Punk tv

The initiator of the Punk TV band was Alex Kelman, the former Hot Zex guitarist. In the summer of 2003, he participated in the Energy Days festival in the Altai Republic in a new format for himself: Alex played as a DJ, and Yegor Gorbachev played on stage with him (he soon left the group). The performance, according to the musician, was not very successful, but it was then that the name Punk TV first appeared ^[1] . In December 2003, Hot Zex leader Vladimir Komarov heard Kelman’s home instrumental demo called “Snowboy” and offered to finalize it in a professional studio. The very next day, Komarov played vocals, guitars and basses and mixed the recording. A few months later, the song “Snowboy” was released on the CD collection “Alley PM Vol. 01 ”and produced the effect of an exploding bomb. Punk TV began to be aggressively invited to various festivals, the group was strengthened by Hot Zex drummer Konstantin Nikonov and successfully debuted in July 2004 at the Sunvibes international festival. It was with the advent of Nikonov that the "classic" composition of Punk TV was formed and, according to the repeated statements of Kelman and Komarov , the "chemistry" of Punk TV arose. Nikonov is also the author of the covers of all releases (except for the American edition of the debut album) Punk TV is one of the parts of the group’s DIY concept.

Punk TV in London, May 2007

By the beginning of 2005, Komarov had produced three more Punk TV tracks and handed the recordings to assistant John Peel and Steve Lamak to Hermet Chadha. Shortly thereafter, BBC Radio 1 aired “Snowboy” and “Zoomer Goodnight”. Several Russian labels immediately offered Punk TV to release their debut album, which had not yet been recorded. The group opted for the small but already familiar label Alley PM , which guaranteed Punk TV complete freedom of creativity, and in June 2005 completed work on the first album of the same name. A year later, the album was reissued in the US via AeroCCCP .

Punk TV 's debut album, composed of 90% of instrumental compositions at the junction of Lo-Fi , kraut rock and breakbeat , half of which was recorded and mixed at home, received an enthusiastic press on both sides of the Atlantic.

Punk TV's debut album is an exciting journey through the waves of inventive and clever indie rock, which, starting in the quiet haven of the Brit-pop track “Day By Day”, sweeps through the dozen of the most unexpected guitar-sampler adventures, ending with the completely electronic composition “Night By Night. " Vocals are usually absent, and the central thing is called "While Mickey Mouse is sleeping." The key words here to describe the effect of Punk TV music are “drive,” “cool,” and “fresh.”

- Dmitry Weber, Rolling Stone Russia, December 2005 ^[2]

Excellent album from a trio of Siberians who mix driving, droning guitars with thick buzzing electronics. It has a touch of New Order and Ratatat to it, a bit of breakbeat and a dark Flaming Lips-like beauty that seems to be found only in places not on the musical map. Cool.

- Tim Mohr, Playboy Magazine US, Dec 2006 ^[3]

Alex Kelman, Volodya Komarov and Kostya Nikonov are the Siberian trio behind Punk TV, carving out a niche for themselves with a set that is sure to extend their appeal well beyond native Russia. Opening with the atmospheric, propulsive “Day by Day”, this disc would be perfect accompaniment for a spy movie, with its trick-start beginnings (“Amsterdam”), tick tock rhythms coupled with floaty drones (“Zoomer Goodnight”) and plenty of disco guitars for those spies' nights off. They'll probably even get the girl at the end. Romantic avant-garde indie new-wave poptronica? Yes, please.

- Kristi Kates, Remix Magazine, Feb 2007 ^[4]

An electronics whiz, a bassist, and a drummer, all from Siberia, open up theie debut album with a cute, curvy indie-pop tune about being on tour - but quickly they unveil a surprisinf array of dance beats, expert pacing, killer sonic kicks, and a rich atmospherics. Invoking vintage European film soundtracks, American rock classics, and 90s UK pop, the album is exhilaratingly integrated, avoiding the usual gauche misalliances of rock, disco, and techno.

- James Hunter, Spin Magazine, April 2007 ^[5]

In the summer of 2005, Punk TV performed at the largest Russian festivals Nokia lab in Moscow (along with Howie B ) and Stereoleto in St. Petersburg (along with Gus Gus and 2020 Soundsystem). The song "Snowboy" became the anthem of the largest Russian festival of electronic music, the Republic of KaZantip . According to the results of 2005, many publications called Punk TV “the debut of the year”.

