Major catalysts in the local rock movement, Mashina Vremeni embarked on what was to become a highly influential journey in 1969. Establishing their presence during the tricky Soviet years—and through regular lineup changes—they borrowed from the melodiousness of home-grown chanson and folk, the spirit of the blues, the vivid poetry of the bards and the sweeping catchiness of The Beatles. Frontman Andrey Makarevich's lyrics paint inventive portraits of the quotidian, backed by lyrical, evergreen melodies and punctuated with vigorous keyboards, guitars and horns.