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Amazing band websites...
Tamizdat's Label Partners...
Tamizdat friends, associated venues, and cool folks we support:
Organizations...
Essential radio links...
Our favorite sources of cool East European info...
Our faves in 'Western' press...
Punk and DIY faves...
Tamizdat's distribution links...
Amazing band websites
- Iva Bittova
Czech violinst, composer and singer who sets the world on fire with her wild song. Bittova's finest work includes the double-record set "Bile Inferno" in which she works with passionate singer Ida Kelerova and the great late cellist Tom Cora - Lvmen
Industrial-post-punk, and these guys tour constantly in Europe making a superb racket - Alians
One of Poland's most revered hard core/post-hard-core bands, whose rollicking political messages these days are also delivered in catchy ska - Ewa Braun
When Ewa Braun took stage at the SXSW Music Fest in March, nobody knew what was about to happen but they were glad they found out. Blistering noise, with the drive of early Fugazi and the intensity of Sonic Youth, EB are a very political band with great music (don't for a minute take their name literally, you'd be missing the point by 180 degrees) - Trottel
Hungary's legendary post-rock, post-ethno, post-punk, whatever you wish to call the music of Trottel and Monodream, you've got to call it great. Toggling between Firehouse-ish basslines and turbo folk renditions, Trottel are amazing live - Metamorphosis
There is only one band doing what Metamorphosis does: like a cross between the Minute Men and the Kronos Quartet, these four string players deliver music that could easily score any Tim Burton flick, and then some - Sunshine
Probably the touringest band in E.Europe today, Sunshine pack houses in Europe and in the USA, with their dark emo-newave-nowave - Uz Jsme Doma
Absolutely revered Czech band, whose blistering mastery of rhythm and melody have earned them an unchallenged position in world-wide avant-rock - Here
What do you get when you combine exploratory new Czech electro with French indie-pop? HERE is your answer, delicious stuff - Ecstasy of St Theresa
The Czech band that put indie music from Prague on the map, EoST were personally found by Jon Peel in the 80's, and under the lead of Jan Muchow the band continues with fresh new electronic crossover music today - Tata Bojs
Czech art-rockers Tata Bojs have played together since they were all 12 yrs old...wow! Sounds like Skeleton Key, fantastic live - N + B Research Digest
N + B Research Digest is an extended project of Moscovite composer and engineer Andrei Borisov and Finnish composer and engineer Nikkil?. Sounds from musique konkrete to concrete pouring to scratchy electronics and ear-splitting industrial, if you like abstract-ambient electronica, here's a goldmine - Nylon Union
The coolest new music in Slovakia circulates around the label DeadRed Records, whose first release, Nylon Union, has received nothing but stellar crit. - Oleg Kostrow
Check this Messer fur Frau Muller member website for his extensive solo works - Persona Non Grata
S.Hungary's answer to The Spaceheads, PNG are brilliant young folks who also run their own festivals and concert series - Bondzinsky
Straight on post-core from Russia, Bondzinsky deliver a power-packed show: intensity without any overdone agression - Nozh Dlja Frau Muller
Funlovin' sampler and electronics madness from Russia- one of the Tamizdat office's most-played CDs! - Messer Chups
Like Frau Muller and perhaps even zanier! - Nezhdali
Leonid Soybelman is any modern avant guitarist's hero, an Estonian Russian who has covered Burt Bacharach on solo electric and also plays with Andy Ex in Kletka Red - Tequila Jazzz
