Igor Krutogolov (; born 1976, Tashkent, Uzbekistan) is an Israeli musician, composer, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, producer, graphic designer, artist, the founder and the leader of the bands Kruzenshtern & Parohod (KIP) and Igor Krutogolov's Toy Orchestra.
Biography Igor Krutogolov was born in 1976 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. His love for music started at the age of 12, when he first listened to Shostakovich's Symphony No. 8. In 1989, he played drums in a local punk band in Tashkent. After he finished school in 1992, he immigrated with his parents to Israel.
Music career Early collaborations Igor Krutogolov started his music career soon after he immigrated to Israel. Beginning in 1997, he took an active part in the Israeli indie music scene under the nickname Igor18 as a composer, bass player, vocalist and an album cover designer. Krutogolov collaborated with a number of Israeli musicians including Ruslan Gross, Vadim Gusis, Vera Agnivolok, Slava Smelovsky, and Anton Weiss. He played bass guitar, drums and experimented with unconventional musical instruments (saw, bow, children's toys etc.).
Together with his friend Ruslan Gross, a clarinetist and bassist with Rabies Caste, whom he met in 1995, Krutogolov joined the Israeli experimental project The Crossfishes, which united Israeli underground musicians and recorded live improvisational jazz and noise sessions. Krutogolov also joined the Israeli neofolk band Agnivolok as a bassist. He took part in recording the band's first album, Sculptor, released by the German label Stateart in 2001. The album was later reissued by the Israeli label Eastern Front in 2006. Krutogolov also appeared on Agnivolok's second album, Cherries, recorded in 2001 and released by Eastern Front in 2006. The album's first track, "The Golden Skull", premiered on the collection of Israeli post-industrial music Tel Aviv Aftermath (2002), a first release of the Israeli label Topheth Prophet. This collection includes other Krutogolov's early works: the track "Make Law" with New Jerusalem Defense Force, the track "Live 23.10.2001", a part of a live performance by The Crossfishes, and the outstanding solo track "About A Man Falling Apart". Krutogolov also appeared on electronic collection albums Intercontinental Zvukoprocessing (2004) (with his solo tracks "Hunt For Butterflies" and "-+") and Grannittin (2006) (with a solo track "Gurtuk"). In 2005, Krutogolov participated in The Crossfishes' live performance, recorded at the Vortex club in Tel Aviv and released on the collection album Noisemass 2005 in 2006 by Topheth Prophet. In 2006, Igor Krutogolov released the album Festivemood on the German label Apocalyptic Radio, recorded at the live performance with Ruslan Gross and Anton Weiss in Tel Aviv.
Igor Krutogolov closely collaborated with Israeli musician Vadim Gusis (Chaos As Shelter) on a number of electronic projects. In 2002, Krutogolov and Gusis released the album Locust Wind on the Italian label Pre Feed. In 2003, they worked with American musician David Brownstead (Tidal) on the album Ingathering of Exile, released by the American label Ground Fault Recordings. In July 2003, Krutogolov and Gusis collaborated with Eric Wood (Bastard Noise) and recorded the album The Geometry of Soul, released by Topheth Prophet. Krutogolov and Gusis also appeared together on electronic collections Infernal Proteus (2002) and Tonal Destruction [II] (2003), both released on American labels.
In 2005, Krutogolov and Gusis joined the collaboration project of the Israeli avant-garde band Grundik+Slava, with Israeli singer Victoria Hanna, for the album Frogs, a joint release by Topheth Prophet and Auris Media Records. Hanna's improvised recordings were combined with synthesized ambient electronics, noise improvisations, drone organics and tribal ethnic rhythms. Krutogolov also took part in a recorded jazz concert Live at Levontin 07.04.2008 (2009) with Grundik Kasyansky and Slava Smelovsky (Grundik+Slava).