In the summer of 2006, Punk TV signed a contract with the capital's production company Soundhunters , moved to Moscow and began work on material for the new album. The record was recorded in the fall of 2006 at the Riga Sound Division Studio and was recorded on the Gigant Record in Moscow. At the end of the year, Punk TV received the Golden Gargoyle National Award in the nomination “Best Electronic Project on the Russian Stage - 2006”. The disc is called "Music For The Broken Keys" .

If at the Punk TV debut Komarov was immersed in the design of the unique sound of the group based on the Kelman demos, played the guitars and paid little attention to singing, at Music For the Broken Keys his talent for the songwriter was revealed with renewed vigor. 5 tracks out of 9 turned out to be vocal, and each song became a “classic” of Punk TV. Komarov ’s songs broke the already prevailing stereotypes about the group, helped Punk TV take a qualitative step forward and occupy the bridgeheads, previously unattainable for Russian independent groups.

Punk TV bang out "Vala Svala" and some might say that it's a bit controversial what has been said about this band but it is positive so tough. These guys are like the Pet Shop Boys but with balls. They have made an electro track that sounds amazing and the vocals are just mesmerizing, they have gone for quality rather than what will sell 200k Singles. This is a proper kick ass tune.

- Mark Moore, Contactmusic.com ^[6]

This is like Depeche Mode on acid with all its psychedelic sounds, soft Pet Shop Boys like vocals and lush keyboards.

- Dj Astro, Unimeri.com ^[7]

... on the new album “Music for the Broken Keys”, Siberians twisted all the knobs to perfect balance: the spectacular sound, distinct melodies and short couplets here are selected in the most correct proportions, and the annoying boom turned into an energetic and mobile drive. ... The general principle of their sounding is simple: mix everything with everything, weave the guitar riffs with an electronic beat, and translate the romantic sadness stated in "universal" English into a lively dance form. Punk TV in this series even looks more attractive than its neighbors: they are easily overtaken by the same New York Ratatat in emotionality and, unlike 120 Days, they do not load consciousness with psychedelic kraut-rock.

- George Birger, TimeOut Magazine, Moscow, March 27, 2007 ^[8]

Two years ago, Punk TV's debut CD struck like thunder amidst the provincial serenity of our musical horizon. Among other things, the record used the entire arsenal of nu-ravers that went into fashion this season, such as the Manchester guitar sound and synthesizer psychedelics. On “Music For The Broken Keys”, residents of Novosibirsk go much further than on their debut album, leaving the notorious syndrome of the second album at the mercy of one-time losers. The swirling sound of the Punk TV has not undergone any significant changes, but as they say, there are nuances. There are more vocal tracks (there are as many as three), and the guitars are now shaded with lush lace electronics. Speaking about this disc, it’s completely optional to juggle with empty and far-fetched terms - Punk TV music exists regardless of the classifications accepted in the European press. The album sounds fresh and fun, sometimes overtaking fashion by half a case - and this feeling can not be confused with any other.

- Dmitry Weber, Rolling Stone Russia, June 2007 ^[9]

Three princes from Novosibirsk, mysterious and young, play the Manchester wave no worse than the British themselves. Happy Mandeis and New Order, grafted to Siberian seedlings, bring a good harvest: local fans of such music finally do not feel left out - a westerly breeze suddenly blew from the center of Eurasia.

- Oleg Nesterov, Newsweek Russia ^[10]

The closing album track "Good Morning 1985" was included on the disc at the very last moment. Komarov recorded his initial version as a birthday present to Punk TV drummer Nikonov, a big fan of the new wave of the 80s. Komarov until the last did not agree to rewrite "Good Morning 1985", considering the composition "comical" and "frivolous."

In 2007, Punk TV played 56 concerts in Russia , England , Finland , Latvia , Lithuania and Ukraine . The group has performed twice at the largest Moscow club B1, opening for The Rapture and Happy Mondays . In the spring of 2008, the band released the EP EP Sunderground, which became the prologue to Punk TV Loverdrive 's third album.

Now this is the only group from Novosibirsk that sounds in different parts outside of Western Siberia. Nice guys.

