Tetris: Tetris Tetris: Tetris (Pork - 2000) Warm and sunny sounds for Spring are being exported from Russia... Tetris produces nine tracks of crisp electronic instrumentals in this eponymous dazzler. Simultaneously soothing and envigorating, the pieces bloom in various styles, though often with an ear to the past. Soft-spoken Russian-accented words are occasionally is tossed into the beat-and-synth stream of I've Said, as are tastefully-buried diva wails. Groovy retro elements (stand-up bass sounds, Wurlitzer chords, xylos, horn samples and sultry, sampled femme-vocals) are filtered into boppy Bye-Bye Baby. The strumming guitar and organ blurts of White Russian commune with ringing xylotones and sparkling brass flows, again freshening the airwaves with a lively, updated nostalgia. Funky '70s-style guitar echoes and streetwise bass pump up Morning Glory with a clean-yet-urban coolness. A confluence of creamy synth chords and crisp rhythms, Recordsman (11:08) also emanates flangy guitar spirals and a bit of an electronic-tiki-lounge vibe. Dancier and dreamier, Crenalin (4:24) features mechanized-voicestreams in its bouncy, chimey repertoire. Disc-closer Nocturne M.T. is awash in liquidly looping synths, sustained guitar-swirls and insistent-though-light bass-n-drum. Splashing the ears with 61 minutes of bright colors, the buoyant e-tunes of Tetris are perky without being overly sweet... I enjoyed the uplift offered by these 8.5 confections. Tetris musicians Vlad Lozinski, Pasha Hotins and Dima Rubezhov are noted for their live performances, though the three were joined by collaborators for this disc. Distributed by the fine folks of Dutch-East. This review posted April 30, 2001 AmbiEntrance © 2001-1997 by David J Opdyke (except CD cover art, rights retained by original owners).