LTF, aka Light the Fuse, aka Anton Ivanchenko is a beatmaker blending instrumental hip-hop, downtempo sounds, rare Soviet jazz, and sample-ready funk. Based in the Siberian city of Omsk, LTF looks to his homeland (and other former Soviet countries) to resurrect rare grooves from the past. His new record, Monolith, is out now via Rucksack Records. LTF drew upon some of his favorite rare groove records to create this weekend playlist.
—Keenan Kush, Talkhouse Director of Operations
Zalatnay Sarolta — “Hadd Mondjam El” (1973)
Brilliant composition by the famous Hungarian singer Sarolta Zalatnay with a whole bunch of unexpected flavors for a typical pop album, like heavy drum breaks, Hendrix inspired fuzz riffs, and screaming vocals.
Syrius — “A Láz (The Fever)” (1976)
Just some 40 years ago this was pop music in Hungary. Could you name someone who is doing such high-quality pop-rock-jazz fusion crossover in 2020? But thank god good music doesn’t have age.
Big Band Katowice — “Madrox” (1977)
This what you get when an orchestra of about 20 musicians try to play a tune that is already perfectly executed by four musicians. You get a heavy dance floor uptempo banger version of The Meters’ heavy downtempo banger “Cissy Strut.” Legendary.
Arp Life — “Bu-bu” (1977)
Smashing fuzz disco breaks that could easily be a soundtrack to late ’70s TV series. B-movie funk at its best!
Pražský Big Band — “Heleme Se” (1978)
Another cinematic cut with drama, executed by top notch Prague orchestra — the youngest Czech jazz orchestra to date blending jazz and rock in the headbanging library tune.
Wojciech Karolak — “A Day In The City” (1975)
Deep psyched Rhodes synthesizer over unstoppable drum breaks. This is the most acid joint in the whole selection, performed by Polish renowned pianist Wojciech Karolak.
Oleg Kutsenko And His Jazz Group — “Kaleidoscope, Suite” (1979)
Well known jazz-funk composition by sax player Oleg Kutsenko with constantly changing styles over 12 minutes. Probably the finest contemporary jazz from 1979 Soviet Russia.
Jazzový Orchestr Československého Rozhlasu, Kamil Hála — “Ohnivá Řeka” (1976)
Rare waxed case. “Ohnivá Řeka” (Fire River) originally written by bass player Konstantin Nosov for Garanyan’s band “Melodiya” and released in 1974 on Labyrinth album, became nowadays #1 Soviet jazz-funk tune. This 1976 version performed by a big band of the Czechoslovak Radio got a lot more smooth feeling but still driven by a groovy rhythm section.
Джаз-ансамбль Давида Голощекина — “From Monday To Friday” (1978)
Another definition of “Soviet groove.” This is a disco-funk composition that reveals the mood of the Soviet man’s romance of everyday life — “From Monday To Friday.” The video was shot in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) featuring a full band performance on the roof with unplugged instruments and strong northern wind — which is regular Leningrad weather. Written and performed by legendary Soviet musician David Goloschekin, whose recent performance of “From Monday To Friday” dated 2018 (go find it on YouTube). The maestro’s still got it at age 75!
