Motorama
Album: Calendar
Label: Talitres
Tracks: 10
Website: http://wearemotorama.com/

Motorama (whose name is taken from the American road movie 'Motorama' released in 1991) are one of the most critically acclaimed Russian indie acts in recent years, and with good reason too- this album was a pleasant surprise and is chock full of rhythmic rock grooves. The opening track 'Image' is a wonderful mix of upbeat guitar melodies and monotone vocals, which makes for a highly intriguing result that certainly compels me to listen to the rest of the album with the same curiosity I first approached the album with.

Motorama have infused their music with a dreamlike quality by combining the aesthetics of new wave and post punk music, and are clearly influenced by acts such as The Flaming Lips and Joy Division, although their music is harmoniously positive and the quality of each song is consistent throughout the album, which is their first release with French label Talitres. 'To The South' is a song seemingly made for the summer, describing the passing sights as the band escapes from the city to the country, and 'Rose In The Vase' is possibly the most poetically beautiful song of the album, with it's heartfelt lyrics tugging at the heartstrings as the subject reflects on how much he misses his love.

Their fan base stretches from Russia through the Baltics, to Germany, Greece, South America and beyond. Accompanied by self-made visuals of lush forests and calming waterfalls, the band has headlined many major Russian festivals such as Moscow's Afisha Picnic, playing to a crowd of over 50,000 people and they have toured worldwide with Deerhunter and Hype Willians & Shackleton, and a UK tour is planned for 2013- so put Motorama in your Calendar to make sure you don't miss out on this fantastic quintet.

Sophie Babur-Puplett