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Sergei Kuriokhin was born on June 16, 1954 in Murmansk. In 1971, his family moved to Leningrad. Kuriokhin entered the Musorgsky Music College, and since that time his life turned into a wild quest for new ideas, new forms, and new music. He started his career as a pianist for a few underground rock-bands: POST, THE BIG IRON BELL, and GOLFSTREAM. Then he discovered jazz-music, joined the Anatoly Vapirov’s Quartet/Trio, and for several years was chosen Soviet jazz pianist of the year. Then he got fascinated with modern electronics, and returned to rock-music as a keyboardist and sound-manipulator with AQUARIUM, ALISA, KINO among other local heroes of the scene.
In 1984, developing the concept of constant melting variable art-elements, aesthetics, traditions, and cliches to achieve the signs of new-art, he founded his own project known as POPULAR MECHANICS. Through the years, Kuriokhin invited lots of very different artists to participate performances and recording sessions. They came from jazz and folklore ensembles, popular Russian and European rock bands, symphonic orchestras, opera scene, theatre and circus, and just from the street, bringing multiple colors and moods to the show. Sometimes, he gathered at once 300 personages on stage to make a performance! His music could be best described as a sort of spontaneous improvisation with strong elements of avant-garde jazz and rock, though there are quite many works which could easily satisfy tastes of admires of solo-instrumental, chamber, minimalist, or post-industrial music. He also scored for a number of popular movies, theatre spectacles, and documentaries.
Sergei Kuriokhin died on July 9, 1996 in St. Petersburg. He still remains one of the most innovative and unpredictable modern Russian composers and performers whose art-heritage still waits to be comprehended and whose influence on modern Russian culture can’t be overestimated.
Sergei Kuriokhin / Dovekot (2001) / CD $15.00
The album includes almost an hour-long single piano and organ improvisation by Kuriokhin recorded live at the Dovecot Arts Centre in Stockton - Great Britain on May 29, 1991, and two shorter pieces recorded in London at the BBC Radio 3 studios in January 1995 as a part of three specials dedicated to Leo Records 15th Anniversary festival. Previously unpublished materials. Excellent sound quality and incredibly colorful performances! (4 tracks - 69 min.) The CD goes in a jewel-case plus de-luxe cardboard packaging with 8-page album-booklet, and extra 12-page booklet with rare archival photos. Collectable edition (#7).
Sergei Kuriokhin / Rich's Opera (2001) / CD $15.00
The Rich's Opera album was originally released on LP in 1992 by Kuriokhin's own Kurizza record-label. Arguably, the artist's most significant album of rock-extravaganza as it included the best pieces which had been composed and recorded in 1987-1991 for the highly acclaimed "Capriccio", "Tragedy In The Rock Style", and "Gospodin Oformitel" scores. Ten gifted musicians of various background were involved in those recordings: Olga Kondina (memorable female vocal on the famous "Donna Anna" composition), Ivan Shumilov (crumhorns and flute), Yury Kasparian (guitar), Igor Tikhomirov (bass), and Vladimir Volkov (acoustic bass) to name a few. The bonus section of the release includes "Piece 6. Part 2. Variation 7", an exclusive rare track from the "Free Culture. Sounds Of Northern Capital" 1995 compilation, and 8 tracks from the "Rebecca Horn. Buster's Bedroom" album which accompanied the 1991 book by Parkett Publishers and were recorded by Sergei Kuriokhin (piano, electronics), Alexander Lyapin (guitar), Alexander Titov (bass), Vyacheslav Gayvoronsky (trumpet), and Michael Kostiushkin (saxophone) as POP MECHANICA - Post-Soviet Animal Group. (16 tracks - 65 min.) The CD goes in a jewel-case plus de-luxe cardboard packaging with 8-page album-booklet, and extra 12-page booklet with rare archival photos. Collectable edition (#6).
Sergei Kuriokhin / Don Carlos (2001) / CD $15.00
Very rare and previously unpublished document. Described by Sergei Kuriokhin as "Jazz-opera in three acts", that was one of the very firsts experiences which led to the appearance of POP MECHANICA. Recorded live in Leningrad in 1986. The musicians: Sergei Kuriokhin (piano, keyboards), Sergei Letov (tenor sax, bass clarinet, flute), Grigory Sologub (guitar), Yury Kasparian (guitar), Victor Sologub (bass), Aleksandr Titov (bass), Sergei Bugaev (percussion), and Aleksander Kondrashkin (drums). (3 tracks - 57 min.) The CD goes in a jewel-case plus de-luxe cardboard packaging with 8-page album-booklet, and extra 12-page booklet with rare archival photos. Collectable edition (#5).
Sergei Kuriokhin / France (2001) / SOLD OUT
This is a re-edition of POP MECHANICA's Iblivyi Opossum, highly acclaimed album recorded live in Nantes, France on 22 October, 1991 and originally released on CD in 1994 by Kuriokhin's Kurizza Records. For that enchanting performance the band's line-up was: Sergei Kuriokhin (keyboards), Aleksandr Lyapin (guitar), Mikhail Kostyushkin (sax), Aleksandr Titov (bass), Sergey Letov (bass clarinet, tenor sax), Andrey Romanov (acoustic guitar), Sergey Schurakov (accordion), Boris Shaveynikov (drums), Aleksandr Kondrashkin (percussion), and 13 guest artists. Orchestrated fusion-rock-extravaganza at its best! (1 track - 62 min.) The CD goes in a jewel-case plus de-luxe cardboard packaging with 12-page album-booklet, and extra 12-page booklet with rare archival photos. Collectable edition (#4).
