Solar X

Kalashnikoff Bullet Bath

Splendid E-Zine The really cool thing about Solar X is that he's Russian and part of an unquestionably remote techno scene (how many Russian techno acts can you name?). The result of this is music that is wonderfully fresh. Many of the sounds on Kalashnikoff Bullet Ballet are from "exotic" Russian synths that are not heard in the West. As far as comparisons go, these tunes are reminiscent of Aphex Twin, particularly in the intricate (and in-your-face) drum programming. The biggest treat on the record is track 1 of side B, "Koraleva (Solaremix)" -- where else can you get impressive synth programming blended with what sounds like a drunk Russian mumbling to himself in a stupor? -- nw