLE FOG SIDE "Neototemism"

This is the first release of a most talented and original Samarian darkwave-industrial band. On this page you can read some CD reviews and listen to a couple of tracks from the album in MP3. You can order the CD on our distribution page.

PURPLE FOG SIDE "Neototemism" Reviews

A couple of tracks from the album in MP3

PURPLE FOG SIDE "Neototemism" Reviews

I wouldn't dare say that a band from Samara called PURPLE FOG SIDE is a remarkable formation on Russian gothic/industrial scene, they evidently stand alone, being more known to the western audience. The project itself is a creation of a lonely musician Paul "Jazztiz" Zolin (although at present there are three people in it, two girls included: the vocalist and the lyrics writer). In my opinion, this is one of the most interesting and original bands in Russia (their performance at Edge of the Night II produced a deep impression on me, although judging by the reaction of the audience, there were some who didn't like their music). I'm sure there'd be lots of fans of their music, if there were at least some PURPLE FOG SIDE releases within our reach. As for me, I hate MP3's, not to mention the Scream Tracker format; this is why the release of this CD was a great event for me. Although there is some mythical album "Roon" (1998) in the PURPLE FOG SIDE's discography, "Neototemism" is their first album addressed to the Russian listener. Even the first track, "Why Know", makes you understand that the whole album is a complicated musical canvas, which is hard to compare to anything: beginning with almost Ant-Zennish rhythm'n'noise, the track gradually goes to pathetic STOA/ARCANA-like ethereal with striking female vocals and backing spooky dark-ambient soundscapes. Such eclectics is the characteristic feature of this release: the infernal combination of noise, ethereal, electro, music concrete, dark ambient, rhythm'n'noise, darkwave and ritual makes up this unique musical work. And despite the fact that almost half of the tracks begin with noise intros, the general sounding is very light, very airy - probably it is perceived so because of the abundant female vocals. Or maybe the trick is in the fresh compositional arrangement? The typical song structure is a hard noise beginning, gradually changing to ethereal or dark ambient. By the way, the lyrics are in Russian, and in such musical surrounding the beautiful and sensual voice of Diana Gabbassova sounds fairly wild, although very original. As far as I know, the working name if this CD was "The New Rituals of Northern Russia" - maybe it was less poetical, but, in my opinion, much more concrete. I assure you: you have never heard anything like this before, and if you do not stick to distinct stylistic borders, this CD is for you. I do not know whether the musicians will like my definition or not, but I'd characterize their style as power-pop-noise-darkwave.
coroner
Russian Gothic Project

It's not often that our vast land gives birth to distinctive bands that play interesting music, and do not try to belong within certain stylistic frames to satisfy the "potential listeners".

The latest album of a Samarian project PURPLE FOG SIDE (known to the Moscow audience thanks to their performance at Halloween 1999 in Cry, organized by RGP) is exactly this very exception. Accepting no compromises, following the voice of the heart, Jazztiz (the music writer and producer of he band) managed to create an exciting musical work, consisting of 8 tracks, over 40 minutes of total running time. Being absolutely honest, the album from cover to cover can arose positive feelings only in people with really diverse musical tastes. "Neototemism" combines ambient, neo classics, folk, hard electro, industrial cannonades and even Japanese noise in one coherent piece. Despite such radical eclectics, the album sounds very wholesome and, in a manner of speaking, you can listen to it at a gulp. A short beautiful ambient song "Why Know"...opens the CD. This is the track you wish to listen to again and again. The wonderful voice of Diana, the vocalist (well, this characteristic applies to all the songs with her participation), the melody, full of deep melancholy... The second track, "The Generation for Mr. P" will be highly appreciated by body music lovers. This is hard electro with distorted vocals of Jazztiz reciting a poem by Maxim Gorky's. The third track, "Outcome" (in my opinion the best track of the album) begins with hot noise revealing the voice of the "singer of universal love and a rare one for Tokyo subway transport", Shoko Asahara, reading out the mantra. The noise gradually shifts to a marvelous melody, with Diana singing about the death of god. The same scheme is used in "The Colorless Shadow", a sad story of the life of a heroin addict. This time the spooky rhythm'n'noise intro changes to a beautiful, full of melancholy electro-ethereal ballad. The fifth theme, "The Price of Life", is an excellent depressive instrumental noise-ambient theme, close in its airs to the works of Cold Meat Industry bands. "Metastases" is based on the traditional Russian song, "Sailing Down the Volga River". It's quite a successful and original presentation. The seventh song called "Dream" (together with "Outcome" they make my favorites) is accomplished in the ambient-ethereal style. Again the melody is very beautiful, the atmosphere is very strong. The last, almost instrumental track called "Epilog. Muzzle" is very close to IMB stylistics. In general, "Neototemism" is a very successful album and I really hope that Russian lovers of electro/gothic don't miss it.
Wraith
Russian Gothic Project

A couple of tracks from the album in MP3

Why Know (2:53)