In 2009, Krutogolov joined Vadim Gusis's new electronic project, Thunderwheel, and recorded two albums: Credo (2009) and Lumberjack Blues (2010). The latter was also released on LP. Credo received many positive reviews in a number of musical magazines in different languages (Judas Kiss, Gothtronic, Musique Machine, Darkroom Magazine and others)."Credo", www.golova.livejournal.com. Retrieved 2023-10-19. The special feature of the album is the use of unconventional musical instruments such as analogue synthesizer, termenvox and the saw played by Igor and giving a special sounding to the album. Krutogolov also played the bass, guitar, percussions and sang on the albums.
Further collaborations Igor Krutogolov played at numerous avant-rock and jazz festivals and venues in collaboration with Japanese and Israeli jazz musicians: Kazuyuki Kishino (KK Null),אבי פיטשון, ביטים אלקטרוניים אפלים תוצרת יפן, www.haaretz.co.il Haaretz, October 15, 2015. Retrieved 2023-10-19. Kazutoki Umezu,בן שלו, פחות יפני מיפני, www.haaretz.co.il Haaretz, November 10, 2015. Retrieved 2023-10-19. Tatsuya Yoshida,בן שלו, המתופף היפאני טאצויה יושידה יופיע הערב עם מוסיקאים ישראלים, www.haaretz.co.il Haaretz, May 28, 2006. Retrieved 2023-10-19. Assif Tsahar, Haggai Fershtman (Monotonix), Daniel Sarid, Ariel Armoni, and Ariel Shiboleth. Some of the live improvisation shows were recorded and released as albums: Live in The Head (2008), with Japanese drummer Tatsuya Yoshida and Israeli saxophonist Assif Tsahar, Hot Exhaust (2010) and Cold Exhaust (2020), with Assif Tsahar and the Israeli drummer Haggai Fershtman, Live at Levontin 7 (2012), with the Israeli pianist Daniel Sarid and the Israeli drummer Ariel Armoni; and Quit Silence (2020) with the Israeli saxophonist Ariel Shibolet.
Krutogolov recorded several albums with the Japanese writer and experimentalist Kenji Siratori: Chaos Cell, Ancient Device (2009), Archaic Sky (2009), and WHNZ:15:KATER/Dark Water (2010). The albums are the stories narrated by Kenji Siratori to Krutogolov's electronic dark-ambient music (organ, acoustic guitar, strings, percussion, sound effects).
In 2013, Krutogolov collaborated with Israeli klezmer-punk-rock band Habiluim on the album Hora Haslama! (on saw and horn).קול הקמפוס, האזינו לאלבום החדש של הבילויים, www.haaretz.co.il Haaretz, May 5, 2013. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
In 2018, Krutogolov recorded an experimental 12-minute cover of the song "Vesyoliy razgovor" ("Cheerful Talk") with Israeli singer Svetlana Ben for the tribute album Vesyoliy razgovor (Cheerful Talk) (2018), dedicated to the Russian poet Alexander Galich.Александр Нурабаев, "Александру Галичу посвящается. Веселый разговор", www.colta.ru Colta.ru, October 19, 2018. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
Igor Krutogolov closely collaborated with the Russian performative narrator and musician Psoy Korolenko in a number of projects. He joined the project Psoy & Oy Division, on saw, together with Noam Enbar's band Oy Division and took part in the recording and presentation of the album Dicunt (2013) presented on August 22, 2013, in Moscow."Псой Короленко и клезмер-группа «Oy Division» презентуют альбом в Москве", www.ria.ru RIA Novosti August 22, 2013. Retrieved 2023-10-19. Krutogolov also joined the project Psoy & The Israelifts, on saw and bass, to record the albums Goy Hands (2017) and Equine Canine Soldier Whore (2017). The latter was presented on April 29, 2017, in Tel Aviv at the concert dedicated to Psoy Korolenko's 50th birthday.Ayelet Dekel, "Happy Birthday Psoy Korolenko", www.midnighteast.com Midnight East, May 10, 2017. Retrieved 2023-10-19.ליזה רוזובסקי, להיטלר המפלה, לסטלין הממשלה, www.haaretz.co.il Haaretz, March 27, 2016. Retrieved 2023-10-19. At the same concert, Krutogolov and Psoy presented their joint project's album HHHH No. 2 ПППП (2015) in a new experimental genre "ПППП" ("Song & Poetry Semi-Performance" from Russian "Песенно-Поэтический Полу-Перформанс").Маша Хинич, "Интервью с Псоем. Как будет 50 обратно?", www.israelculture.info Israeli Culture Info, April 26, 2017. Retrieved 2023-10-19. Krutogolov also collaborated with Psoy Korolenko, Oy Division and the German klezmer band Daniel Kahn & the Painted Bird on the album The Unternationale: The Fourth Unternational (2020).
