The Russian Futurists

Matthew Adam Hart, operating as the one-man indie pop orchestra known as The Russian Futurists, transforms lo-fi bedroom production into a refined craft. Born in eastern Ontario, Canada, Hart earned widespread critical praise and drew parallels to Magnetic Fields and the Flaming Lips with his first album, The Method of Modern Love, released in 2001; the record also attracted supporters such as R.E.M.'s Peter Buck and former Blur guitarist Graham Coxon. His skill at turning minimal recording resources into rich, wide-ranging soundscapes faced a deliberate challenge on Let's Get Ready to Crumble, the 2003 release completed for under $100. Although the project continued as a solitary studio venture, Hart assembled a full live lineup in 2004 to perform across the U.S., Spain, and Canada, with festival appearances at Primavera Sound and Pop Montreal. He wrapped up the third album, Our Thickness, late in 2004, and Upper Class Records issued it the following spring. Steady audience growth notwithstanding, those earlier records never appeared beyond North America, leading to a curated selection of their strongest tracks compiled as Me, Myself and Rye; Memphis Industries released the anthology in the U.K. in August 2006, and the collection, anchored by the prominent single "Paul Simon," offered a clear introduction to the artist. After an extended absence, Hart resurfaced in November 2010 with The Weight's on the Wheels.