An appropriate word to describe the music of Yevgeny Alexandrovitch Pozharnov would be "menacing". Pozharnov, AKA Russian electro mastermind Proxy, has formed his own unique sound over the span of ten singles. His music is shock-full of thundering bass, orchestral samples, and miscellaneous distorted noise. And it's all wonderfully loud. (click "read more" for more.)
Proxy really isn't one for subtlety, as evidenced by his debut two-part album, "Music From The Eastblock Jungles" (Fun fact: the Eastblock Jungles are not a real place). The first installment was released in November, and he has now given us the second. Only two songs on here have been previously released, compared to four on Part I. This album brings in influences of everything from brostep, to Indian hip-hop, to acid house, but Proxy is still very much Proxy. The question is: Can a full-length album of Proxy's signature dark techno work?
When your album starts out with "Genesis"-style Godzilla horns, that's a good sign. First song "Blood" is Proxy at his best, a blaring bass anthem that is excessively Russian. The next few songs showcase the Indian side of the Proxy spectrum, with "9000" and the aptly titled "Indian Film". "Cobra Combo" sends you on a trip to Wub Station (please excuse my terrible metaphor) before throwing in one last bit of India with "In Time (Skit 2)". The album kind of sags in the middle, unfortunately, with the repetitive "Kamuyi", and the just-okay "Coke". "Classic" is the best of the middle three songs, offering up more massive bass than a sane producer could handle. The last four songs are the best part of the album, showing off Proxy's ability to bend genres to his will. Following a massive, slightly edited version of the previously released "Who Are You?", Proxy unleashes his rockin' side with "Parasite" before whipping out an acid bassline on "Audio 15" and closing with "Nanomed", possibly the darkest song on the album.
Oddly enough, Parts I and II of "Eastblock Jungles" work better as separate albums than one big one. Proxy works well over the expanse of about ten tracks, but twenty tracks would be a bit tiring. Part II is on-par quality-wise with the first part- I can't really pick one over the other. Despite a few hiccups, Proxy comes out on top yet again.
Favorite tracks: "Blood", "Audio 15", "Who Are You?", "Classic"
Least favorite track: "Coke"
My final grade: 7 out of 10.
My next review will be Apparat - "Krieg Und Frieden"!
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