T.A.T.U. - 200 KM/H In The Wrong Lane (By Neil Chase - "CD WOW")

Time of publication: 28.01.2003

T.A.T.U who? Two impish Moscow girls who are the biggest thing in Russian pop, and now set for world domination. Really. The first incarnation of this album appeared late 2001 in Eastern Europe, and has since managed to shift a cool million copies between Warsaw and Tashkent.

Now 200 km/h has been given the slinkily accented English makeover and with the predictably masterful Trevor Horn re-production on the newly Anglicized tracks, what emerges is more threatening to explode on bourgeois Western pop-dance society than whatever remains of the USSR nuclear deterrent. Which probably doesn’t work now anyway.

The first storming track really has to be turned right the way up. ‘Not Gonna Get Us’ is not pure dance, but far bigger than simple pop.

It has been reasonably described as sounding very like the Prodigy - though Keith Flint might beg to differ. Yes, the track is nearly 2 years old, but unless you are an avid watcher of Russian MTV, then you may have missed it – and the scenes of the girls driving a petrol tanker at speed through Siberia. Though being underage and presumably without a driving licence, this is a shockingly irresponsible image for all wannabe truckers.

The video for the excellent ‘All The Things She Said’ single has raised more than just eyebrows, with the teenage duo dressed as schoolgirls and caught in a rain-drenched lesbian encounter. Cross off multiple choices for many men’s fantasies then. So the marketing for the mousy Miss Katina and more punky Miss Volkova is definitely sexual, and probably cynical, but if the Corrs can promote themselves as sex symbols, why can’t Julia and Lena. With extra caviar.

But cut through the hype (which will multiply exponentially in the months ahead) and what this album contains is a swathe of really big tracks to satisfy a broad band of the proletariat. Pop-electronica if you must categorise, chilling synths, icy backgrounds, and vocals that hit harder than a double shot of Stolly. Although the CD is dominated by the first couple of tunes, and effectively has only 8 original tracks (with additional good remixes, Russian versions of the main singles plus that notorious video), there are other highlights. The prickly, pin-sharp sounds on ’30 Minutes’ are stunning and ‘Clowns’ builds up a surprisingly impressive head of steam.

This live-wire Russian duo is now perfectly packaged for international consumption. More than a pretty girl band (though only two of them), strong intriguing production (but not so lavish to overwhelm), and that X-tra factor of something musically ‘foreign’ yet easy to assimilate. Both girls have the credentials in a very non pop-idol way (they studied music for 8 years each), but their in-yer-face presentation, and kick-ass youth brashness will make this album go ballistic. Prepare yourself for the biggest new sensation of 2003. This is it – or I’ll eat my Kalasnikov.

Neil Chase
Music Editor

Thanks to convol.

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