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Planeta palmRock band
Country:
 Lithuania |
Content:
Biography of Planet Palm
Planet Palm is a rock band known for their slightly naive bard-rock style, reminiscent of early "Mashina Vremeni" and "Sekret". The idea of forming the band was conceived by guitarist and songwriter Boris Iskakov, who established the group in the summer of 2003. Notably, Iskakov played all the instruments on the recording of their single "Moie vlyublennye glaza" (which is in heavy rotation on Radio Maximum), except for the drums and programming, which were done by Serge Fino.
Music and Style
The music of Planet Palm can be characterized as soft rock or pop rock, although Iskakov claims that he appreciates a diverse approach to his music, and this "diversity" dominates his creative process. The band does not seek popularity for the sake of popularity, believing that music is primarily an art form, and then show business.
Recognition and Reach
The Lithuanian version of their song "Moie vlyublennye glaza" did not fit the format of local radio stations, but the Russian version gained interest from radio stations in Belarus and Ukraine, in addition to Moscow's Radio Maximum. It is worth noting that two songs Boris sang in Lithuanian in 2002 made it to the Top 20 of Lithuania's main radio station, RADIOCENTRAS. Several songs from their earlier period can also be heard on Russian Radio (BALTIA), which broadcasts to the Baltic region. However, due to certain circumstances, the band has not been able to fully realize their potential in Lithuania and is looking towards Russia.
Overview of Music
With proper promotion, the Planet Palm project could become one of the sensations of the upcoming music season. The naive "college rock" of Vilnius-based Russian-speaking Planet Palm looks quite unpretentious, reminiscent of the band "Sekret" and some songs by "Chizh i Ko". However, this simple music is currently in high demand. In essence, consumers of domestic song production are offered a choice between syrupy love pop and problem-laden Russian rock (leaving subcultural genres outside of this scheme due to their small number of fans). But there are far too few people singing simple songs with clear melodies and verses about everyday matters and feelings. Enter Planet Palm, capable of filling this void. And don't think that this is just pop music – when needed, their guitars buzz just right.
Their debut album is filled with songs that could enhance any radio format or television show. The sweet and amorous banter of "Moie vlyublennye glaza" is followed by the beautiful ballad "Meri ne spit," reminiscent of "Alyosha" by Sekret. The chorus of "Zhizn' zamechatel'nykh lyudey" is reminiscent of "Zhizn' zamechatel'nykh muzhchin" by Shumovskaya, while the verses are an exact copy of "Still Life" by Chizh i Ko.
One might wonder if this promising group relies too heavily on borrowing from others. However, the borrowing is done with sufficient care, and no one would want to expose "plagiarists" if the original source is damn good and capable of inspiring imitations. Another delightful song is "Ty v Moskve." "You're 20, you love simple, light songs," begins Planet Palm's naive and bright composition about youth, Moscow, and a vague sense of happiness. "In London, in Rome, in Madrid, in Berlin, in Havana – I searched everywhere, but you're in Moscow," sings the soloist, portraying a pleasant melody that makes the listener understand that such carefree and ideal Moscow can only be experienced in one's student years.
The same mood is present in the song "Lyubov' moya." Although the love described in the lyrics is unrequited, it does not discourage the lyrical character – he is simply happy to be young and ready to fall in love seven times a day. Towards the end of the album, the band's supply of melodies begins to run low. "A gde otvet?" and "Vesny khatit na vsekh" seem like remakes of previously heard songs on the record, and "Nikto i nikogda" bears a strong resemblance to "Ya risuyu na okne" by Chaif and the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever."
