Anatoly Grinberg & Mark Spybey – Crop-Dusting (Digital Album – Ant-Zen)
“Crop-Dusting” marks the fourth collaboration between Anatoly Grinberg and Mark Spybey (Dead Voices On Air). The Russian-British duo returns with a collection of tracks in which they freely experiment without constraints.
The music is complex—at times challenging to grasp, and at other moments surprisingly accessible. The album feels like a form of sonic free-flow, where the artists follow their instincts and let the sound evolve organically. Within this framework, powerful and overwhelming textures emerge, often interwoven with field recordings. Percussive elements are present, though more as atmospheric effects than as rhythmic anchors. Occasional sparse chants appear unexpectedly, adding another layer of depth. At certain points, the sound veers toward the Cinematic genre, with striking string elements that enhance a dark and immersive atmosphere.
Overall, the album is mysterious, difficult to pin down, and firmly rooted in the Experimental realm. It’s not always an easy listen, but it’s a highly commendable work thanks to its global, boundary-pushing approach. (Rating:7).
Listen to “Them Again”:
About Anatoly Grinberg and Mark Spybey
Mark Spybey is an English musician who formed Dead Voices On Air in 1992 after emigrating to Canada, following earlier work with Zoviet France, Download and Reformed Faction. Dead Voices On Air was largely a solo vehicle for Spybey before becoming a full band in 2020, with Lori Cole, Marko Roberti and Anatoly Grinberg joining the lineup.
Grinberg and Spybey have released material together as a separate duo project alongside their work in Dead Voices On Air. “Crop-Dusting” is their fourth collaboration under that name.
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