11 Comments
Feb 22Liked by Jamie Ward

Your starting question is a good one. Russia had cybernetics (AI) programs during the period in question. The grand design was to impose a unified automated management on the national economy, from the top down to the smallest enterprise. Check The Institute of Automation and Remote Control (Technical Cybernetics). Also https://cosmonautmag.com/2022/10/soviet-cybernetics-an-introduction/

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THANK YOU. I've honestly been thinking about this all day.

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The only Adam Curtis film I have seen is 'The Power of Nightmares.' 

That Russian band you link to is completely new to me. But I know very little about Russian pop/rock or their music scene in general. A couple of years ago, I travelled to Turkey (hear me out, I am going somewhere with this), and I was really excited to discover some Turkish Psych gems in Istanbul's records stores. However, flipping through the local music section in their record stores was quite overwhelming. Because I couldn't read the text, I didn't know where to start and was picking things up purely based on visuals and graphics (not a bad thing, however!). I felt a similar sense of awe and "Where do I start?" when looking at your Russian video playlist!  

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Record shopping in Istanbul is a dream I have. I have heard that the heyday I dream of has passed from what I am to understand. I actually have been very conscious to check myself here because I'll go haywire—I like Turkish psych, rock, pop, traditional...I like Turkish music period. Here's an old playlist I think you'll really like, and it has a little chunk of Turkish stuff.

https://sermons.substack.com/p/freedom-is-the-road-seldom-travelled

And if you ever want recommendations, let me know. There's some great current bands as well.

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And, the record stores were plentiful and very good. I bought a few things but didn't go crazy.

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Nice! I will, for sure, check this playlist out. Thanks for sharing. Have you heard the album 'Bosporus Bridges' that compiles Turkish Jazz and Funk from 1968-1978? It is superb!

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I haven't heard it—I see some good stuff on it that I know, and more that I don't! I'll give a listen.

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Super cool that you mentioned Кино, probably the most influential band to come out of ussr. Звезда по имени Солнце is my favourite, a song about war, deep lyrics which make you think. :)

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Oh this song is GREAT. Thank you!

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Also check out the song Группа крови- the band did an english version of the song- “Blood Type” which is available on spotify! you will love it :)

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Кино was a huge revelation to discover. Even without understanding the lyrics, I understood Viktor Tsoi as a poet, if that makes sense. Thanks for recommending this song!

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