The First Sputnik on the Pro-Tez Label

On April 3 at 'Solyanka,' the American-Russian label Pro-Tez Records is organizing a presentation of its combined, tenth release. The Sputnik 1 compilation opens a new series of annual collections that will introduce listeners to the musical work of composers from different parts of Russia. On a 12-inch vinyl and a CD released simultaneously in several countries, the mix compilation consists of 14 tracks.

**Tracklist**

1. Khz - Boot
2. De:Se - De's World
3. Polar lights - Joytime
4. Chizh - Psy Out
5. Scsi-9 - Cryville
6. Modul - Hidden
7. B-Voice&KHZ - Ojuelas
8. BarBQ - Sunny Rain
9. Korablove - 100 Jahre Einsamkeit
10. Mujuice - S.O.S
11. DJungl - Eighteen
12. Amesh - Go On
13. Feldmaus - Put On A Magical Hood
14. Yuka - Snow Fox

44100Hz managed to get comments from the musicians involved in the project:

**DJ Kubikov, head of the Pro-Tez Records label, SCSI-9 member:**

'I can say that I am grateful and proud, and today I am not ashamed to answer regular questions from the foreign press about the state and prospects of the Russian electronic scene. Colleagues and friends responded to the invitation to participate in our first compilation, some with debut publications for our label. Amesh, BarBQ, Chizh, De:Se, Modul, Mujuice, Suokas, and other well-known musicians are united together on a complete compilation.

**Maxim Milyutenko, co-chairman of the Pro-Tez label, SCSI-9 member:**

'Although I am represented on the compilation as a member of SCSI-9, for me, Sputnik 1 is primarily a publishing project. As the co-chairman of the Pro-Tez label, I am fully involved in the complex process of producing vinyl, and I am also the mastering engineer of the compilation - both its vinyl and CD versions. Some composers gave their debut works to Sputnik, which is really pleasing.'

**Sergey Timoshev, De:Se member:**

'For the De:Se project, participation in the Sputnik compilation is not the first pleasant experience of cooperation with Pro-tez. Before that, a single, 'The Cold Sand,' was released on the label, which gave a powerful boost to promoting our work. We are always happy to cooperate with the guys and gladly responded to their proposal to participate in this project. We believe that such initiatives really contribute to the unity and development of the Russian electronic scene. The track 'De's World' is our first experience of remote collaboration, as the members of our duo currently live in different cities. Together we gathered only at the stage of mixing and mastering.'

**Modul/Feldmaus:**

'Participation in this compilation means for us, first of all, a connection with colleagues and friends from different parts of our vast homeland. A good company of real cosmonauts gathered, and an experienced captain, Kubikov, is steering the ship - wonderful and just great. The compilation features a track directly from the Modul project, as well as a composition written in collaboration with Sergey Suokas as part of the Feldmaus project. Our own track - Hidden - was created about 18 months ago for the future album 'How To Play' - a composition with broken rhythms, an old electric piano, and hints of a transparent voice. Autumn, silence. Especially for Sputnik 1, a 'direct' version was made. The track from the Feldmaus project - Put On A Magical Hood - was born after a long process, with many edits and transformations - a difficult and thoughtful child.'

**Bvoice&Khz:**

'Sputnik - a brotherhood of cosmonauts in orbit. Meeting veterans of a black hole. The word Ojuelas means 'glasses,' 'eyes,' 'fritters' in Spanish. Both the word and the song are about cosmic cuisine. The melody encodes the recipe for imperial pancakes. This is not food from tubes. No side effects observed!'

**Andrey Kadomtsev, BarBQ member:**

'The track 'Sunny Rain' was recorded in 2007, in the summer. The title openly speaks of it - a sunny rain. Each person will define its mood for themselves. Some will say it's boring, while others might skip to the next track. I define its style as deep house.'

**Korablove:**

'I am glad that the Pro-Tez label is developing. In general, there are not so many unique labels (I mean, releasing music only by Russian musicians). I can only think of one more - that's Subbotnik. So I am pleased to participate in the further promotion of the project. My track for the compilation was written last spring. If you translate the title - 100 Jahre Einsamkeit - into Russian, you can immediately understand its story (One Hundred Years of Solitude - 44100Hz).'

**Roma Litvinov, Mujuice:**

'Pro-tez Records is very close to me. The name Sputnik is so touching and dear to the Russian ear - it's so naive, romantic, and forgotten. The track is about space, more precisely, about the Manul kitten, which was sent to explore the vast expanses of the Universe by Earthlings and conduct scientific experiments in lunar orbit. It flies further into the icy cosmos on its turquoise satellite knocked out of orbit and sends S.O.S signals, but on the native planet, no one hears it except its best friend - the gladiolus flower, because on Earth, everyone is busy and in a hurry with business or parties.'

**DJungl:**

'I am always happy to participate in such projects. Many musicians, many ideas, and one DJ's vision that unites everyone in one musical journey. The title of my track 'Eighteen' has nothing to do with age. The composition was named after the file number under which it was recorded. The number seemed attractive and mysterious to me. The track was recorded in one go and captured the mood of that moment.'

**Yuka:**

'I really like the idea of the compilation, especially impressed by its name because I love everything related to Space and flights. After all, any creativity in itself is a flight into Space, the absence of gravity, and the infinity of space. My track also came to me from Space. From that part of it where such melodies and harmonies live as we hear in the work of SCSI-9. I deliberately tuned into this 'zone' because I was creating a track specifically for Pro-Tez.'