«Hollywood break for Mumiy Troll» — The Moscow News

Hollywood break for Mumiy Troll

While most Russian music groups underwhelm American music execs – those who have managed to hear of Russian rock and pop music, that is – Vladivostok natives Mumiy Troll may follow a different path.

According to RIA Novosti, the band`s recent tour of North America has resulted in their being tapped to record a song for the soundtracks of both the new “X-Men■ movie and the third “Transformers■ film. In Philadelphia, Mumiy Troll`s performance of a cover of “Somebody to Love■ captured the attention of Rondor Music, which offered the group a chance to record for the upcoming soundtrack albums.

The secret to Mumiy Troll`s success may be fairly simple – unlike other Russian exports, they don`t try too hard. Pop duo t.A.T.u. arrived in the U.S. to huge hype, but their shrill pseudo-lesbian antics were quickly revealed as a gimmick, whereas Mumiy Troll actually have a distinct style of their own, combining solid rock roots with irony-laden lyrics and lead singer Ilya Lagutenko`s coy, languid voice.

And unlike quality Russian rock groups who nevertheless have little appeal outside their native context, Mumiy Troll may just be both weird enough and cosmopolitan enough to keep gaining ground among American hipsters and, consequentially, the greater listening public.

Lagutenko, meanwhile, may best be known to American audiences for his brief but memorable turn as a crazed vampire in Timur Bekmambetov`s “Night Watch.■

Natalia Antonova