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Lately many newly released CDs have been presented in the Sugar Factory in Amsterdam. Recently the Russian singer Marynka presented her album 2 Much is Not Enough there. Marynka has a broad range of styles on this recording, such as: playful pop, pointed 80’s rock and roll, psychedelic fairy tale music and electric Russian folk music. Sometimes it’s a bit too sweet, but the multitalented musician Marynka (plays keyboard, melodica and accordion) and her mostly Dutch band members bring their own fantasy world to life. Sometimes the music swings like mad and then it’s almost abstract and Dadaistic. In the numbers “Paradise” and “Noche” she uses poems by the Russian writer Marina Tavetaeva combined with a string quartet between the beats and notes of DJ Goldfinger and bassist/guitarist Mike Stewart. Marynka composes in a varying and eclectic way, which is full of divergent patterns and motives. She clearly has a preference for exploring the themes of “Paradise” and “Night”, as these both are repeated three times. In the meantime we hope to enjoy this playful very creative talent for a long time to come. PETER FRANSSEN
Music Maker
Too much is never good was what they always told me at home. Russian/Dutch Marynka has a completely different opinion about that. Her album clearly shows that ‘too much’ is ‘not enough’. Fourteen songs long Marynka sweeps from folk to classical and from disco to triphop, singing in English, French and Russian. Her theatrical way of singing needs a bit of getting used to, but n combination with the beats and loops from DJ Goldfinger it all sounds organic. Sometimes Marynka’s voice resembles that of Björk, sometimes that of Lamb’s Louise Rhodes. It is a tre musical portpourri, now and again a bit over the top, but generally within ht eset framework. 2 Much Is Not Enough has become a merry and sunny album, with a rest here and there.The culmination is the ballad Let Me Make A Step sung in Russian, although the restrained way of her singing makes it understandable. It may be clear: Marynka loves many. Many languages, many styles of music, it can’t get crazy enough for her. Luckily this album is not ‘2 Much’, it’s just right. (Paul Gersen)
Nieuwe Revue
What do you mean Global Village? Marynka Nicolai is a Russian singer who lives in Amsterdam and releases her albums on a French label. Sometimes she sings her songs in her mother tongue (which intensifies the exotic character even more), but mostly in English, with an irresistable accent just like Bjork. But mostly Marynka sounds like Marynka. Effortlessly she skips from jumpy pop-songs to dreamy piano ballads, and she loves loops and beats just as much as violins and chello’s. This her second album sounds as if the singer had herself locked up in a patisserie all night long and had a tast of every cake available. Robert Heeg
Nouveau
MULTICULTI
She was born in Russia, lives in the Netherlands, sings (mostly) in English en writes almost all her music herself. To describe Marynka Nicolai’s style is quite a task: versatility is the most striking feature. Music that slowly conquers you. (Nelly de Zwaan)
Cosmopolitan
Amsterdam is a sort of Disneyland for grown-ups. Marynka Nicolai is a Russian singer who has been living in Amsterdam for a long time and has ideally merged with its atmosphere of wonderland cabaret. Her second album ‘2 Much Is Not Enough’ is incredibly refined, playful and dreamy and there is so much of what is called ‘sexy’, you wouldn’t believe it! Mind you though, this is not artificial breathing in the style of R&B, but something much, much more sophisticated and lustful...
Cosmopolitan, jan. 2007, Art Troitsky
Het Parool
Marynka’s music is best described by the appropriate term 'matrjoshka-pop': muli-layered and diverse. Pop, folk, jazz, Russian bossanova, cabaret, everything passes by as she sings in English, French and Russian. She peels of layer by layer of herself to reveal an ever new face, just like the Russian wooden dolls.
Fret Magazine
Ah, Marynka Nicolai, the flamboyant, powerful Russian Dutch singer who can turn a piano into a grand piano, a grand piano into an orchestra and an orchestra into a hurricane of emotions. After Privet, her first, rather sad tuned, album released on the French label Bad Reputation, she is here again with a record, which still shoots out in all directions, which can not be pinned down to a specific genre and reveals an almost confusing abundance of too many ideas. Led by the hand of jack-of-all-trades Mike Stewart, the voice and piano play of La Nicolai move through many an imaginable emotion, from whispering reflections on paradise to rocking the boat of too much happiness. This way too much indeed is never enough. One would whish that somebody give her expressiveness and skills a more outlined image, so her talent gets the appreciation it deserves.