- Artemy Troitsky, in an interview with the newspaper Evening Novosibirsk, August 23, 2008 ^[11]

Despite the obvious successes since moving to Moscow, the group and their production company Soundhunters decided to terminate the agreement by mutual agreement. Punk TV continued to tour extensively, simultaneously recording and composing their new album on Gigant Records. The disc was released by the Fusion / Gala record label on March 18, 2009. Loverdrive was distinguished from previous longplayes not only by its harsher guitar sound, but also by its relatively short timing - less than 38 minutes. Moreover, three tracks had previously been released on Sunderground EP and were only slightly remixed for the album. This is largely due to the fact that after breaking up with the production company, the group financed the production of the album on their own, but did not save on the quality of the phonogram. Financial difficulties did not affect the material, moreover, Komarov ’s two songs “Every Minute is OK” (the original instrumental demo was recorded by Kelman) and “Voices” are considered to be the best in the Punk TV repertoire. The album received rave reviews from critics and assigned the group the status of "the main indie group of the country."

In the recording, Punk TV is a “madchester”, going at the shocking pace of electro-rock, a swift shugeyz on synthetic soles is great; All played wisely, deed and heart.

- Alexander Gorbachev, Afisha.ru ^[12]

After the second album, “Music For the Broken Keys” (2007), a comparison with Chemical Brothers remains to live only in those reviews whose authors do not hear further than the press release. In fact, there is a common minimum: just a great electro-rock, in which guitars and synthesizers do not jam each other, but happily coexist. Next steps: moving to Moscow from Novosibirsk, a tour throughout Russia, participation in major festivals, a joint song with "Bi-2" in the rotation of MTV and the radio "Maximum". And now the new album is a new level. “Loverdrive” is still the same relaxed friendly match between the teams of guitars and synthesizers, the same elastic wrapping of samplers and relaxed guitar romance. But at the same time, the music of Punk TV seemed to break free from the shackles and freed itself from the weight of the listeners. Previously, tracks crawled on the ground due to densely mixed samples and overloaded guitars, now it breaks them in all directions: synthesizers that have switched to the upper register tend to space, the juicy bass lowers back to the ground, and the guitars sound from some kind of distant weightlessness. Sometimes all these elements are so precisely combined that you begin to get almost physical pleasure from music. On “Loverdrive” there is a ready-made radio single “Comet” with vocals from “Bi-2” and an almost flawless hit “Voices” reminiscent of the best days of Primal Scream - it will be a crime if program directors find these songs unworthy of broadcast. In addition, it is Punk TV that should be placed at the head of the entire column of new Russian music. In the end, it was vocalist Volodya Komarov who had a hand in the production of Manicure, the band's favorite hipster. The exit and the further fate of Loverdrive is the moment of truth for this whole movement: either it will go further, or it will be rudely indicated to him that it will be in small Moscow clubs. But even if it doesn’t work, they achieved the main Punk TV: they have never once been “Russian Chemical Brothers”, but simply Punk TV - and that’s enough.

- George Birger, TimeOut Moscow ^[13]

The release of the previous album “Music For The Broken Keys” by Novosibirsk citizens Punk TV caused a storm of enthusiasm: finally we have a group that is in no way inferior to the heroes! The new Loverdrive once again confirms that all the flattering reviews for Punk TV are justified: yes, we have the same team that, speaking at the warm-up of their Happy Mondays teachers, can easily remove them. On “Loverdrive”, Punk TV continues to bend its line: it’s the same dynamic dance rock with elements of electro and shugeyzing, only the sound turned out to be a little more dirty than on the previous disc.

- Ilya Zinin, Rolling Stone Russia, June 2007 ^[14]

For nine new compositions, the team prepared a denser instrumental filling, so to speak, more high-calorie. And it can be said, and more driving - about which, not very encrypted, the name "Loverdrive" reports. And this drive is not so much purely musical as road, speedy. Most of the songs are ready-made soundtracks for those who can’t sit at home: this is Every Minute Is OK, Sunderground, Wintersample, Blackmail, full of spy drama, and, of course, 13th Ave Flash in which you will be provided with an escort with sirens.

- Joy Tartaglia, Music.com.ua ^[15]

Punk TV is more than just a group, it is a whole phenomenon on our stage with all the ensuing consequences. Compared to previous works, Loverdrive is more sophisticated, more adult. The group does not change its traditions, it is the same sound familiar to us, woven from many elements: new wave, shugase, post-punk, brit-pop, headed by electronics. Of particular interest is the composition "Comet", recorded with the participation of Shura from "Bi-2", such a creative union gave an interesting result. Unusual for musicians, the Russian language, but a characteristic sound. Launch such a song in a wide and dense rotation, it would have been a success.

