N.O.M.
Soviet/Russian experimental rock band with a cult following.
N.O.M. (also known as NOM, an acronym for Neformálnoye objedinénie molodiózhi) is a Soviet/Russian experimental rock band formed in 1987 in Saint Petersburg. The group blends art rock, ska, folklore, classical music, and theatrical stage shows, gaining national attention in the late 1980s through controversial videos aired by LenTV. Despite never achieving mainstream acceptance, N.O.M. developed a strong cult following and split into two factions in 1997, later reuniting in 2007.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Art rock
- avant-rock
- ska
- post-punk
- Years active
- 1986–present
- Label
- Фирма "Мелодия"
- SoLyd Records
- General Records
- Caravan Records
- SNC Records
- Associated acts
- AVIA
Facts from the source article.
Band history
The band originated in Pushkin, Saint Petersburg in 1986 among friends who were technical college students and young engineers sharing interests in music, literature, and theatre. The name Neformalnoye objedinenie molodyozhi was drawn from Perestroika-era media terminology, referring to the Communist party's attempt to organize and control youth communities deemed informal. Founding members included Sergey Kagadeyev (vocals), Andrey Kagadeyev (bass guitar), Alexander Liver (keyboards, vocals), Sergey Butuzov (guitar), and Nikolai Rodionov (drums, flute). In February 1987, N.O.M. released their debut demo, recorded on a primitive Soviet Astra tape-recorder at Andrey Kagadeyev's home, intended as a musical and theatrical illustration of his short story Протез. The band then participated in a TV musical competition, performing humorous couplets Ламца-Дрица, and unexpectedly became laureates. They decided to turn professional, defining their artistic credo as the idiotization of dramatic sides of everyday and cultural life alongside over-dramatization of life's most idiotic aspects. In late 1987, N.O.M. joined the alternative rock association Мост, and in January 1988, the Leningrad Rock Club. Rodionov left in October 1988 and was replaced by Vladimir Postnichenko, who had jammed with the band during his student years; Rodionov occasionally appeared on stage playing flute until his health declined, and he died in the 1990s. After performing at the Sixth Leningrad Rock Club Rock Festival, critics initially classified N.O.M. as followers of AVIA, but the parallel proved flawed, and the two bands bonded, embarking on a nationwide tour and signing a humorously worded non-aggression pact.
N.O.M. lyrics and linguistics
The band's lyrics are highly literary, baffling, occasionally offensive, and always humorous, continuing the tradition of Russian surrealism seen in authors like Nikolai Gogol and Daniil Harms. They incorporate Soviet propaganda clichés, folklore, science fiction, film clips, and children's songs, with characters compared to those of E. T. A. Hoffmann and Mikhail Zoshchenko. Some lyrics are indecipherable even to Russian listeners; words such as ainu, kutzurubki, and aurelui are of romany origin according to the band's official site FAQ. Another word, ljuy, is described as a Romanian suffix applicable to any Russian word, a statement not meant to be taken literally. The text of U Karytzu Mashek is based on an obscure riddle without any answer allegedly found by folklorist Pyotr Kireyevsky. The name of the extraterrestrial priest Odlopez was attributed to Sergey Butuzov, though Stanisław Lem had used the name in one of his novels.
Non-musical projects
Andrey Kagadeyev, a published poet and member of the designer collective MW Art, co-wrote two novels with Sergey Butuzov: Страус and Танец Ханумана, both included in the 1999 compilation Чудовища. Since 1991, N.O.M. has released short films, the eighth and most recent being Коричневый век русской литературы in 2008. The band's first movie, Пасека, was released in May 2002, followed by Геополипы in February 2004. In July 2009, Andrey Kagadeyev announced a cosmic epic film titled Звёздный ворс, featuring N.O.M. members along with Shnur, Mikhalok, and Oleg Skripka; the film was completed in 2011 and premiered on 20 December 2012 in Saint Petersburg and on 16 January 2013 in Moscow.
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