Anatoly Grinberg – The Dreams And Their Meanings (Album – Ant-Zen)

Genre/Influences: Experimental, Minimal-Electro.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Anatoly ‘Tokee’ Grinberg explores the fascinating universe of dreams on his new album. Seven tracks reflecting seven types of dreams. After multiple collaborative albums the Russian artist strikes back with a solo-work.
Content: The work takes off with rather monstrous Electro blasts driven by a slow cadence. The work is Experimental and reflects on a collage of noises and multiple effects. But another side of this work reveals a more Minimal-Electro style, which can also move into sophisticated passages. And here again the artist mixes slow rhythms to get it all more accessible. The main part of the work however remains Experimental and sometimes even into pure improvisation.
+ + + : I like the diversity of the album, but I definitely prefer the Minimal-Electro cuts where Anatoly Grinberg exposes his true genius for great sound treatments and phenomenal, blasting sound treatments. “Normal Dreams” is a great cut revealing this approach. I also have to mention “Daydreams” for its minimalism accentuated by cool bleeps. These songs are intelligent Electronic exposures.
– – – : I’m less convinced by the most experimental side of this album, which sounds like a true collage of noises.
Conclusion: “The Dreams And Their Meanings” is inspired by a fascinating theme and adapted into an accessible Experimental music format.
Best songs: “Normal Dreams”, “Daydreams”, “False Awakenings”.
Rate: 7½.
Artist: www.facebook.com/TokeePaindonor
Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official
About Anatoly Grinberg
Anatoly Grinberg, who also records as Tokee, is a Russian electronic musician working in experimental, minimal electro and rhythmic noise. He has released most of his solo catalogue through the German label Ant-Zen, starting with the album “123 m” in 2019.
Ant-Zen issued the album “Silence + Noise” in 2021 and the CD album reviewed here in the same year. Later titles for the label include the EPs “Strange Nebula” and “Fire Pulsations” in 2023, the mini-album “Emergency Landing” in 2024, and the albums “Crop-Dusting” and “Snowing” in 2025. Grinberg also works as a remixer and producer, with remix credits for Ohm Resistance, Infacted Recordings, ScentAir Records and Aliens Production.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

