Slavic Psychedelic Rock: A Brief History

Slavic Psychedelic Rock is a genre of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s in Eastern Europe. The style is characterized by distorted guitars, extended instrumentation, and unusual sounds and effects.

Slavic Psychedelic Rock: A Brief History

Slavic psychedelic rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in Eastern Europe in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The music was influenced by Western psychedelic rock, as well as Indian classical music and folk traditions. Slavic psychedelic rock was a part of the overall Eastern European psychedelic rock scene, which also included artists from Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.

The Soviet Union and Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock, also known as acid rock, is a subgenre of rock music that became popular in the 1960s and 1970s. The Soviet Union was one of the first countries to produce psychedelic rock bands. The first Soviet psychedelic rock band, Mashina Vremeni, was formed in 1967.

Psychedelic rock reached the height of its popularity in the West in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The genre is characterized by distorted guitars, mind-bending lyrical content, and an overall trippy vibe. The Beatles are often cited as being one of the first and most influential psychedelic rock bands.

In the Soviet Union, psychedelic rock was seen as a way to subvert the authorities and promote Western values. This led to the genre being banned by the government in the late 1970s. Despite the ban, some bands continued to play psychedelic rock underground.

The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to a resurgence of interest in psychedelic rock in Russia and other former Soviet republics. Today, there is a thriving psychedelic rock scene in Russia and other Slavic countries.

The Fall of the Soviet Union and the Rise of Slavic Psychedelic Rock

The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 brought about a wave of social and political change across Eastern Europe. In the wake of this upheaval, a new generation of musicians began to experiment with Western rock and pop genres, infusing them with traditional Slavic folk music to create a unique new sound. This new genre, which came to be known as Slavic psychedelic rock, would go on to have a major impact on the global music scene.

The Early Days of Slavic Psychedelic Rock

In the early days of Slavic psychedelic rock, a handful of pioneering bands took the Western world by storm with their unique brand of music. Bands like Kaleidoscope and Aquarius became household names in the 1960s, and their music still retains a devoted following to this day. Today, we’ll explore the origins of this fascinating genre of music.

The First Wave of Slavic Psychedelic Rock

The first wave of Slavic psychedelic rock came in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with bands like Kaleidoscope from Poland, Apollinaire from Czechoslovakia, and Mashina Vremeni from Russia. These bands were influenced by the likes of The Beatles, The doors, and Pink Floyd, and they brought a distinctly Eastern European flavor to the psychedelic sound.

While these bands were primarily active in the 1960s and 70s, they continued to influence the development of Slavic psychedelic rock in the following decades. In the 1980s, Polish band CIAłO released one of the first full-length albums in the genre, titled Ezoteryka. This album would go on to be an influential work for future generations of Slavic psychedelic rockers.

The 1990s saw a resurgence of interest in Slavic psychedelic rock, with new bands like Mooncake from Russia and Rusalka from Belarus bringing the sound to a new generation of fans. This new wave of bands would carry on the tradition of combining Eastern European musical traditions with a distinctly psychedelic edge.

The Second Wave of Slavic Psychedelic Rock

The Second Wave of Slavic Psychedelic Rock began in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when a new generation of musicians started to experiment with the sounds and styles of the previous generation. This new wave was influenced by Western acts such as The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, and Pink Floyd, as well as Eastern acts such as CAN and Ash Ra Tempel.

The Second Wave of Slavic Psychedelic Rock was led by bands such as Kvazar-64 (Ukraine), Treceri (Poland), and Siluete (Serbia). These bands took the sounds of the First Wave and added their own twist, resulting in a more experimental and eclectic sound.

While the Second Wave of Slavic Psychedelic Rock was not as commercially successful as the First Wave, it did manage to gain a small but dedicated following both inside and outside of the Slavic countries. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in this style of music, with several reissues and compilations being released.

The Modern Era of Slavic Psychedelic Rock

The modern era of Slavic psychedelic rock began in the late 2000s with a handful of bands in Russia and the Ukraine. These bands continued the tradition of psychedelic rock from the late 1960s and 1970s, but with a distinctly Slavic flavor. The most successful and well-known band from this scene is undoubtedly Little Big.

The New Wave of Slavic Psychedelic Rock

In the past few years, a new wave of Slavic psychedelic rock has been on the rise, led by bands such as Kik Tracee, Flaming Lips, and Tame Impala. This new wave is characterized by a return to the experimentation of the late 1960s and early 1970s, combined with a modern sensibility.

Kik Tracee, from Croatia, is one of the leading bands of this new wave. They mix elements of early Pink Floyd and Grateful Dead with a more modern sensibility. Their album Cosmic Priestess is considered a classic of the genre.

Flaming Lips, from Poland, are another leading band of this new wave. They are known for their innovative live shows, which often incorporate light show projections and elaborate costumes. They have also been pioneers in the use of social media to connect with fans and promote their music.

Tame Impala, from Australia, are another leading band of this new wave. They are known for their psychedelic soundscapes and their ability to fuse classic songwriting with modern production techniques. Their album Innerspeaker is considered a masterpiece of the genre.

The Revival of Slavic Psychedelic Rock

In the early 2000s, a new generation of Slavic musicians began to experiment with psychedelic rock. Bands like Lento (Poland), Dik Diktat (Serbia), and Pure Phase Ensemble (Poland) blended traditional folk music with elements of space rock and Krautrock. These bands were inspired by the Psychedelic Furs, Spacemen 3, and My Bloody Valentine, as well as by the work of international acts like Sunn O))) and Borbetomagus.

In 2006, the Polish band Kuk noises released their debut album Sounds Like aha Ha a Gas Leak. The album featured heavily distorted guitars, ethereal vocals, and minimalist drumming. It was an instant hit with fans of psychedelic music.

Since then, Slavic psychedelic rock has continued to grow in popularity. In 2012, the Serbian band Partibrejkers released their acclaimed album Elektropionir. The album combined elements of garage rock, surf rock, and Krautrock with traditional Serbian folk music.

Today, there are dozens of Slavic psychedelic bands making innovative and exciting music. If you’re looking for something new to listen to, check out some of these great bands!