Biography
Emerging from Novosibirsk in Russia's far-flung northern expanses, Punk TV channels the lavish sonic textures once associated with Manchester, England. The three musicians—Alex Kelman on sampler, keyboards, and guitar, Vladimir Komarov handling bass guitar and vocals, and Konstantin Nikonov on drums and percussion—first assembled in 2004. They quickly earned notice both domestically and abroad by embracing guidance and backing from Western European sources, a stance that set them apart from most contemporaries. Operating from a Moscow base, the band issued its earliest singles, "Snowboy" and "Zoomer Goodnight," in English, drawing on the dance-rock style that the Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses had popularized a decade earlier. BBC Radio 1 in London added the tracks to its playlist and labeled the group the "Russian Chemical Brothers." Alley P.M. put out their self-titled debut album in Russia during June 2005; an American reissue followed the next year. Their 2007 release, Music for the Broken Keys, again reached British listeners with its bright dance rhythms, layered shoegaze vocals, and new-wave textures.