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The Russian rock group Mashina Vremeni (Маши́на вре́мени, Russian for Time Machine) is a cross-generation phenomenon formed in the late 1960's in the Soviet Union.
While originally inspired by The Beatles, Masina Vremeni has developed a unique voice throughout the years, often changing its style. They have written and recorded songs in nearly every genre that bares a remote relation to Rock and roll. Traditional rock instruments are often accompanied or replaced by orchestral or folk instruments.
Mashina Vremeni's best known members are Andrei Makarevich and Alexander Kutikov. Other members have been added and removed throughout the years.
The band's members suffered persecution from state officials, for releasing lyrics that very subtly pointed out some things that the government would rather not call attention to. However, the band's popular support was so massive that it could not be completely shut down. Mashina Vremeni's songs have found their way into movie hits of the 70's and 80's and popular theatrical plays.
History
The first music activity Andrei Makarevich was involved into was school band which consisted of two guitars and two girls on vocals singing Amrerican folk songs. However, serious attempts began in 1968 when Andrei Makarevich heard The Beatles songs. The band was reformed and called "The Kids". After some time girsl were removed from the squad and the band began to be called "Mashiny Vremeni" (Time Machines - in plural form imitating The Beatles, Rolling Stones etc.) The most significant founders included Sergey Kavagoe and Andrei Makarevich. Band's repertoire consisted of eleven now lost songs in english.
1971 - Alexander Kutikov became a bass-guitarist of the group introducing more of buoyant rock-n-roll into songs of the group.
1972 - Many loses in the band. Several members are are drafted to army.
1973 - Because of tensions between Sergey Kavagoe and Alexander Kutikov the former leaves the band joining hard rock band Visokosnoe Leto (Leap Summer).
1974 - Sergey Kavagoe leaves, while Alexander Kutikov returns. However, Kavagoe returns after about a half-year. The band performs in the following complement - Andrei Makarevich, Alexander Kutikov, Sergey Kavagoe, Alexey Romanov (future leader of another famous russian rock band "Voskresenie" (The Sunday))
1975 - Romanov and Alexander Kutikov suddenly leaves. Evgeniy Margulis joins.
1976 - Masina Vremeni is invited to a festval "Young People's Songs in Tallin - 76" and performed there with a great success. Many people join (including couple of violinists) and leave after some time during this year.
1978 - The first studio record of Mashina Vremeni. Alexander Kutikov while playing in Visokosnoe Leto was also wroking in sound-recording sturdio help the band with access to a good equipment. The record is now known as "Eto bylo tak davno" ("That was so long ago").
1979 - The crisis of the group. Sergey Kavagoe and Evgeniy Margulis leaves the group joining Voskresenie of Alexey Romanov. This time one of the most popular songs of the group was written by Andrei Makarevich - "Poka gorit svecha" ("Until the candle burns") as a sign of his not giving up. After some time of frustration Alexander Kutikov saves the situation leaving the Visokosnoe Leto band and bringing Valeriy Efremov (also from Visokosnoe Leto) as drummer and Petr Podgorodetskiy on the keyboards.
1980 - The beginning of the golden era of Mashina Vremeni. Group wins the festival "Spring Rythms 80" main award and continues its concert tour. However, that was allowed only because of music freedom indulgences given in light of Olympic Games 1980 in Moscow.
1981 - The song "Povorot" ("The turning point") stays on the top of charts for 18 monthes.
1982 - Repressions starts again with a slashing article "Ragout out of Blue bird" ("Blue Bird" was a popular song of the band) noting depressive and non-ideological songs of the group. However country-wide wave of protest against those repressions raised and thousands letters are sent to the editores of the newspapers. Petr Podgorodetskiy leaves and Alexandr Zaitsev substitutes him.
1986 - "Best songs 1979-1985" compilation is recorded. Album "V dobriy chas" ("Good Luck" or literally "In a good hour") is recorded.
1987 - "Reki i Mosty" ("Rivers and Bridges") album is issued. That album is considered as first released album (all the previous were just recorded for the underground distribution. First appearances on the television.
1988 - First international tours - USA, Canada, Greece, Spain and Bulgaria.
1989 - "V kruge sveta" ("In the circle of light") album is released.
1990 - Alexandr Zaitsev leaves and well-known Evgeniy Margulis and Petr Podgorodetskiy join the band once again.
1991 - "Medlennaya khoroshaya muzyka" ("Slow good music") album is released.
1993 - Alexander Kutikov's company "Sintez Records" releases retro albums "Best songs 1979-1985" and "That was so long ago". Album "Vneshtatniy komandir Zemli" ("Part-time commander of the Earth") is released.
