DOLPHIN - "442" (2018)

Dolphin's new album is the shortest of his career, but also his most political one. 
It must not be easy to live in Putin's Russia and release a song like "520", with its statements against the Crimean invasion. 

Compared to his previous work, I think the math rock influence is stronger than ever, whilst the shoegaze component has waned. This is probably due to a new line-up of backing musicians, composed of drummer Vasily Yakovlev and guitar player Igor Babko.  
In the end, another brilliant album from a legend of Russian alternative music.

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DOLPHIN - "SUSHCHESTVO" (2011)

Original title: Существо

Always sided by multi-instrumentalist Pavel Dodonov, Dolphin creates another great, mature art-rock album, where hypnotic rhythms, harsh guitar solos, and tragic melodies intertwine each other. 
It's without any doubt one of the best Russian albums of this decade.

P.S. If you speak Russian and you wish to translate some of the lyrics, feel free to contribute by posting in the comments section.

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DOLPHIN - "ZVEZDA" (2004)

Original album title: Звезда

Andrey Lysikov, better known as Dolphin, is one of the most important names of current Russian music.
From its beginnings in the early Nineties, his career is a tortuous path through rock, rap, and electronic arrangements. Before becoming a solo artist, he was the leader of projects like hip hop trio Malchishnik, alternative band Dubovyy Gaay, and experimental rock duo Mishiny Dolphiny.

Anyway, I think that his solo work is the best way to get to know him. "Zvezda" is his fifth album, and it represents the moment when Dolphin discarded rap to fully embrace rock music. 
It's an exciting record, especially thanks to producer Mewark, who provided lots of creative rhythm patterns and atmospheric electronic sounds, and Pavel Dodonov, a versatile, experimental guitar player. Dolphin himself is the author of both lyrics and melodies.

The most popular song is "Vesna", which is regarded as his anthem, but "Sumerki", "Chuzhoy", "Toska", and "Kiberpank" are also powerful examples of this hi-tech music with an epic and melancholic mood.

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