Complex Numbers - "Утро Нового Тысячелетия" [2002]

Artist: Complex Numbers

Title: Утро Нового Тысячелетия
Genre: Techno, Futurepop
Country: Russia
Release date: 2002

Track List:

1. Эволюция
2. Утро нового тысячелетия
3. Пробуждение
4. Экспансия
5. Солнечное затмение
6. Цветущая земля
7. Время
8. Бесконечный путь
9. Трилогия
10. Неизбежность
11. Ещё не поздно начать всё сначала
12. Inevitability (bonus - Russian SE)
13. Inevitabilite (bonus - French SE)

The second album from Complex Numbers, which is probably the best in their discography (if Victor Argonov's solo work "2032: A Techno Opera" doesn't count). Just like their debut album, this one contains only two tracks with vocals, and they're clearly the best on the whole album. I also added two re-arranged versions of 10th track to the archive (in Russian and French, from CN's maxi single "Last Ring" released in 2009). BTW, I especially like the voice of their new vocalist "Ariel", which you may hear on these two bonus tracks. The lyrics are excellent as well, dealing with quite serious matters such as transhumanism, "hard" science fiction, and the future of the humankind. I think this video will give you an idea of what their music is about:

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Complex Numbers - "Земное Притяжение" [1998]

Artist: Complex Numbers

Title: Земное Притяжение
Genre: Techno, Futurepop
Country: Russia
Release date: 1998

Track List:

1. Вcтупление
2. Пути цивилизаций
3. Над землёю алеет закат...
4. Солнечный дождь
5. Подводный туннель
6. Разбег
7. Тайфун
8. Минбарский снег
9. Ускорение
10. Конвейер
11. В полёте
12. Две системы
13. Земное притяжение

Complex Numbers are an "art-techno" project started in 1996 in Vladivostok by Frol Zapolsky and Victor Argonov (the latter being one of the most well-known transhumanist activists/publicists in Russia). After more than a decade of being largely unknown, CN suddenly became a sensation in the "intellectual" segment of Russian internet, thus finally reaching their intended audience. "Земное Притяжение" ("Earth's Gravity") is their debut release consisting of mostly instrumental tracks recorded during 1996-1998. However, my favourites are two tracks - #3 & #8 - with beautiful female vocals and sci-fi themed lyrics. Sadly there are only two of them...

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Protacryl - "Future" [2007]

Artist: Protacryl

Title: Future
Genre: Electronic/Industrial
Country: Russia
Release date: 2007

Track List:

1. DOOM
2. Utopia #2
3. Zikr
4. Touch My Plaque
5. The Other Side Of The Mind
6. I Don't Know
7. Hydrogen Jamaica
8. Forgotten Eyes
9. The All-Or-Nothing Days
10. The Gap In The Head
11. Sterile Nurse
12. Universal Faith
13. Surreal Reason
14. The Step In The Next Day
15. Future

Protacryl are an electro-industrial duo from Tomsk (western Siberia), formed in 1992 as an aggro-industrial/punk band, but never released anything in that style. Since the release of their debut full-length album "Proto" (2004), they're playing purely electronic music. Here's their latest album up to date, "Future" (2007), which is definitely not bad for a self-produced release.

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Farid Aslanov - "Planetary Shift" [2012]

Artist: Farid Aslanov

Title: Planetary Shift
Genre: Ambient/Electronic, Soundtrack
Country: Azerbaijan
Release date: 2012

Track List:

1. Passive
2. Long Journey
3. Lost In Time
   

The latest release from Farid Aslanov up to date, this time more "cosmic" in atmosphere (as opposed to his previous EP, "War With The Z", which was intended to resemble a soundtrack for a zombie movie). As for me, it's too soundtrack-like, which makes it a little boring for ordinary listening, but I can't blame Farid for this - I understand he has a family and a lot of work which leaves little time for making music, plus he lives in a country where underground music scene barely exists. Perhaps I should try to contact him once again and ask him about his future plans and the current state of his main project, Mechanic Fist (I heard they've split up...)