Russian alternative indie-rockers Tequila Jazzz are some of the smartest and most famous members of the St Petersburg music circles - Clutch
Super young DJ Clutch, aka Dennis, has an open mind and a great sense of melody in his experimental electronica - Pressburg Klezmer Band
Keeping Slovakia's klez scene together, Pressburg Klezmer Band borrow the old name for Bratislava and old forms of klezmer, only to make new contemporary expressions from them. New riffs with klezmerian tricks 
Tamizdat's Full List of Label Partners
- Antena Krzyku
One of the prime centers of Polish independent, hard-core and crossover rock music. AK is led by stalwart Polish music underground icon Arek Marczynski, who didn't even let Communism stop him from bringing rock/artrock/punkrock bands into Poland to play. AK bands include award-winning indie-rock bands and albums from bands Starzy Singers, Something Like Elvis, Ewa Braun, Mapa, Alians, and many more. Also, AK bands play on independent Polish films, keep your ears and eyes tuned! - Aquarian Records
Ambient DJ Eeropekka Rislakki runs Aquarian Records, a label in Helsinki issuing interesting electronic among other kinds of music. In Finland the Russian mob apparently holds court over a really thriving techno scene, see 4 yourself... - B + N Music
Jablkon's small label, issuing the beautiful works of Jablkon! - Bahia
Something like the Tzadik Records of Hungary, Bahia hosts the music of such cool independent jazz/world/rock artists as Kampec Dolores, Uzgin Uver, Kiss Erzy Music, and Masfel. Bahia artists tour all around the world, so look for them! - Black Point
Anyone who knows anything about Czech underground music knows about Black Point Music: a record store, label, distributor, and contact center for all things in Czech underground rock. Black Point's label carries projects by all of the members of the Plastic People of the Universe, Michael Chadima's famous MCH Band, classic rarities such as Narodni Trida, and even new Czech dance music with band Blow. - Bomba
Interesting and active Lithuanian label, releasing independent rock music. - Broken Rekids
Punk label from the USA, also releases Cinnamon Imperials, The Gits, Jawbreaker, Scarfo, Thatcher On Acid, Cooperative, you get the picture.... - Capt Sparky
Electronic music label releasing some of the coolest drum-n-bass in Poland! - Claire Records
The initiators of the "Shoegazer Webring," the amazing folks at Claire see to it that all excellent atmospheric "shoegazer" rock is released and kept in print, thank you Claire! - Day After Records
One of the grandfathers (in his young years!) of Czech hardcore and underground music, Mira Paty runs exemplary label Day After Records, releasing vinyl and cd versions of such bands as Lvmen, Sunshine, Landmine Spring, Kevorkian, Ember, Serpico etc. - Dead Red Records
Slovakia's brand new minidisc label, presenting electronic/post-rock and other tasty things. Their first release, Nylon Union, is a killer beaty, somehow electro-70's, post indie rock, kind of sound. Wow, keep up the good work, Dead Red! - Drunken Fish
Home of Atman and lots of other independent projects. > - Eesti Radio
Very active Estonian radio, issuing their own broad range of CDs from electronic to indie rock. - Falcata Galia Records
Rudolf was managing Tone Casualties until he decided to go Eastn, and that he did, starting a prolific USA-based record label releasing exciting new world music from EEurope. - Fono Records
Your in Budapest, you can just feel the breezy hum of fiddles in the wind, but where do you go for excellent new Hungarian music? Fono Records of course, one of the most established new ethnic Hungarian music label. They've got their own venue and store too, don't miss going there when in Budapest! - Free Dimension Tabor, Czech Rep.
