Zmeya by Moa Pillar, Ушко

Trance-infused club pop that wouldn’t be out of place on Russian MTV circa 1999. “Zmeya” is High-Intensity Interval Trance music. Moa Pillar and Ushko are on a roll!

It’s hard to resist the initial bop that this 160 BPM monster is laying out right away, and then we get the brooding vocal hooks and no-bullshit, simple drops that add the much-needed start-stop motion to the workout. Inspired by Cyberia nightclub from the anime series Serial Experiments Lain, the single boasts inspired vocals courtesy of Ushko, digital synth slopes, staccato samples, and a galloping bit, all clad in Moa Pillar’s high-definition production.

Foreign listeners might need to do some research after hearing this: a good starting point would be the James Ferraro-endorsed «Ты меня не ищи» by «ВИРУС». You get the idea: Russians like their club music poppy, heavy and fast.

The flipside VIP-mix is a more angelic, beatless affair. But as Ushko moans “There’s no way baaaaack”, you realize the repeat listens are unavoidable.