In the 1990s Marc Almond first discovered and then happily cultivated an active and extremely passionate fanbase in Russia, more able to openly show their love after the Soviet Union’s collapse, and one of the eventual results was his musical salute to the country, 2003’s Heart On Snow. Featuring collaborations with a number of artists, including rock legend Boris Grebenshikov and famed near-lifelong exile from the Soviet Union Alla Bayanova, Heart On Snow also served as a vivid, engaging introduction to Anglophone listeners of numerous classic Russian popular songs.

– Ned Raggett