By Keith Walsh
From Saint Petersburg, Russia comes Supernova 1006, a dark electronica act with a vibe that evokes the 80s and goth and punk aesthetics. Their new album Chains on Negative Gains Production is a brilliant eight-track set that bursts out of your speakers with deliciously gloomy sounds in the form of vocals and guitars by singer/songwriter Andrey Yukhovich and the drums and synthesizers of Elizabeth Dolgikh.
The opening track “Tell Your Name” sets the mood immediately with a pulsing synth bass and heavy kick drum, and Andrey’s reverb-drenched vocals.
“I still don’t know where you are/I need someone to show me the way/Rescue me from this abyss, it’s so cold here. I’m dying.”
From “Tell Your Name”
Considering the geographical and political climate of Russia, there’s a lot of metadata packed into these sonic and verbal messages. Despite the gloominess of the sound, the melodies and sweet production enchants you and draws you in.
“I’m Not Crying” is all about dysfunction and shame in a relationship – certainly familiar themes in post punk and darkwave.”Alone” has a faster tempo that the previous two; the manic synth beat and the lyrics describe a fevered state of mind very effectively. “How They Know” is a remarkably poppy tune with Andrey’s guitars doing an echoey lead, while Elizabeth’s synths and drums carry the pulsing beat. The lyrics ask a lot of questions around that uncertain space between knowing and unknowing.
“I wish they would stop judging me now/I wish everyone to lift me up/How can I make them feel?/How can I make them see me?/And how can I tell them?/How will I feel if I keep silent?”
From “How They Know”
The fifth track on “Chains” is an alternate mix of “Tell Your Name” that puts Andrey’s echo-drenched guitar fairly up front, and the synth bass is dialed back. It’s even gothier than the original mix that starts the album. All these tunes conjure up imaginations of eerily lit bars inhabited by a variety of Bauhaus fans, Bowie clones, Siouxsie aficionados and other denizens of goth lifestyles and habits.
“Ghostrunner” has a driving beat and a dark questioning sound. I’d really love to get across what was formerly called the Iron Curtain and interview Andrey and Elizabeth and uncover their true personalities and their sound creation techniques. Are they truly forlorn? How safe do they feel creating a variety of rock and roll in Russia? In a daring theatrical way, the lyrics conflate the sorrows of politics and love in ways that are compelling if not hopeful.
“Before I’ll Make You Cry” is another upbeat number, with sentiment hinting at betrayal and the end of a relationship. “Die With Me” doesn’t leave anything to the imagination, but what it lacks in subtlety it makes up for with rich, synthetic sounds and a beat you can dance to. As one might expect from music from behind the still ideologically-present Iron Curtain, there’s only so much that can be said explicitly, and the descriptors “they” and “them” are ever looming just in the background, as specters waiting to pounce if the wrong words are sang or spoken.
Supernova 1006 LinkTree
Supernova 1006 on Bandcamp
Negative Gain Productions dot com
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