Soundwaves - Russia's Lesbian Teens, t.A.T.u. (by Doug Rule)

Time of publication: 23.01.2003

Russia's lesbian teens, t.A.T.u., plus diva news and spring releases
by Doug Rule
Published on 01/23/2003

RUSSIAN GIRLS IN LOVE... It might be, as every music critic writing about them has skeptically suggested, just a gimmick that the Russian teenagers in t.A.T.u. are two lesbians in love. Of course these doubting Thomases wouldn’t raise a fuss if it were a boy-girl duo in love. And they didn’t question Ricky Martin’s singing about girls. Yes, the implausible duo is awfully showy about its relationship, and their kissing in the “All the Things She Said” video is tantamount to soft-core porn. But if it’s all a lie, it’s betrayed by a sparkling intensity of feeling on 200 KM/H in the Wrong Lane (Interscope). The brooding, emotional state of the music is a direct result of the sharp minor-key chord progression coloring every song -- in a twisted way, nothing can brighten a day like a hard-charging, sad up-tempo song. They even redo The Smiths’ near-suicide song of yore “How Soon Is Now?” and, though it sounds far more hopeful than Morrissey would have ever had it, it’s still full of brilliant despair and mournful chords. The tenor of the moody, thoroughly melodious music with cushiony synthesizers and plucky strings does remind you of Ace of Base’s “Beautiful Life” and “Lucky Love.” But t.A.T.u.’s sound is certainly a modern-day upgrade of the Swedish quartet, with significant rock ‘n’ roll, even punk, influences at times nearly overshadowing their dance-pop orientation.

And then there’s the fascinating delivery, which often comes fast and phonetic. (English is not their first language after all.) Lena Katina and Julia Volkova sing their hearts out and shift octaves occasionally to float to the heavens in ethereal, angelic sopranos that recall Bjork. Maybe it all is a marketing gimmick, right down to the meticulously produced music (by Trevor Horn, who’s worked with Depeche Mode, Grace Jones and Seal). Even so, t.A.T.u. (which isn’t, apparently, an acronym for anything) certainly is not speeding in the wrong lane. It’s just right, by us.

Thanks to convol.

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