- Indievid.ru ^[16]

By the time the third studio album was released, Novosibirsk Punk TV mods had become real authorities in music circles. In the four years since their debut, the dance post-punk has established itself at the forefront of the club’s club front. His audience is clearly defined and beautifully dressed, and most importantly - she definitely is. Otherwise, the Internet would not be shaken by endless disputes on the topic of hipsters and Solyanka. Now is the time for the group to try to overcome the framework of this audience. However, if there is development, then its vector is the expansion of instrumental landscapes, experiments with synthesizers and processing of guitar sound.

- b-Weekend ^[17]

Having played 30 Loverdrive Tour concerts in the cities of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan , Komarov returned to the studio to record the new Punk TV single “Solar” almost independently. The album was released on Fusion on April 14, 2010 in two formats and under different names: 7 "vinyl" SS "(with the bi-side" Suburban Sounds ") and CD EP" Solar "(with remixes on" Solar "and the b-side" Discounted Toy "). All the material was written by Komarov back in the summer / fall of 2009. The vocalist of the legendary Irish post-punk band Power Of Dreams Craig Walker became his co-author on Suburban Sounds.

Punk TV are a three piece, and their proposal is a catchy and fascinating psychedelic mix, made of synths, guitars and beats. They could be a sort of modern day Kraut rockers, with an updated bag of chemical booming drums, and shoegaze perfumes. These two aspects of their sound are perfectly balanced, and keeps the band from being pigeonholed. They guys just put out their new 7 "single, entitled" SS ": sounding like an esoteric-motorik trip to their future releases.

- Retrophobic.com ^[18]

In February 2010, Punk TV again performed in B1, now supporting Ian Brown , and in April launched the Solar Tour, which took place across Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Finland, Sweden and Kazakhstan. After completing the tour at the end of September, the musicians decided to start recording a new album and planned to release it in March 2011. Unlike the two previous Punk TV long-plays, when the group came to the record with material completely rehearsed and rolled into concerts, the new album, called "Space Shadows" , was created in the studio almost from scratch. Kelman brought demos of Kobenhavn, Take Control and SID - Komarov offered demos Phantom, Venom, Parker's Beat, Cinderella's Second Chance and She Told Me Twice. All recording and mixing was again done on Gigant Record with the help of Sergey Naumenko and Yuri Danilin, with whom the group has been collaborating since the time of mixing and recording of “Music For the Broken Keys” . The result was a musical collage composed of elements of different styles and musical moods. EMF vocalist James Aitkin, who performed the vocal part in “Breathing Out” and sound architect Lali Puna Christian Heiss, re-mixed the song “SID” into the new track “Seeds”, took part in the work on the record. Интересно, что партии ударных в треках «Phantom», «Parker's Beat» и «SID» Комаров исполнил сам, поскольку Никонов не всегда присутствовал на студийных сессиях.

Четвертый альбом — это уже серьёзно, к моменту его выпуска музыканты, как правило, имеют свой конкретный статус, определенный тип поклонников, обильную сферу влияния и четкий стиль. Команда Punk TV за последние пять лет прошла путь от сайд-проекта новосибирских шугейзеров до одной из главных электро-рок-групп Москвы. Сейчас на их счету полные залы на концертах по всей России и помощь многим молодым командам — лидер группы Володя Комаров записывал первые треки Manicure, а гитарист Алекс Кельман играл в проекте Dsh! Dsh! и организовал сотни концертов в рамках своей промогруппы IceCreamDisco. Только с четким стилем по-прежнему не все понятно; если по настроению их треки угадываются с первого раза, то по саунду словосочетание «электро-рок» так и остается единственным близким термином. На «Space Shadows», помимо привычных плотно жужжащих синтезаторов и смачных битов, можно услышать гитару в духе Морриконе, натуральный мэдчестер а ля Happy Mondays, оммаж индитронике нулевых и прочие отголоски разной музыки разных времен.

