Konstantin Samolovov, a drummer from St. Petersburg, prefers to collaborate with electronic musicians. It is in such collaborations that his inclination for intricate percussive sounds and his desire to explore unconventional methods of sound extraction are fully realised. Feliks Mirensky is familiar to listeners from the Drojji duet and was previously a member of the Lichna Nega trio, with whom Konstantin played at one of the concerts. Let's not forget about the rock backgrounds of both members of the Mycenae Bottom duo: Samolovov played the drums in Wozzeck and Padla Bear Outfit, while Mirensky skillfully strummed strings and played keyboards in Brom, and at some point, he could be seen on bass in Usssy. However, their duo primarily focuses on electroacoustic improvisation, or more precisely, free improvisation with drums and electronics, which results in active and responsive music - and this can be heard in its entirety. However, the context of the album itself is somewhat different.

Within this context, various sounds find their place: rhythmic tapping patterns, abstract play on cymbals and other unfamiliar hardware, pure sine waves, chaotic electronic noise and feedback, and much more. The most important aspect is that things are not quite conventional; listeners will find a reference to collage techniques, where sound planes/tracks sharply transition from one another. This applies not only to shorter pieces but also to longer ones as if the musicians are playing with this idea. One of the unifying elements in the music is the aforementioned sine waves, from which Feliks constructs chords: sometimes intricate and reminiscent of compositional electroacoustics, and at other times as if borrowed from a movie soundtrack. Konstantin, on the other hand, occasionally introduces almost post-punk rhythms, albeit played on an unconventional set of percussion instruments. These elements capture the listener's attention and provide a momentary respite from the duo's densely packed sonic experience.

It is precisely at this point that the name of the duo comes to mind, harkening back to bygone times when only ruins remain. Navigating through the tiny pebbles of sound, there are moments when one needs to pause and contemplate what they have heard, what existed in that place before. After taking a break, one can continue the journey through the ruins and abrupt collage-like transitions, attempting to find something. Towards the end, the duo settles down, noticeably reducing the number of events. The search is over, but it is up to the listener to decide what they have discovered.

Ilia Belorukov / 25 april 2023