4 - The Michigan Daily - Weekend etc. - Thursday, September 23, 1993 I \\ _ , . . ,' ;; .. . ., v, : . . , :.\ S i By CHRIS WYROD The dissolution of the USSR brought forward a plurality of social voices previously stifled under the blanket of unification. Yet, polarized by the violence of ethnic factionalism, the Western world seems reluctant to hear their stories and see how disparate groups survived and interacted under of- ficial suppression. Over the last decade, Russian expatriate and record producer Leo Feigin has been struggling for the recognition of Russian new music. Despite Soviet recording restrictions and deaf Western ears, he smuggled out underground tapes of Russian new music and began releasing them on his own British label, Leo Records. "Sentenced to Silence," his release of saxophonistAnatoly Vapirov and pianist Sergey Kuryokhin brought home the hegemonic restriction of counter-current music in the USSR. The album's title refers to Vapirov's politically motivated two-yearjail sentence in 1982. From these fledgling recordings, Feigin has con- structed an impressive educational and essential historical document. As the most thoroughly re- searched and uniquely assembled musical textbook of Russian new music in the 1980s, the mammoth eightCD collection is named "Document." The broad spectrum of recorded music and extensive discussion of the social context in the set's companion booklet make "Document" unique. Mostcritical and scholarly analyses genrify music, confining it to regionalisms and focusing on peculiarities. But the booklet doesn't overlook the ongoing discourse, the subtle streams of vari- ous cultural influences that are interwoven into a fluid amalgamation of something entirely new. The flexible and reflexive nature of Russian cre- ative-experimental music proves to be an espe- cially apt medium for conjoining neologisms with established musical repertoires and age-old aes- thetics. "Document" serves as a testament to the diver- sity tenuously united and officially suppressed by the Russian government. The music is not subject to the lifeless homogeneity of "official culture"; in- stead it is music on the fringe of society, embracing both peripheral Western creativity and marginalized ethnic music. The haunting composite composition by Dearly Departed unites the enduring strength of Russian folk songs with the social bankruptcy of Commu- nismin the'80s. Moving from revived polyphonic chant, through hurdy-gurdy folk song, to free im- provisation, the piece tracks the progression of Documenting the end of an epoch Russian music and then retraces its steps as if in bewilderment. The vocalists provide some of the most dynamic and intriguing aspects of the whole nine and a half hours of music. Bringing their own musical heritage into the foray, the sonic agility of Gypsy Valentina Ponomareva and Tuva (eastern Siberia) native Sainkho Namchylak is daunting. Ponomareva's fa- cility with every imaginable voicing would humble both MariaCalasandDiamandaGalas. Namchylak's antiphonal throat singing and animal calls provide Trio-O with more improv fodder than they could possibly blow. Yet, the majority of the music represents the struggleofasociety trying toexist in umm i udstofan intolerant system. Orkestrion ' iux ot SLalingi ad's city sounds with reactiona v pocti epuuiizes the simultaneous affinity an( vd' ::any Russian creative musicians ..,h- erland. ("Like every isolated Ru ,tansm, I long ago constructed my very oumusm in the middle of the blossoming heea t ii e The depth and variety of tinm . sauu use CDs hacked away at the official myth or .et homogeneity. As ahistorical encapsulation of sc Le of the most dynamic Russian music of a decade, "Document" elucidates how the end of the '80s became the end of an epoch. i I l r Chinese Cuisine cr~qate ~I'rn 0 Questions of summer linger into September Four months ago, my vision of the impending summer read like a travel brochure - a great trip with all of its interesting pitfalls and sideshows. But alas, the bulk of my summer was spent inAnnArborand, therefore, my vision crashed and burned. All combinations served with: Steamed rice, egg roll, and hot tea* A. Peking Spicy Beef Tender sliced beef with Chinese vegetables in spicy hot sauce B. Hunan Vegetable Delight Assortment of vegetables stir-fried in Hunan spicy sauce C. Sweet & Sour Shrimp Crispy, breaded shrimp with sweet & sour sauce D. Spicy Chicken Tender chunks of chicken in Szechuan Hoisan sauce E. Hot & Spicy Pork Shredded pork with shredded vegetables in chili pepper sauce F. Chicken with Black Bean