Zvuki Mu

Zvuki Mu formed in Novosibirsk in 1988, during the late Soviet era. The band's name translates to "Sounds of Mu," and they were led by Artemy Troitsky. Their music drew from post-punk and new wave, with a raw, experimental edge that felt out of step with official Soviet culture. Songs like "Crazy Queen" and "Forgotten Sex" had a direct, irreverent quality that circulated on bootleg recordings when the band couldn't play official venues.

Their debut album "Proigryvash' Plastyku" came out in 1989 and became a touchstone in Soviet underground music. They kept recording through the 1990s, putting out albums like "Pesni Vanyusha" and "Tabaka." The lineup shifted over time, with musicians like Alexei Borisov and Oleg Surovov passing through. They also worked with some international artists, including Brian Eno.

Zvuki Mu's lyrics often dealt frankly with subjects that weren't discussed openly, and their music carried a critique of the system around them. They kept making music into the 2000s, with albums like "Muzika Dlya Kinofil'mov" in 2000.