Sergei Kuriokhin / Polynesia (2000) / CD $15.00
Originally printed on LP by Melodiya in 1989, that was the very first Kuriokhin's solo album published in the USSR. "Polynesia" consists of two instrumental pieces recorded live at the Leningrad M.Glinka Chapel on February 4 and June 27, 1988. The first move, "Introduction to the History" is composer's solo performance on piano and prerared piano. The second move, "Introduction to the Culture" is an improvisational duo of Sergei Kuriokhin (piano, harpsichord, Prophet 2000 synthesizer) and Sergei Letov (saxophones, flute) at their best. A legendary album of Soviet Avant-Jazz Music from the Perestroika times! (2 tracks - 44 min.) The CD goes in a jewel-case plus de-luxe cardboard packaging with 8-page album-booklet, and extra 12-page booklet with rare archival photos. Collectable edition (#2).
Sergei Kuriokhin / Liverpool (2000) / CD $15.00
"My attitude towards art is utterly negative, for me it's just complete nonsense and a waste of time." (by Sergei Kuriokhin).
"Kuriokhin's words and music prove that there is sense in nonsense, profundity in silliness and room for inspired brilliance in the Soviet musical world." (by Bob Doerschuk).
The album consists of two extended solo instrumentals, with the first piece - a complete one-hour piano-medley - recorded live in Liverpool at the Bluecoat Gallery on February 3, 1989; and the second one - brilliant improvisation of Kuriokhin playing simultaneously piano, saxophone, and percussion - recorded during the "Autumn Rhythms - 84" jazz festival in Leningrad on November 14, 1984. Both previously unpublished materials. Excellent sound quality and very enjoyable performances! (2 tracks - 71 min.) The CD goes in a jewel-case plus de-luxe cardboard packaging with 6-panel album-booklet, Bluecoat Gallery program-poster reprint, and extra 12-page booklet with rare archival photos. Collectable edition (#1).
| Title | Media | Price |
| The Ways Of Freedom (1981/2001) / (Leo Records) | LP/CD | N/A |
| with Vladimir Chekasin, Boris Grebenshcikov. Exercises (1983) / (Leo Records) | LP | N/A |
| with Boris Grebenshcikov. Subway Culture (1983) / (Leo Records) | LP | N/A |
| with Boris Grebenshcikov. Mad Nightingales In The Russian Forest (1985/1997) / (Leo/ SoLyd Records) | LP/CD | N/A |
| Introduction in Pop Mechanics (1987) / (Leo Records) | LP | N/A |
| Popular Zoological Elements (1987) / (Leo Records) | LP | N/A |
| Pop-Mechanics. N17 (1987) / (Leo Records) | LP | N/A |
| Popular Mechanics. Father and Son (1987) / (Leo Records) | LP | N/A |
| Popular Mechanics. Insect Culture (1987/1998) / (Ark/ SoLyd Records) | LP/CD | N/A |
| Polynesia, Introduction to the History (1989) / (Melodiya/ RCA) | LP | N/A |
| with Henry Kaiser. Popular Science (1989) / (Ryko Disc) | CD | N/A |
| Some Combinations Of Fingers And Passion (1991) / (Leo Records) | CD | N/A |
| The Rich's Opera (1992) / (Kurizza-Rusistika/ Caravan) | LP/CD | N/A |
| Sparrow Oratorium. Four Seasons (1994) / (Sparrow International AS) | CD | N/A |
| Popular Mechanics. Iblivyj Opossum. Live in France 1991 (1994) / (Kurizza Records) | CD | N/A |
| Tragedy In The Rock Style. 1988 (1996) / (Soyuz) | CD | N/A |
| with Keshavan Maslak. Dear John Cage... when you see Sergey please say hello (1996) / (Long Arms) | CD | N/A |
| with Keshavan Maslak. Friends Afar (1996) / (Manchester Files) | CD | N/A |
| Divine Madness (1997) / (Leo Records) | 4CD-box | N/A |
| Just Opera (1997) / (Long Arms) | CD | N/A |
| Detskij Album. 1991 (1998) / (Sergey Kuryokhin Charity Foundation) | CD | N/A |
| Two Captains 2 - Sergey Debizhev's Movie. 1991 (1998) / (Sergey Kuryokhin Charity Foundation) | CD | N/A |
| with David Moss. 2 for tea. 1988 (1999) / (Long Arms) | CD | N/A |
| Gospodin Oformitel - Oleg Teptsov's Movie. 1989 (1999) / (Sergey Kuryokhin Charity Foundation) | CD | N/A |
| Capriccio. Original Music Score. 1986 (2000) / (Sergey Kuryokhin Charity Foundation) | CD | N/A |
| Liverpool (2000) / (SoLyd Records) | CD | $15.00 |
| Polynesia (2000) / (SoLyd Records) | CD | $15.00 |
| Italy (2001) / (SoLyd Records) | 2CD | N/A |
| France. Iblivyi Opossum (2001) / (SoLyd Records) | CD | N/A |
| Don Carlos (2001) / (SoLyd Records) | CD | $15.00 |
| Rich's Opera (2001) / (SoLyd Records) | CD | $15.00 |
| Dovekot (2001) / (SoLyd Records) | CD | $15.00 |
| Spectre Of Communism (2001) / (SoLyd Records) | CD | N/A |
| with Westbam & Popular Mehanik. Live at... 1987 (2002) / (Records) | CD | N/A |
| with Vladimir Volkov, Keshavan Maslak. Jet Lag (2004) / (SoLyd Records) | CD | N/A |
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