Human Tetris

Released in 2009, the self-titled EP from Moscow's Human Tetris arrived at the height of the global post-punk revival, yet it stood out for its uniquely Eastern European sense of 'toska' (a deep, spiritual melancholy). While clearly influenced by the Manchester sound of the late 70s and early 80s, particularly Joy Division and New Order, the band infused these tropes with a modern indie-rock sensibility. The five tracks are remarkably cohesive, characterized by Arvid Kriger's detached baritone and a rhythmic tightness that borders on the mechanical. 'People' and 'Baltic Sea' became underground hits within the 'doomer' subculture, helping to establish the band as leaders of a new wave of Russian guitar music that looked outward to Western influences while remaining rooted in the grey, industrial atmosphere of their home. This EP remains a high-water mark for the genre, prized for its lack of filler and its perfectly realized nocturnal mood.