Zvuki Mu (Russian: Зву́ки Му), a Russian alternative rock/indie/post-punk band founded in Moscow in the early 1980s. Lead singer and songwriter Pyotr Mamonov is one of the most revered and eccentric figures of the Russian art scene, whose absurdist lyrics are as playful and disturbing as his vocal style and explosive on-stage presence. The band's sound combined starkly simple yet textured melodies with synthesizer sounds, quite unlike anything else heard in Russian rock at the time. One of Zvuki Mu's albums was produced by Brian Eno. He invited the band to London, to record their first studio album. During this visit they did a gig at the ICA. They had little money, and slept on the floor of poet and writer, Anth Ginn. They spent all their money in the Brixton Exchange Mart, on second hand musical instruments. According to legend, Brian Eno met them at his flat to plan the recording session. He had to go out for a couple of hours and told them to make themselves at home. When he got back they were unconscious on his kitchen floor, surrounded by several hundred pounds worth of empties from his expensive booze collection. Apparently he was not happy. Mamonov had an acrimonious split with the band in the 90s to pursue a solo career and they replaced him. The band tours to this day.
The band's name is best translated as "The Sounds of Mu" (where "mu" has been said to stand for music, Moscow streets, Japanese/Korean negative or a cow's 'moo').
Some of the band's recordings were later used in Mamonov's theatre performances, with only the vocal parts being sung live.
Read more about Zvuki Mu: Discography