Mikhail Chekalin - Concerto Grosso No. 1 (2000 compi, rec. 1989-92)

Another instalment (see links below) in the 12-LP series from the early 90s that gave Russian symphonic-synthesist Mikhail Chekalin his breakthrough, Concerto Grosso No. 1 was recorded in 1989.  The album opens with the 14 minutes of Meditation (Russian Mystery), finding Chekalin in dark ambient mode with plenty of odd industrial sounds, wordless vocals and eerie piano over the top of the droning base.

The haunted circus atmosphere of Fascination and synth-strings of Chamber Music show Chekalin continuing to show promise in the soundtrack field that he'd move into, with his hardware updated to include Yamaha, Kurzweil and Roland keyboards.  On the second half of the orignal LP, To Appreciate The March offers some of his weirdest vocal experiments, and the 11-minute Symphony Of Lamentations is possibly the album's highlight - it's just plain odd, with more wild vocalisations and strange sound effects wafting through the ether.  Of the three early 90s bonus tracks, the 20-minute Dissonata is the definite pick, working through a similar sustained, warped atmosphere as the two long tracks on the album.

link
pw: sgtg

Previously posted at SGTG:
Meditative Music For A Prepared Organ, Vol. 1 & 2
The Symphony-Phonogram
Between Spring And Autumn By Stealth