2 Much Is Not Enough
Het is alweer 2 jaar geleden dat ik Marynka heb leren kennen, haar muziek welteverstaan. De veelzijdige Russische zangeres/toetseniste Marynka Nicolai, overigens al jaren Nederlands staatsburger, laat met haar cd Privet een sterk visitekaartje achter. Met 14 gasten maakt ze daar warm, klassiek getinte popsongs, afgewisseld met triphop, jazz, neofolk, cabaret en lichte experimenten. Dat alles met Marynka’s zwoele stem als oorstrelend middelpunt. Een melancholische plaat vol verrassingen waar je niet zo je vinger op kan leggen. Nu is er het vervolg 2 Much Is Not Enough, die hier in het verlengde van ligt maar nog spontaner en afwisselender is. De cd begint zeer opgewekt en uitgelaten. Pas later op de cd komen de melancholische liedjes, die ik het allermooist vind. Ze laat zich begeleiden door Rob Kloet (drums, percussie, zang), DJ Goldfinger (beats, loops, effecten), Mike Stewart (bas, zang, gitaar, beats, loops, synthesizer, effecten) en andere gasten op viool, cello’s, contrabas, gitaar, fluit en zang. Als een matroesjka ontpopt zich telkens een nieuw geluid op haar plaat. Van de blijmoedige pop aan het begin, het rockende vervolg, de droefgeestige droomliedjes en jazzy nachtmuziek erna en de avant-pop, chansons en Russische bossanova van later op de cd. Telkens weet ze te verrassen en met een fris gevarieerd maar ook origineel geluid tevoorschijn te komen. Om de variatie compleet te maken zingt ze ook nog eens in het Engels, Frans en Russisch. Denk aan een ruwe mix van Solex, Stina Nordenstam, Lisa Germano en Gry en tel daarbij nog alle genoemde stijlen en ingrediënten bij op. Uit alles spreekt de vrijheid om precies te doen wat je zelf wilt, wat het allemaal spontaan maakt. Het is liefdevol, enthousiast, wild en ontroerend. Geweldige matroesjka-pop!
Jan Willem Broek | 25 oktober 2006 om 0:26
Marynka - 2 Much Is Not Enough
[cd, Bad Reputation]
It has been already two years since I got to know Marynka, her music, that is. The versatile Russian singer/keyboardplayer Marynka Nicolai,for many years a Dutch citizen, for that matter, left an impressive calling card with her CD “Privet”.
On it she presents, along with 14 guests, warm, classical toned popsongs, alternating with triphop, jazz, neofolk, cabaret and light experiments. All that and Marynka’s sultry voice as delightful audio-center. A melancholic record full of not obvious surprises.
Now there is the sequel, “2 Much Is Not Enough”, a continuation of the former, but even more spontaneous
and varied. The CD starts very cheerful and exuberant. Only later on the CD you find the melancholic songs, that I like most of all. She is being accompanied by Rob Kloet (drums, percussion, vocals, DJ Goldfinger (beats, loops, effects), Mike Stewart (bass, vocals, guitar, beats, loops, synthesizer, effects) and other guests on violin, cello, contrabass, guitar, flute and vocals. As a veritable matryoshka new sounds reveal themselves on her record. From the cheerful pop at the beginning, the rock that follows, through melancholic dreamsongs and jazzy nightmusic to the avant-pop, chansons and Russian bossanova of the latter part.
Each time she surprises and comes out with a fresh, varied and also original sound. To make the variety complete, she even sings in English, French and Russian. Think a rough mix of Solex, Stina Nordenstam, Lisa Germano, and Gry, together with the aforesaid styles and ingredients.
Everything is evidence to the freedom to do exactly what
you want, which makes it all spontaneous. It is
loving, enthousiast, wild and touching. Great
Matryoshka-pop!
Jan Willem Broek | 25 oktober 2006 om 0:26 |
Uitkrant, march 2006
Marynka Nicolai was born in Russia and now she lives in Amsterdam. She works together with an number of musisians, with an exotic mixture of strings, loops, harp en sinthesiser. The stile of the music, is the embience, like smoke krowling along the sealing, going through the walls and floating the soft sounds of different colors. It is festive and amusing, charming and confusing. Marynka's voice sounds like a voice of an innosent feary, like Bjork, but perhaps it's her accent in the end.
She reminds me of Lory Carson on sertain intonations, but her sounds very unicque.
The record was partly directed in the Tower Roem in Amsterdam, in the studio of the Texan producer Mike Stewart. Remarkably, Mike Stewart is from Austin and the produsser of the Gordes (exelent group with roots in Austin). He participated in the production of the first albom of the True Belivers, the group of Alejandro Escavado in the 80's. The producer with his roots in rock somehow makes his way to producing this: and fertilised it. Marynka presented him this songs and he was charmed. He is not the only one...... this record will satisfy everyone. Hugues Orsetti for Crossroads, France.
Fret Magazine, Dec. 2004
Marynka Nicolai is originally Russian, but has lived in Amsterdam for many years. She has not forgotten her roots. She sings beautiful texts in her mother tongue and arrangements of some of the songs are reminiscent of
Russian folk music, such as Paradise (Dream). Her cd Privet, made with a colourful group of musical friends, is a surprisingly varied recording.