Tabor is a DIY capital in CZ, with the guys from Waawe and C setting up Free Dim as a studio and promotions center for the Czech and European underground communities. - FV Music
FV Music is the home of alternative music in Ljublijana, with bands Dicky B. Hardy and Hic Et Nunc, among many others. FV actively books tours and supports artists and the local scene in Slovenia. - Garbage Productions
A Slovenian label who have released fun music like Very Expensive Porno Movie... - Globus
Globus International is the origianl and still-current label of the Plastic People of the Universe. Globus, like Black Point, also has for eons actively supported the Czech Underground in music. Also check out Joe Carnation Band, Pulnoc, and other cool things. - Gowi
Polish jazz label, proud home of excellent Polish jazz recordings with artists Mazzoll & Arythmic Perfection, Milosc, Tomasz Stanko, and Trytony. - HMK
Hungarian label for madcap band Tudosok (The Scientists).... - High Park
Excellent independent Canadian label, releasing the works of Estonian bands Dallas and Una Bomba, and Latvian group Lucious. - Indies
Indies has their fingers in most of the cool "new Czech indie" pies, releasing music by artists such as Iva Bittova, Pavel Fajt, Jablkon, Psi Vojaci, Slede Zive Slede, Tata Bojs, Uz Jsme Doma, Zuby Nehty, and much much more. They're huge in Czech, know about them! - Korai Orom
Korai Orom deserve more than just a few words: a band who play ambient electronic/ethno music, Korai Orom blow away audiences live in concert. Also, Korai Orom are organizers and coordinators in Eastern European independent music. Check their website for interesting contacts and tour news! - Klangbad Records, Germany
Klangbad Records are not only some of the kinder people you'll meet, but they also release Faust recordings, and support Eastern European culture by Ole Lukkoye works and by distributing a nice catalogue of Russian music. - Kekere Aquarium
The label for the interesting Croatian ex-pat music scene in Amsterdam, focussed around exciting guitarist Ivica and his many friends and many bands. Every release they make is brilliant, edgy as hell. Check out Blisters, De Reisende Verkoper, Gone Bald, Pink Noise Quartet... - Lollipop Shop Records and Promotions
Kudos to Henning Kupper, one of Berlin's dedicated Russophiles, bringing to Berlin the music from not only Russia but also Hungary, Estonia, the Ukraine, and other areas of the East! On Lollipop Shop Records, find recordings by these amazing artists, and in Berlin find Lollipop Shop's events! - Maszk
Hungarian organization supporting excellent music, releases CDs by Lajko Felix! - Minority Records
Minority Records are a Prague-based indie label, featuring a roster of top-notch Czech artists. If you need a category, try: punk, post-punk, post-rock, just plain good music. Most recent release "Timestorm was the Signal" by Czech band WAAWE is making a splash around the world. Czech out their website for news, information, contacts, links and lots more. - Monitor Cz
Ok, Ok, I know these guys are a major label, but damn they carry some really great stuff from Czech and Slovakia! In the absence of other rock/post-rock indie labels in this area, Monitor step in and allow great local bands to make a dent in the world, bands on Monitor include: HERE (one of yours truly's all-time favorites), Ecstasy of St Theresa, This is Kevin, OHM 2, etc. - Most Records
Most Records is dedicated to releasing in Germany excellent recordings not only from Russia but also from other areas in Eastern and Central Europe. Check here for Auktyon, Korai Orom, Sergei Kuryokhin, Unterwasser, etc. - Mozg
Ahhh...Mozg Music, the brainy club and record label behind the words "Mozg" (which incidentally means "brain" in Polish) present some of the nicest and most challenging Polish avant-garde music. Don't miss concerts at the Mozg Club in Bydgoszcz, only 2 hours East of Berlin! The club inside is all hand-carved and made, and the owner of the whole Mozg establishment are incredible jazz musicians themselves. - Nikt Nic Newie
Besides QQRYQ, Nikt Nic Newie is the most established and revered responsible punk label in Poland, keeping the ethic strong and the good fight good. NNNW release amazing stuff, check out their catalogue! - Noisework Records
