Album Review: Musique Concrete From Perestroika Period by MikhailZhvanetsky87
Alright, so let’s get into this wild ride of an album, Musique Concrete From Perestroika Period. Released in 2019 by Russian artist MikhailZhvanetsky87 under the label Immoral Basement Records, it’s a no-holds-barred plunge into the chaotic world of electronic noise music. If you’re into stuff that feels like your brain's wiring is getting rewired while listening, this one’s for you.
The title track, “Musique Concrete From Perestroika Period,” hits you right off the bat. It’s not just a track—it’s more like an experience. Imagine being stuck in some Soviet-era basement with old tape machines glitching out, static crackling like mad, and faint echoes of propaganda broadcasts bleeding through. That’s what this sounds like. But weirdly, it works. There’s something hypnotic about how disorienting it is. You don’t just listen to it—you kinda survive it. It sticks with you because it doesn’t feel made for anyone; it’s raw, unfiltered, and honestly kinda brilliant.
Another standout (if we can even call it that) is a shorter cut buried midway through the album—I think it’s untitled, or maybe I missed the name somewhere. Whatever it’s called, it’s got these sharp, industrial stabs layered over what sounds like warped vinyl skips. At first, it feels random, like someone just mashed buttons on a synth. But then you start hearing these faint melodic fragments poking through all the chaos. It’s like finding beauty in destruction, ya know? Kinda makes you wonder if that was intentional or if it just happened by accident. Either way, props to Mikhail for pulling it off.
What’s cool about this album is how unapologetically Russian it feels—not in a cliché balalaika-and-vodka way, but in its grittiness. The whole thing screams “we’ve seen worse, and here’s our soundtrack.” It’s not easy listening, but who says everything has to be smooth and polished? Sometimes art needs to punch you in the face, and this album does exactly that.
Random thought before I wrap this up: Listening to this album feels like trying to decode a secret message from the past. And honestly, isn’t that what good music should do—make you think, feel, and maybe question your sanity a little? So yeah, check it out if you’re brave enough. Just don’t blame me if your neighbors knock on your door asking what the hell you’re playing.
