The Russian Futurists

The Russian Futurists (aka one-man indie pop orchestra Matthew Adam Hart) make lo-fi bedroom recording into an art form. Hart, who hails from eastern Ontario, Canada, drew rave reviews, as well as comparisons to Magnetic Fields and the Flaming Lips, for his 2001 debut album, The Method of Modern Love, and won fans such as R.E.M.'s Peter Buck and former Blur guitarist Graham Coxon in the process. Hart's ability to make the cheapest production quality sound lush and expansive was put to the test on 2003's Let's Get Ready to Crumble, which he recorded for less than $100. Though the Russian Futurists remained a one-man affair in the studio/bedroom, Hart fleshed out the project into a full touring band in 2004, playing dates in the U.S., Spain, and Canada, including the Primavera Sound and Pop Montreal festivals. Hart finished the third Russian Futurists album, Our Thickness, late that year. It was released in spring 2005 by Upper Class Records. Despite a steady growth in popularity, these albums were not released outside of North America, so the decision was taken to pick the most successful tracks from all three and compile them into one collection, Me, Myself and Rye, released in August 2006 by the U.K. label Memphis Industries. Including the standout track and single "Paul Simon," this anthology afforded an excellent overview of the artist. After a long hiatus, Hart returned with the album The Weight's on the Wheels in November of 2010. ~ Heather Phares, Rovi