Hard to describe in one sentence all of the cool music that Noisework releases. Noisework is an East-German record label helmed by one of the fore-fathers of the E.German pre-1989 rock scene. Hear some of the sweetest guitar-wall/pop-noise/electronic/historical, and even nationalist Sorb industrial/grunge music on Noisework.... - No Man's Land
No Man's Land is a great mail order catalogue and label in Germany, specializing in not only avant-garde but also in releasing and distributing a bit of cool music from Eastern and Central Europe. - Recommended Records
World-famous ReR, begun by legendary percussionist and drummer Chris Cutler, has been bringing excellent music from around the world into the hands of fans for many years. We idolize ReR's consistently brilliant pioneering work, and so should you! Check their site for beautiful music. - Rachot
Sometimes you have the rare opportunity to see a band which blows you away to such a degree that you can't fathom why on EARTH that band is not famous as hell! Well, all of the bands on Rachot Records fit this description- and I've seen most of them live, so I will attest to this reality!. Rachot presents not only releases of the greatest "new Czech music" including bands Sing Sing, Metamorphosis, and Alom, but also handles concert promotion in the Czech Republic primarily of the Respect Festival series. - Red Note
Red Note Records is the label of Luc, bassist from Dutch band The Ex. Kletka Red and Rood are their mainstays, just damn beautiful stuff, as to be expected. - Review Records
Early German label home for Leonid Soybelman's CD "Surfing in My Bed" - Ring Ring
One of the coolest people in all of the Balkans is Bojan Djordevic, creater of RingRing concerts/festival/booking/label. Ring Ring releases compilation CDs and regular CDs by such world music/avant-garde bands such as Boban Markovic (score for famous movie "Underground" by Kusterice) and Lajko Felix. - Silver Rocket Records (and band GNU!)
The band is Gnu and the label is Silver Rocket. Silver Rocket Records and Distribution offers awesome new Czech rock/electronic/post-rock-and-post-punk music. These guys manage tours and are a great source of contacts and info about the whole Czech music scene. - Skoda
Skoda Records is a Washington DC-based indie label, Czech band Uz Jsme Doma's label in the USA. Skoda has been involved in promoting Czech music for over 7 years, releasing CDs from bands Uz Jsme Doma, Sto Zvirat, and a wonderful compilation of Czech indierock. - Solnze Records
Home of amazing Russian post-punk cabaret electronica bands like Messer Chups, Messer Fur Frau Muller, Oleg Kostrow... - Soror Mystica
Soror Mystica releases incredible avant-garde music, you wouldn't know you were not in NY at Tonic with their sounds! - Stoka
Stoka is Slovakia's foremost experimental theatre company. Member of Stoka's cast have their own band projects including Ali Ibn Rachid, Dogma, and Pozor Sentimentale ... luscious, hyberbolic and hilarious texts to wonderfullly light, almost French cabaret-style indie pop! - Stripcore
Stripcore is not only the home for the most interesting comics in all of Europe, but Stripcore also releases the CDs of Slovenian avant-punk band 2-2-2-7. - Trottel Records
The band Trottel should be an example to the world of a great committed international independent band and label! In between booking tours and recording and distributing records, Trottel Records puts out fun and interesting releases of local and non-local artists.... - Zona
Zona Records releases interesting and fun alternative and independent rock in Lithuania.
Tamizdat friends, associated venues, and cool folks we support ORGANIZATIONS:
- NESsT
NESsT, or the "Nonprofit Enterprise and Self-sustainability Team" is an international nonprofit nongovernmental organization committed to strengthening the financial sustainability of civil society organizations (CSOs) working for social change and development. NESsT has been a massive help to Tamizdat as we've been figuring out how to function effectively, and they have been instrumental in supporting (and funding) the growth of our RPM Program. - UniJazz
Prague's former jazz-section has over the years fully come into its own, producing massive festivals such as Alternativa and curating international readings and networking from their wonderfully historic downtown Prague homebase. - Balcanto.net
Spanning the greater Balkans area, Balcanto is informative and smart. Rare Romanian and Hungarian music and artful world music.