Solo albums Krutogolov has released three solo albums: the experimental noise Muzika Elektronika (2005) issued four times on different labels (Esc.rec., Netherlands, T'an!Kaven!!Ash!!!, Israel, Operator Produkzion, Russia, Heart Shaped Box Prod., Russia), the neo-classical ambient White (2006), and the electronic 1970s Uzbek Electronic Music (2019) released on tape.בן שלו, קונצרט, דיסק, טיול בטבע, ספר והצגת ילדים: אלבום, www.haaretz.co.il Haaretz, February 13, 2007. Retrieved 2023-10-19.François Couture, White Review, www.allmusic.com AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
Kruzenshtern and Parohod
In 2002, Igor Krutogolov founded the band Kruzenshtern & Parohod (Russian: Крузенштерн и пароход): Igor Krutogolov (bass guitar, vocals), Ruslan Gross (clarinet) and Guy Shechter (drums). The band's debut album The Craft of Primitive Klezmer was released in July 2003 by the Israeli label Auris Media Records and was followed by a number of live performances due to the album's great success in Israel and abroad. The album was compared to the best recordings of the Radical Jewish Culture series released by John Zorn's record label Tzadik.Direktorius, "Kruzenshtern i Parohod: džiazuojantys karatistai", www.ore.lt Ore.lt January 29, 2008. Retrieved 2023-10-19.Ari Davidow, "Kruzenshtern & Parohod / The Craft of Primitive Klezmer", www.klezmershack.com KlezmerShack, October 18, 2003. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
In November 2004, Auris Media released the band's bootleg Live in Karaganda, a live experimental jazz performance at the Barby club in Tel Aviv on November 30, 2004. The record had a unique cover designed by Igor Krutogolov for each of its 27 copies that were immediately sold out after the show. In the same month, the band released its second album Songs. All of the songs for the album were composed by Krutogolov (except for the cover of John Zorn's "Meholalot"). The style of the album was described as experimental jazz and folk. The album was mixed and mastered by the Ahvak soundman Udi Koomran."Udi Koomran Exposé Magazine Interview by Jeff Melton 2005", "udi-koomran.blogspot.com", August 13, 2008. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
In 2005, the band Kruzenshtern & Parohod recorded a live session in the Noize rehearsal studio in Tel Aviv. The record was released in 2012 as the album Noize 2005.Petr Slabý, "Auris media v druhé polovině první dekády 21. století", www.magazinuni.cz Kulturní magazín UNI, January, 2012. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
In October 2006, the band released a split with the French duet Vialka. Olya Yelensky on accordion joined the band as a fourth member.איתמר ב"ז, ההורסים ברינה, www.haaretz.co.il Haaretz, November 24, 2006. Retrieved 2023-10-19. A joint live performance and a presentation of the split album took place in November 2006 at the Levontin 7 club in Tel Aviv.נמרוד צוק, "כור היתוך", www.haaretz.co.il Haaretz, November 20, 2006. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
In February 2008, the band recorded a live improvisational performance with the Ukrainian band I Drug Moy Gruzovik and released the album Melekh (2008) under the joint name Gruzovik i Kruzenshtern.