Explore deep Russian rave with Moscow-based journalist and underground bass connoisseur Alexandr Rassokhin. He shared his most formative rave experiences: from the 60 hour closing party at Клуб ( dubbed ‘the Russian Berghain’), through to Boiler Room parties overlooking the Gulf of Finland. And while in some ways comparable to Berlin, learn what makes their sophisticated, complex scene totally unique to Russia...

Hey Alexandr! how did you discover the Russian underground scene?

I was born in a provincial town called Kirov, 1000 kilometers from the capital, towards the Ural Mountains. It was there that I first became acquainted with underground culture.

In the second half of the 00s, I began listening to drum and bass. But I really got to touch the underground in 2009, when I first discovered local promo-team Freak Out.

“The parties were eclectic. there was funk, Balleriac, electro, Afrobeat, and much more... And there were always very open, interesting, unusual people”.

Alexandr Rassokhin: Moscow-based journalist, raver and underground bass connoisseur.

Were they secret parties? And where were they held?

Usually not. Initially only a small circle of people knew about them. Sometimes the venue was announced at the last minute.

They arranged them in bars, but sometimes it was necessary to leave for the edge of the city. We’d go along the path through the thicket or crossing the river on a boat to the island. Instead of a ticket they hung a pendant from a shell on your neck!

Do promoters experience problems with the authorities?

Yes, periodically. A significant moment was in Moscow 2016, when Outline Festival was closed down. So in 2017, the promoters (Arma17) decided to celebrate their 9th anniversary - but this time St. Petersburg. And while setting up they were informed that the party was cancelled again.

“The people who rode the bus from Moscow were stopped by the police. They were beaten, examined, into men's underpants, girls in their bras. It was total arbitrariness. After that, the promotional team suspended operations in Russia”.

That’s devastating... I’m sorry to hear that. What happened to the scene after that?

In that same year in the autumn, Клуб opened in St. Petersburg (pronounced Klub, translated Club). Or as it was also called, Kisloty (translated, Acid).

During its lifetime it received the status of the legendary. It was even called the Russian Berghain. Actually, the residents played at Berghain.

Why was it called the Russian Berghain?

“Friends from St. Petersburg talked about the symbiosis of freedom, happiness, madness and love there. It was clear that this is the most underground club in Russia, which captivated everyone with its atmosphere”.

But time passed, and a year later news began to appear about its closure. In the end, I still got there - at the closing party. It lasted 60 hours.

Wow, a 60 hour party at Russian Berghain. Sounds mad, can you describe the experience?

The club was in the industrial zone of St Petersburg. In the building of the former factory with several harsh concrete rooms. On the street at the entrance, the guys smoke, chat. One immediately catches the eye of the neighbours - a piano and a punching bag.

In hard techno room, the walls are painted with cave painting imitations. The other dance floor is essentially a smoking room with multi-colored mosaic windows and access to the toilet stalls.

The atmosphere in the smoking room is special. At one hour they can play 90s trance, in another Ramones. At noon, Russian pop from the 00s, then breakbeat. After closing the Club, they opened the bar Бар (Bar) for one summer season.

Tell me about the music at Клуб?

At the closing stage of the club, they would also release music. The first release was the work of resident Dane Schacke. He made the track Kisloty People, taking as a basis an acapella from Russian pop song 00s. It suffices to say that Resident Advisor recognized Kisloty People as the Track of the Year in 2019. Mixmag put it in 4th place too.

I don’t think that after the closure of the Club in Russia there is the same shocking underground place.

In Moscow, the centerpiece of all significant underground events since last year is Mutabor. It’s also in an industrial area, over several floors. At the entrance, you are met by a giant wooden man sitting on the roof of one of the buildings of the former factory.

"In October, the Mutabor Showcase hosted by Клуб, Radio TestFM, as well as the St. Petersburg promo team Roots United. They brought Textasy, who tore up the dance floor with breakbeat from 130 to 190 bpm. "

Who are Roots United?

Roots United are another pillar of the contemporary scene in Russia. It’s the organizer of perhaps the largest and most powerful festival in the country: Present Perfect. Boiler Room and Red Light Radio have their own dance floors. This year, among the artists were Azimuth, Red Axes, The Pilotwings, Egyptian Lover, DJ Storm, Helena Hauff.

Present Perfect Festival, image by Resident Advisor

“The main feature of such festivals is the great art foundation: the influence of the Russian visual avant-garde. That is, elements of street art and contemporary art, some installations”.

I am so excited to learn about this! I spent a long time studying the soviet avant garde. It’s powerful to learn that it’s taken new forms in contemporary underground music.

"wow! I adore people who are interested in Russian culture. Because politics has repeatedly discredited the attitude towards Russia”.

My special love is small parties where you can feel the family atmosphere, everyone knows each other, multi-format music plays. From 100 to 180 - UKG, hardcore, breakbeat, jungle all intertwined.

Me too! It’s started happening here in London again… it’s way more interesting when you mix genres. And so cool that UK Garage has made it to Russia! In my understanding it doesn’t usually travel far outside of England.

“Yes, we were influenced by UK raves, especially from around 88 -94. Vaden, our guy from St Petersburg is an ambassador for UK Garage. he plays on Rinse fm and promotes the Garage inflection partes in Russia”.

Where do you think are the best parties in Russia?

In Moscow for a long time I could not find parties with small family vibes. There are two main problems here: the police and pathos. But a year ago, I finally found my guys: Cruise (Круиз) by Tiger Balms and Wax Ninja have a very sincere atmosphere. It starts with hip-hop, then beautiful house, garage, hardcore breakbeat, dnb, jungle. If party people put glasses and bottles of wine on stage, it’s a sign of a good atmosphere!

There are underground parties all over Russia, and in the provinces. But if we talk about Moscow and St. Petersburg, in my opinion it is in St. Petersburg, that the underground scene is more powerful. It seems that she does not feel such pressure from the police. There are more parties, they last until 2-3pm the next day. Some feeling of freedom is in them.

Thanks so much for this lyrical and intriguing account of the Russian underground. I'm so happy to help paint a more nuanced portrait of your radically artistic culture.

When it comes to the avant-garde, Russia will always be cutting edge. Revolutionary art from 1916 (Kazimir Malevich)

Post-Soviet Factory Raves and the Russian Berghain