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Abu Lahab - "As Chastened Angels Descend Into The Thoracic Tombs" [2011]

Artist: Abu Lahab

Title: As Chastened Angels Descend Into The Thoracic Tombs
Genre: Noise / Avant-Garde / Industrial Black Metal
Country: Morocco
Release date: 2011

Track List:

1. Sentient Graves
2. A Ripple of Matricide
3. Prayers of the Kyphosis
4. Fear-Induced Faith
5. To Stab a Pregnant Sun
6. Bismih

Very, very strange release from North Africa that definitely won't appeal to everyone. However, I found this (anti-)music actually interesting and carrying that atmosphere of insanity that most generic noise/PE/BM releases lack. Just look at the tracklisting - the music is just as weird as these song titles. Certainly not an album for everyday listening, but a good addition in a collection of weird/avant-garde DIY stuff from obscure countries. As for the moniker "Abu Lahab", it means "Father of Flame" and probably comes from the Islamic mythology where it's a nickname of Muhammad's uncle who later became one of his most staunch enemies.

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ID:VISION - "Destination Cybermind" [2011]

Artist: ID:VISION

Title: Destination Cybermind
Genre: Industrial Metal
Country: Belarus
Release date: 2011

Track List:

1. Enter The Cybermind (Intro)
2. Human Hazard
3. Zarathustra XXI
4. Eschato-Logics
5. World Wide Wrath
6. Pandora's Box
7. Destination Cybermind
8. Hi-Tech Knell
9. X-Ray Sun
10. Seven Days Before The Fall (Prelude)
11. Vośmy Dzień
12. The Man
13. Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

One more Belarusian band, one of whose members used to post on "M-Forum" ~10 years ago. Back then, he seemed to be quite immature (your typical "trve black metal" fan), but junging from this album, he grew up into a good musician. The best track on "Destination Cybermind" is probably "Zarathustra XXI", but the whole album is quite good and definitely recommended to every fan of industrial death/black metal (and what's important - it's officially FREE for download).

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Pulsar (BY) - "Civilization" [2005]

Artist: Pulsar

Title: Civilization
Genre: Power Metal
Country: Belarus
Release date: 2005

Track List:

1. The Voice of the Earth (intro)
2. Civilization
3. Fire & Ice
4. Eternity
5. Путь к фортуне
6. Солнце Бессмертных
7. Пегас
8. Орден Креста
9. Моя любовь, моя печаль

One more band named Pulsar, this time from Belarus and playing power metal. First I heard about them was circa 2003, when I used to read the "M-Forum" (probaby the only Belarusian metal forum back then). They were quite unpopular among the users of said forum (because it was considered "cool" to listen to BM and brutal death metal, not gothic or power metal), but I personally liked some of their promo songs ("Civilization" and "Eternity") very much, even though I couldn't find their first and only full-length album anywhere. Now I found it, and I have to say that the 2 songs I mentioned are indeed the best. "Fire & Ice" isn't bad either, but the rest of the tracks (with lyrics in Russian) are just generic power metal, and the album cover image is so stereotypical it hurts. "Civilization" and "Eternity" are very beautiful songs, though - a good example of power metal that's about more serious topics than fantasy and dragons. The vocal work isn't perfect, though, as well as the overall quality of production, but it's good enough for an underground metal band from the ex-USSR.

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Pulsar - "The Strands Of The Future" [1976]

Artist: Pulsar

Title: The Strands Of The Future
Genre: Progressive Rock
Country: France
Release date: 1976

Track List:

1. The Strands Of The Future
2. Flight
3. Windows
4. Fool's Failure

Second album by Pulsar, which is in my opinion better than their debut "Pollen". Excellent progressive/space rock, would be a perfect soundtrack for some French sci-fi movie or cartoon like "Les Maîtres du Temps" (I don't like its original soundtrack, except for the closing theme). After "The Strands Of The Future" Pulsar released one more album called "Halloween" (which wasn't as popular as their first two albums due to rise of punk rock scene, which seriously diminished the fanbase of classic rock), and then split up. Personally I found "Halloween" not as interesting as either "Pollen" or "Strands of the Future", but it's still definitely worth listening (won't post it here, though).