- Tornis
Ahhhh, Latvia...these guys at Tornis run an amazing and really organized independent music network up in Riga, putting together events and releasing music and just doing great stuff above lattitude 55. - CESTA Organization in Tabor, Czech Republic
Hillary Binder and Chris Rankin (aka Sabot!) began arts body CESTA, located in sunny Tabor in Bohemia. CESTA produces arts conferences, festivals, and provides tons of information exchanges. Our DIY heros! - Bliss Records
Want to know what the NY ex-pat Russian scene is up to? Want to hear some really cool new music coming out of Russia? Well, hang out with Bliss Records' site and you'll find out. They've even got their own TV program! Site is still a bit under construction but soon to be done. - Drugaja Cultura
St Petersburg underground electronic culture center in Russia. Such DJs as Clutch, Cabina, Yelochni UIgrushki, Parky, Slon are involved with this scene, as is the hip record store Baza just off Nevsky. - Chebu Records
More St Petersburg underground electronic cultcha, nice site guys! - Baza Record Shop
St Petersburg underground electronic store, has lots of vinyl, CDs, and even some rare indie rock and jazz lurking about. - Kulturbrauerei in Berlin, Germany
Now with Uta Wagner, the freshly-refaced Kulturbrauerai looks auspiciously into a future filled with great music including many artists from Eastern and Central Europe. - SKIF and Pop Mechanica
The festival dedicated to the late Sergej Kuryokhin is called SKIF, taking place annually in St Petersburg, Russia. A marvelous event hosted by Kuryokhin's widow and their marvelous avant-garde center, inspired by the much-missed-musician. - The Saint, NYC
These Polish New Yorkers put on concerts and promote all kinds of cool new Polish activities. - CS Worldnet
Serving the ex-pat American Czech and Slovak communities, CSWorldnet offers resources and organize massive concerts for Americky expats. - Mozg Club
Mozg is a club in Bydgoscsz, made from beautifully hand-made art and built upon the foundations of great music. See avantgarde, electronic, world, smart-punk and other delights here. - Zenial Zine
An extremely cutting edge organization, featuring the works of musicians in cyber spheres. Zenial artists collaborate in films and have firm footings in world-wide ambient music spheres. Still growing, so stay tuned! - Kitty Yo
Berlin's cool as pie indie-plus label...they've got Laub, Gonzales, and Peaches!
ESSENTIAL RADIO LINKS:
- WFMU
Plain and simple: the world's best freeform radio station. A big fat submarine sandwich full of musical delight beyond your wildest dreams and even beyond whatever's beyond that. You know what I'm trying to say, now fix the dial, and heavens yes online too! - Live 365.Com
Clearly noted by most as the best resource on the web for all online internet radio stations, Live365 have basically carved and embellished this cyber- audio-e-niche. - Radio Jeleni
Thank goodness for Jeleni, keeping the pirates proud in Prague. - Songs of Praise
Daring and exciting French freeform radio, aismoy uiooy! - Radio 1
Radio 1 in Prague is really good, somehow managing to be a commercial station and yet play extremely interesting new and classic music. - Opposition de Phase
A brilliant French radio program not only featuring excellent avant-garde music, but leaning heavily on the bastions of excellent music from Eastern and Central Europe! Wowwwwwww, we love em.