Some of the selections are trendy, such as "An Aviator": a catchy tune with samples and a slick arrangement for the percussion section. Others remind one of vaudeville, such as the wonderfully done "Matrozen". Whatever Marynka does sounds very personal and unique, which is worthy of praise. If onlythere were more singer-songwriters like Marynka. (Di-Lan Sun)
Toen ik klein was zongen we regelmatig liedjes als “De Nederlandse Amerikaan”, maar toen was de koude oorlog ook prominent aanwezig. Tegenwoordig heb ik het, ontdaan van die kou, en volkomen geëmancipeerd liever over “De Nederlandse Russin”. Zeker nu de knappe Russische zangeres/toetseniste Marynka Nicolai het Nederlandse paspoort heeft. Met maar liefst 14 gasten heeft ze Privet (Preev-yet, ofwel welkom) opgenomen; van cellisten, violisten, harpiste, hoboïste, en fagottist tot gitarist, percussionist en programmeurs. Haar zwoele stem wandelt kalm door de warme, klassiek getinte popsongs. Maar ook triphop, jazz, neofolk, cabaret als van Zelwer, experimenten en Russische wave à la Caprice en Flëur maken deel uit van haar muzikale spectrum. Ze zingt overigens in het Engels en Russisch. De sfeer heeft iets mystieks en iets magisch en doet me wel denken aan die van Lisa Germano en Stina Nordenstam. Maar Marynka’s muziek laat zich door de diversiteit en ongewone opbouw niet zomaar categoriseren, of het moet in termen als wonderschoon en verfrissend zijn. Een lekker langzaam rijdende Trans Europa Express of misschien beter een Trans Siberië Express, met tijdens de reis een schitterend, afwisselend klanklandschap.Jan Willem Broek | 20 oktober 2004 om 21:35
When I was little we often sang songs like “The Dutch American”, but then the Cold War was going on. These days I'm free of the chill and fully emancipated and prefer to discuss “The Dutch Russian”, especially now that the pretty Russian singer/pianist Marynka Nicolai has a Dutch passport. She recorded the cd Privet (or “welcome”) with 14 guests, ranging from cellists, violinists, a harpist, oboist, guitarist, percussionist and programmers. Her sensual voice makes its way calmly through the warm classically oriented popular songs. But her musical spectrum also includes triphop, jazz, neo folk music, cabaret, experimental numbers and Russian wave ala Caprice and Flëur. She sings in English and Russian. The atmosphere is mystical and magical and reminds me of Lisa Germano and Stina Nordenstam, but Marynka's music is so diverse and unusually constructed that it can't really be pigeonholed. I think of it in terms of beauty and innovation, like a slowly moving Trans Europe Express, of perhaps even better, the Trans-Siberian Express. During the trip you experience a magnificent and diverse landscape of sound. Jan Willem Broek, 20 oct. 2004
Fret, June, 2004
On the very first evening of the festival Marynka & SLG wrote the opening paragraph. The Dutch/Russian Marynka is masterful in constantly changing the line-up of her band. At the last moment she picked up a violinist “from the street” and added her to the band. Mike Stewart, the bass guitar player, is the only constant in this unusual group. She certainly grabbed her enthusiastically clapping audience in the Cedar Street Courtyard. Is it pop music, folk music or is it camp? Nobody knows, but they all like it, and that's what counts. Marynka, in her colorful fluorescent clothing, clearly enjoys what she's doing. (Robbert Tilly)
Music Maker January 2003
"The most beautiful from Moscow / the unic of Marynka. The emigration in The World of Today seems to cause many problems; at least that's what the politicians often say and what you read in the paper. But all too often forgotten are all the beautiful and good things that the mixing of cultures can produce.Take for instance the music of Marynka Nicolai,who was born in Russia and moved to Amsterdam13 years ago. She creates her own multicultural crossover on her CD "Privet" which is a mix of lounge, folk and eastern music. The result is a soundscape full of serene sounds of traditional instruments (cello, violin, grand piano) and samples. The result is special and the highlight is reached in a song which Nicolai has based on Gregorian chant. "Privet" brings you into a dreamland."
Life XS, feb. 2003
At the beginning of the cd Privet the originally Russian singer Marynka sounds a little like Alanis Morissette. This impression lasts only briefly however, for as the recording progresses it becomes more and more complex. The recording initially seems to focus on a pleasant and comfortable listening experience, with Marynka's warm, supple and captivating voice at the center of it. Surprises come with the numbers Fish, Cry of Love (a lounge kind of a song) and the related number Aviator. These are a few of the moments that she sings in Russian, and this certainly adds an extra dimension. This is even more strongly stressed in the rarified and mystical number Paradise Dream. The bonus number, Kosmos, at the end of Privet finishes the cd with style.