|
OUT OF THE ASHES RISE DUSHANBE
Think sympnonic, think Yes at their best. No that would be a disservice to Dushanbe. With the opening up of the Eastern block since the breakup of the former USSR music lovers world wide have been searching out music from that was formerly unavailable to them. Bands such as Sepis and Horizont are finally getting heard by Western ears. Now out of Tajikistan we have Dushanbe. Named after their hometown in Tajikistan Dushanbe are a symphonic progressive rock band featurning the twin keyboards of Vyacheslav Nikitin and Timoferi Kuzmin with the haunting voacals of Tatiyana Kuzmin. With a different political climate Dushanbe would have been Tajikistan's gift to the progressive world in the mould of Yes. Formed in 1972 by husband and wife team Timofei and Tatyana Kuzmin Dushanbe played the small undergound clubs of Tajikistan gatthering a loyal audience deprived of Western music. Upon hearing Yes years later Fyodor Zakharov was heard to comment that he thought Yes had used a lot of their ideas. Such was the level of isolation during the Cold War in Tajikistan. With few outside influences Dushanbe crafted their own style of music based on the classical training of the Kuzmins's and the Tajakistani percussion laden tribal music of the hill tribes. Their brilliant masterpiece "Music For Helicopter Rides" Vol 1 & Vol 2 features as it's centrepice the hauntingly beautifull "Sirkorsky Suites Parts 1-4". Organ dominated at times and also great guitar/viola interplay. Long since out of print this vinyl masterpeice is a highly sought after item of progressive rock record collectors. Various bootleg versions of this have appeared over the years in differing degrees of sound quality and even rumours of a picture disc version. Keyboard player Vyacheslav Nikitin emigrated to the USA in the 80's. He was found disshevelled,impoverished & suffering from schizophrenia induced by his incarceration from 1975-1979 for his political beliefs. With the aid of medication he has slowly regained his health and is pursuing a solo career. Timofei and Tatyana Kuzmin are music teachers in their hometown. The other members have not been heard of for many years. Though their recorded output is minimal the quality is testement to their talent and dedication. With the door now firmly open a free thinking record label should pick up and distribute Dushanbe to the masses. TAB
COME BACK OFTEN BECAUSE OF BANDWIDTH RESTRICTIONS Nikitin Solo |
