Guy Lochhead, 11/03/12
Vopli Vidopliassova are a Ukrainian rock band formed in Kiev in 1986, while the country was part of the Ukrainian SSR. They combined traditional instrumentation and folk songs with the usual rock band set-up and a post-punk theatricality. Their ’80s records were punk influenced but their sound slowly changed so that they were playing fairly glossy stadium rock by the ’90s. Nowadays they have a bit of an electronic edge too. The main problem for me reviewing this band is that I do not understand the lyrics. I’d imagine that their ’80s records at least have a political bite to their lyrics – I’d imagine that’s how they came to be on the list – but it’s sadly lost on me. Aside from that, the music isn’t extraordinary enough to merit inclusion in itself, and the whole thing’s just a bit uncool, I think. Combining traditional and modern elements can work out, but it often just sounds corny.