TUT.BY (Belarus) jan 2006

Some artists grow up to a point that it's ok to curse them a bit. Paying respects to the bellarussian musical opposition one can't go around a fact that it's political aspect is bigger than creative putting listener in a hopeless belarussian context where admirations are based on the ideas rather than music. But what I've heard on the 28th of January in GRAFFITY club was pleasingly surprising, creating a hope of a creative existence of Belarus on the map of Europe. Just like somewhere in Munich or Hamburg you come in a pub and see two artists make almost a hundred sober people quietly listen to them for over two hours.
The first is a frequent guest of GRAFFITY Sergei Pukst did as it was promised a half-hour set. Having a short stage-time he gave a maximum musical performance, he sung not just explosive "You were not there" and "Wolves", but revived the beautiful "I don't wait anymore" from his debut "Strange Glamour". Touching and somehow elvis-like vulnerable image turned in the end into a unhuman abyss of brutal therefore real love, what many were waiting to happen as I came to know after the show.
Living currently in Germany and known to minsk music-lover as a singer from the band of esoteric rock ARIGATO Atmoravi surprised by his not of this world sound space and big amount of sound boxes that make a band next to him non-essential. Very professional and emotional at the same time where performed songs from the "Chertopoloh" and from the fresh "White Gold" records. What was particularly nice is the lack of indian culture elements and presence of clear articulated european indi-rock. Unexpectedly along his own compositions and with a strong response from the audience Atmoravi performed covers of Depeche Mode and Kino. Nice evening. Intelligent audience. There was a lot to listen to.

translation by aromavit