b r a n d o n

The combination of Vialka, a Etron Fou Leloublan-esque French avant-rock duo, with Kruzenshtern & Parohod, a fresher, punkier version of the groups that have been pushed by the Radical Jewish Culture series on Tzadik, is an inspiring one: if nothing else, you're guaranteed a high-energy rollercoaster ride. Before this split CD, I had never heard the former but became an instant fan of the latter after the release of their infectious sophomore effort, Songs. We get about twenty minutes of each band's music here; Vialka offer up five new tracks while K&P give us two new pieces plus new readings of two old songs. I was surprised to like Vialka's half of this CD more than the Kruzenshtern & Parohod side. This duo of baritone guitar and drums, with vocals mostly by drummer Marylise Frencheville, remind very strongly of the early, stripped-down Etron Fou, though minus the most off-the-wall dadaist moments. Calling themselves a "turbofolkgypsypunk micro-orchestra," Vialka practically drip with explosive energy, and seem to be led by Frencheville's masterful drumming, with Eric Boros' baritone guitar following along. Tight and precise, these two navigate through all sorts of twisty compositions, though they don't approach the often tiring twitchiness and total aversion to repetition common among many RIO and avant-rock bands. I have read that the five songs on this split represent some of Vialka's best work to date; without being able to compare myself, I can say that this material stands quite well on its own. On the other hand, I was initially disappointed by Kruzenshtern & Parohod's half of this CD: the addition of an accordion to their lineup has had the effect of softening the punch of their klezmer-punk sound, even though the overall pace of affairs has definitely become thrashier and more frenetic since the more measured material on Songs. Also, the accordion takes up the space that was previously given over to the wonderfully expressive vocals that — though I'm sure they turned off a lot of potential fans — were a huge part of my enjoyment of K&P's earlier work. Said vocals are still present, but in much smaller doses, a lot of the whimsical weirdness has been abandoned in favor of pure punkish aggression. That said, that Kruzenshtern & Parohod's sound is different obviously doesn't necessarily make it worse, and it has grown on me. Despite the generally increased intensity, the accordion parts add a certain diversity that the older material lacked. The two new pieces are definitely up to snuff, fast-paced and fun. I may prefer the old, more vocally-oriented Kruzenshtern & Parohod, but they're no denying that they are still one of the most interesting and unique groups out there. The pairing with Vialka is fabulous, and whets the appetite for more from both bands. Hopefully, it will also inspire new fans to check out both bands' back catalogs. review by Brandon Wu — 1-20-07 —