Sauce Tender chicken breast stir-fried with vegetables in black bean sauce *Hot tea for dining room only VISA 1201 S. University" Open 11am until 10pm For reservations or carry-out call 668-2445 Summer was supposed to be the time. It was supposed to be my time. My time to invite to the philosophical table those nagging questions that al- ways seem to show up at the most inopportune moments. Instead it seemed like one long, darkintestinal track with blockage that I nicknamed Art Fair. There you have it. Mental deterioration made as easy as pie. A stupor, if you will. Still there were questions. Ques- tions ranging from the inane to the sublime to the ridiculous. Here goes. Why are there so many damn coffee shops in Ann Arbor? I mean, do we really need this much caffeine? Are they really the local shrines to the intel- lect that they are made out to be? And for that matter, should a town that is so small have so many one way streets? Why are artists lives almost always deemed as tragic? Why dopeople speak as if everyone wants to hear their conversations? Why in the hell were we inundated with an onslaught of Dazzey Dukes? I mean, did we really have to lend the breath of life to such a degrading and insulting song? Why does the Red Hawk Bar & Grill have stalls for the physically chal- lenged located down a long flight of stairs, yet has no other means of get- ting to them? Need I bring the result- ing scenario to life? Why is sorority rush reminiscent of lemmings shuffling toward their inexplicable deaths by walking over some cliff? Wouldn't itbe nice to have cliffs in Ann Arbor? How often is that one brain passed amongst these lemmings? And is it's vocabulary limited to "like-Oh-my- god" and "tee-hee, giggle"? "90210."The pain persists. Why? ArtFair. Is itreally artand is it really fair? Why does McDonald's ask young Blacks to aspire to be just like Calvin, the hip-hoppin', burger-flippin' buppie of the fast food world? Do young Blacks really need these im- ages? (I started out on fries and in a few years, with luck and persever- ance, I'll be on the front register.) Speaking of infinitely influential yet socially irresponsible organiza- tions, does anyone find it scary that MTV has become more than a music video channel? Does anyone think that without their Rock the Vote (yes, it's cool to vote, but don't change the channel huh huh huh huh) campaign no one between 18 and 25 wouldhave voted? Will I be able to find a job after I graduate? Should I perhaps take back what I said about McDonald's? Why do people cruise up and down South U. for hours at a time? Are they incapable of finding any parking spaces? Why aren't there more emergency telephones around campus?And when you do see them why are they in the really well-lit areas? And why is there one directly across the street from the campus police station? Why do today's bands think that being subversive means being loud and obtrusive? Can they not understand subversion can also be an art of subtlety and content, not always of form? Why do skateboarders do their deeds in areas where they know they'll get caught? Could the repeated contact with cement have anything to do with this? Why do people think I am down with the whole peace, love and retro thing because I have dreads? A white middle class phenomena = akid from the inner city; peace and love? Really? Why is it that I have to explain what it means to be Black to somebody? When did I become an authority? Why is Malice Green a martyr? Why can't we separate the man from the wrong committed against him? Why aren't police officers given psychological therapy? Why can't we all get along? What the fuck was going through Rodney King's head when he said that? \ hy is it that being seen with non- Blacks by otherBlacks sounds an Afri- can death-knell yet there is no unity between Blacks on campus? Why doesit seem "in" tobe Black in America? Does that make me a nov- elty? Will I now need a pair of tap shoes? With the cavalcade of new Black films, is blaxploitation in effect again? Why do people dictatehow I should write my column? Does the Trix rabbit realize he's twice the size of those stupid kids? Why are Pumas back in style? Will our generation ever get past the ambiguity and develop an iden- tity? Will I be worshipped and adored by millions? Or will I be dragged out and burned at the literary stake? WillIever do another column like this? Probably not. Will these topics ever grace these pages again? Ya' damn skippy. IF YOU'R READY To PROVE Y ou'EOEO H BS, You SHARE THE SIGNET VISION! 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