OUR FAVORITE SOURCES OF COOL EAST EUROPEAN INFO:
- The Egg and We
Very cool Belorus fanzine offering different insights into all kinds of contemporary music. - Russian Web Girls
A Tamizdat favorite pick, Russian Web Girls is a platform between Russian women webdesigners and engineers. Culturally informative, fun as hell, and particularly graphically interesting, RWG is the place to check in for what's going on with girl-kultcha in Russia. - COOL.RU
A Tamizdat favorite pick, this is where we head for uncommercial news and views. These guys are still setting up, so give them some time and they're going to be amazing. Good reporting about what's new and what's good in independent music from avant to punk to electronic. - Soup Fanzine, Russia
This is a fun webzine, with a particular bent on American indie-rock and indie-avant trends, find here reviews in Russian of the latest releases by Fuck, God Speed you Black Emperor, Blond Red Head, Fantomas, etc etc. How do they do it? Dunno, but it's done really well. - Jazz Forum
Poland's oldest running Jazz magazine, and the Poles are no pushovers when it comes to good jazz. - Independent Poland
Great portal site for Poland's underground scenes, very navigable and helpful (in Polish). - Onet.PL
Polands excellent portal for news and culture, with a music news section which, kudos Onet, isn't satisfied with only pop: jazz, rock, dance, and indie news too. - HISvoice
An arts magazine, featuring mostly avantgarde music and theatre. Excellent writing and great info. - Czechcore
All you need in excellent and cutting edge Czech hard core and punk. See Lumen, Waawe, Sunshine, GNU, and loads more. - Techno CZ
Your Czech party and freestyle connection, Techno CZ hooks up the party throwers with the part-y-akers. Commercial? Yes, but also featuring a good array of maverick DJ events and smaller, cosier concerts and festivals. Great source for info on Electronic music in Czech also, with some good links. - Vibe, Estonia
Top-notch Estonian dance music website in English and Estonian, with concert information about the ever-growing Baltic/Northern European electronic scene. A must see for danceheads. - Rock & Pop
Rock & Pop is the big Czech music mag, something like if you smash together Magnet Mag and Rolling Stone and give it a serious layer of hominess. Long-running with a lot of history behind its pages, Rock & Pop is far better bought hard copy than looked into on their website. - www.independent.pl
Gotta know some Polish for this one, but check them out for cool tour dates, band news, info and other links. - Belavangard
Very cool Belarus avant-garde website, with news about avant-garde music and related cultural activities. - Zionmag
Hifi design Slovak music news site (with Czech and English versions too), with gangs of interviews, lots of news and photos, and in-depth coverage of festivals and music happenings in Slovakia and Czech Republic. Really great website. - Savba SK
Centre for Electroacoustic and Computer Music Bratislava, Slovak Republic. A very exciting website which chronicles the history and development of electroacoustic music in Slovakia. - Zenial Zine
Interesting website of very interesting Polish collective of artists in new digital media. - Transitions Online (TOL)
Prague-based non-profit organization supporting news and culture in Eastern and Central Europe. Info, links, resources. - Central Europe Review (CE Review)
Prize-winner for outstanding online journalism, a weekly info site with news from around Eastern and Central Europe. - In Your Pocket
A commerical truly sardonic and actually very helpful guide to the cities of Eastern Europe and beyond. Zagats, eat your gold-leafed hearts out.
OUR FAVES IN 'WESTERN' PRESS:
- The Wire
The Wire is the most fabulous independent music mag out there: exceptional writing, and model-setting standards on contemporary music in all cutting-edge genres. - Magnet Magazine
Eric with Matt are at the helm of the USA's coolest independent music mag, supporting mainly indie-rock and all that's happened since the pre-history of it. Fancy Magnet as something of the USA's answer to The Wire. - Skug
Super designed and super conceived Austrian avant/indie magazine, with concert connections and as much smarts as style. Skug deeply and for many years has supported artists from East/Central Europe in Austria, and regularly present EEuropean fests in Wien. - Copper Press
For an indie zine to stick around for more than a few years and not go commercial, it takes strength and extreme cleverness. All of these things are mastered by Steve at Copper Press, which delivers cutting edge music and brilliant graphics season after season. - Splendid E-zine
I was tipped off to these guys by friends at Czech label Minority Records, when the Waawe review came out...obviously, an e-zine with an excellent wide scope of musical taste! - Signal To Noise
Pete Gerschon saw the US gap and surprisingly has doggedly filled it: Signal To Noise is the collective for 'downtown' and avant-garde music in the US. Surpassing the limitations of Jazziz, Magnet or other such establishments, STN brings together voices and dedicates itself to the experimental. - Perfect Sound Forever
Jason Gross' hobby is a hell of a good one. Perfect Sound Forever is an excellent resource for underground music in all genres. A highly qualitative source with a ton of good writing, check he
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