• • • Алекс Кельман: «По настроению Space Shadows близок к нашей первой пластинке — также много речевых семплов и нейтрально-позитивное музыкальное обрамление».
    • Владимир Комаров: «Мы начинали работу над альбомом без какой-либо четкой концепции — треки собирались вместе в пластинку, будто любимые карточки из дальних путешествий в один фотоальбом. Да так в принципе и было: демо „Phantom“ было написано в Мексике, секвенция „Breathing Out“ определилась в длинных переездах по сумасшедшим дорогам Вьетнама, с „Kobenhavn“, думаю, и так все понятно. Когда мы зашли в одну из комнат мюнхенской студии Кристиана Хейза (Lali Puna, Notwist, Portmanteau) и увидели все эти волшебные хэндмейд-коробочки, которые не то что бы издавали звуки, а в буквальном смысле пели, сразу подумали — было бы здорово, если бы он сделал нам продакшн к треку „SID“. Кристиан согласился — так возник абсолютно новый трек „Seeds“. Джеймс (Аткин из EMF) моментально согласился спеть на нашей пластинке, что поставило нас в идиотское положение — у нас есть культовый вокалист, но нет песни для него. Порывшись в архивах, мы нашли и выслали ему фрагмент студийного джема. Я был просто потрясен, услышав как органично лег его вокал. Дальше все было делом техники — в результате „Breathing Out“ получилась одной из самых ярких песен на альбоме».
      — Lookatme.ru ^[19]

«Venom» — один из синглов с четвёртого альбома новосибирской группы. В отличие от треков «Phantom» и «Take Control», которые были бы уместны на саундтреке к какой-нибудь голливудской героической драме, «Venom» — образец качественного электророка, близкого к стилистике MGMT, но при этом лишенного (может, и к лучшему) иронии.

— Борис Даль, Rolling Stone Россия, Апрель 2011 ^[20]

In the meantime, interest continues to grow in the Western press, due in part to the fact that Punk TV's trademark Mancunian style is often expressed in instrumental forms. A guest appearance by Atkin on the new album also helps to overcome the language barrier. The general air of celebration is palpable: tambourines are shaken and smiles will widen. British and American webzines have thus far received the band with enthusiasm: «This is the perfect accompaniment for a spy movie, with trick-start beginnings, tick-tock rhythms, and floaty drones… plus plenty of disco guitars for those spies' nights off.» Or, elsewhere: «Cute, curvy indie-pop… with a surprising array of dance beats, expert pacing, killer sonic kicks, and rich atmospherics».

— David MacFadyen, Farfrommoscow.com ^[21]

«Space Shadows» был выпущен 25 марта 2011 г. силами самой группы, и Punk TV отправились в трехмесячный тур по России, по завершению которого коллектив взял «творческий» отпуск. Летом 2012 года Комаров выступил инициатором создания ремиксовой версии альбома «Loverdrive» и стал исполнительным продюсером этого проекта. 1 октября 2012 г. на своем Bandcamp Punk TV опубликовали свободный для скачивания альбом «Loverdub» . Комаров поучаствовал в проекте и в качестве музыканта, перезаписав композицию «Jetlag Sunday» под именем Millrock.

В декабре 2012 Punk TV сыграли российский блиц-тур, состоявший из 7 концертов.

24 декабря 2013 Punk TV опубликовали первый новый трек за 33 месяца — «рождественско/новогоднюю» инструменталку «Midnight Local (xmas track)». Российская музыкальная пресса задается вопросом: «Будет ли новый альбом ^[22] ?»

• Алекс Кельман (семплеры, клавиши, гитара)
• Владимир Комаров (бас, вокал, гитара, электроника, клавиши, ударные, губная гармошка, мелодика)
• Константин Никонов (ударные)

Albums

• 2005 — Punk TV (Alley PM Records, Россия ); также выпущен релиз на AEROCCCP Records, США
• 2007 — Music for the broken keys
• 2009 — Loverdrive
• 2011 — Space Shadows
• 2012 — Loverdub — ремиксовая версия альбома Loverdrive (Digital, Punk TV)

Синглы и EP

• 2006 — Snowboy Remixes (Digital, AeroCCCP Recordings, США)
• 2008 — Sunderground EP (White Label)
• 2009 — Every minute is OK EP
• 2010 — SS (7", Fusion, Россия)
• 2010 — Solar EP
• 2011 — Phantom Remixes (Digital, Punk TV)

• Алексеев А. С . Кто есть кто в российской рок-музыке . — М. : АСТ : Астрель : Харвест, 2009. — С. 388. — ISBN 978-5-17-048654-0 (АСТ). — ISBN 978-5-271-24160-4 (Астрель). — ISBN 978-985-16-7343-4 (Харвест).