Russendisko – Russensoul (2004) 
Germany, Russia | 2004 | Gypsy Punk, Klezmer Ska

01 5Nizza - Soldat
02 Oleg Skripka - Im Frühlingswald
03 Nol' - Ich laufe. Ich Rauche
04 Pelagea - Kossack
05 Zak May & Shiva - Viel Glück Im Privatleben
06 Dr. Bajan - Moldavaneska
07 Paperny T.A.M. - Tänze
08 Leonid Soybelman - Nur Einmal Im Leben
09 Amsterdam Klezmer Band - Der Traum
10 Horonko Orchester - Tschubtschik
11 Markscheider Kunst - Kokeiro
12 Sveta Kolibaba - Nicht Mit Mir
13 Wolga Wolga - Mein Böser Tod
14 RotFront - Zhenya
15 Leningrad - Terminator
16 La Minor - Die Bären

Previously unpublished stories from public favorite Wladimir Kaminer which he has written for his new CD with DJ Yuriy Gurzhy. Both DJ's lead through a chaotic charming radio program with amusing dialogs and music from Russian pop.

What do you get when you mix a Jewish Russian with a Jewish-Greek Ukrainian, immigrant life in Berlin, ska, reggae, folk, and klezmer and season it with a healthy dose of Jewish humour and Russian laissez-faire?

The most successful author in post-WW2 Germany; Wladimir Kaminer migrated to Germany in 1990. His down-to-earth dry-humour observations of life in the Soviet Union as well as in Germany, his eye for the absurdity of everyday life in his multicultural Berlin neighbourhood of Prenzlauer Berg, and his unpretentious charm have long since earned him a lot of respect and love among his fanbase over here. He’s made appearances on TV, on the radio, and in magazines; he’s written several books and recorded several audio books. Kaminer possesses the ability to make Germans laugh at themselves and their odd habits. Once you’ve read any of his books or attended any of his lectures, you’ll easily understand the need for some Kaminer in every society.

Together with Yuriy Gurzhy, Kaminer started Russendisko in Berlin in 1999.

“What started as a party became an international hit and created a lively interest in Eastern European music. Russendisko combines Russian songs with a powerful bass beat that draws all to the dance floor. It is akin to a mix of ska played on the accordion, or grunge with a reggae riff thrown in. And most of the singers sound like Frank Sinatra with a three-day hangover and a 60-cigarettes-a-day habit. “Weird, unpolished and sometimes awful-sounding music which is, in the end, really good to dance to,” boast the sleeve notes of their CD. None of it is subtle. All of it is loud. Most of it is catchy. And everyone dances pretty much all the time.” (The Guardian)

Gurzhy also is the creator of RotFront and has also earned fame with Shtetl Superstars.