1994 - Accustic live album "Unplugged" is recorded and released. 25th anniversary is celebrated in 7 hours concert on the Red Square
1995 - Compilation of old unpublished songs is released. This compilation is known as "Kogo ty khotel udivit?" ("Whom did you want to surprise?"). It was called after one of the most successfull songs of Alexander Kutikov
1996 - "Kartonniye krylia lubvi" ("Paper wings of love") album is released.
1996 - "20 let spustya" ("20 years after") album is released.
1997 - "Otryvayas" ("Breaking away") album is released.
1999 - The 30th anniversary of the band. Great concert, which is usually considered to be the best concert of Mashina Vremeni, is carried out in the main stadium of "sport-complex Olympiyskiy" im Moscow. "Chasy i znaki" ("Hours and signs") album is released. Petr Podgorodetskiy leaves due to tensions. Andrey Derzhavin takes his place on the keyboard.
2001 - "Mesto gde svet" ("The place with a light") album is released.
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2004 - 35th anniversary of the group. Great concert consisting of 35 selected songs is played at the Red Square. "Mashinalno" ("Mechanically") album is released.
Analysis
Although stated as a rock group Mashina Vremeni can not be called a stricktly rock group. Through the stages in its development band played in many styles, beginning with imitations of western rock leaders and ending with the unique Mashina's style. However, experiments are welcomed even now at the end of fourth decade of the group existance. The last album "Mashinalno" reflects the devotion of band members to the music of 70s with the sound of 21st century. Album included some Beatles like songs, punk composition, some blueses and some slow melodical lyrical songs. Actually, each album includes songs of many genres. Blueses of Petr Podgorodetskiy, blueses and soft rock compositions of Evgeniy Margulis, variety of genres by Andrey Makarevich and hard rock and fiery rock-n-roll of Alexandr Kutikov. And yet, this can not be called a rule - all authors contributed almost to every genre.
Mashina Vremeni can not be called a very highly skilled team in terms of music. Most of the charm of their song in melody and lyrics - many of the most popular songs in the repertoire are played only with guitar beats or with only one simple guitar solo. But that doesn't reduce their popularity among all the age groups of people. It is probably one of couple russian rock bands on the concert of which one can watch 50-years old bearded The Beatles fan-from-the-early 60s as well as teenagers in the crowd.
Significant Songs
"Povorot" - The turning point - almost every person in Russia who is not a music hater knows at least the chorus of that song. Usually the last but one song on concerts and usually is sang by the crowd. Soviet censorship was suspicious about that song not knowing what "turning point" was mentioned. Music by A. Kutikov, lyrics by A. Makarevich and is sang by a. Kutikov.
"Svecha" - "The candle" or "Until the candle burns" - A very touching song which is usually the last concert song. Written and is sang by A. Makarevich.
"Marionetki" - "The puppets" - another emblem of the band.
"Mesto gde svet" - "The place with a light" - probably the best song of Mashina Vremeni in 21st century gave the name to the album ("Mesto gde svet", 2001)
"Kogo ty khotel udivit" - "Whom did you want to surprise" - music written by A. Kutikov and lyrics by A. Makarevich had became the probably the best of hard rock songs of the band. Performed by A. Kutikov.
Albums
Note: Albums are sorted in the order of their recording, not in the order of their releases.
1978 - "Eto bylo tak davno" - "That was so long ago"
1979 - "Malenkiy prints" - "The little prince" - live album with inter-song quotations from the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry book
1985 - "Luchshiye Pesni 1979-1985" - "Best songs 1979-1985"
1986 - "V dobriy chas" - "Good luck"
1987 - "Reki i mosty" - "Rivers and bridges"
1989 - "V kruge sveta" - "In the circle of light"
1991 - "Medlennaya khoroshaya muzyka" - "Slow good music"
1993 - "Vneshtatniy komandir Zemli - "Part-time commander of the Earth"
1994 - "Kogo ty khotel udivit" - "Whom did you want to surprise" - old unpublished song compilation
1994 - "Unplugged" - live accustic album
1996 - "Megamix" - remixes of some popular songs in electronic music manner
1996 - "Kartonniye kryliya lubvi" - "Paper wings of love"
1996 - "Unpublished" - some rare songs of early 70s
1997 - "Otryvayas" - "Breaking away"
1999 - "XXX anniversary concert" - live album
1999 - "Chasy i znaki" - "Hours and signs"
2001 - "Mesto gde svet" - "Place with a light"
2004 - "Mashinalno" - "Mechanically"
Mashina Vremeni is one of the best selling artists in Russia, but due to a raging of compute piracy, most of CDs sold are not legal CDs released by recording companies.
Current Band
A. Makarevich - guitar, vocals
A. Kutikov - bass-guitar, vocals
E. Margulis - guitar, bass-guitar, vocals
A. Derzhavin - keyboard, vocals
V. Efremov - drums, percussion