Tim Key's Easy USSR

"I remember exactly where I was when I was first exposed to Vyacheslav Mescherin's tunes. I was at a dinner party and the host handed me the sleeve with a glint in her eye. She thought I might quite like it. The insinuation was that none of the other guests would. She was right."
Nine years ago, comedian and poet Tim Key was given a copy of a CD entitled Easy USSR Vol. 2. One car journey to Devon and four consecutive listens later, and he was hooked. The strange yet catchy sounds of Vyacheslav Mescherin's Ensemble of Electronic Musical Instruments have underscored his life and his work ever since. On stage and on the radio, Mescherin's music lies beneath him like a crashmat.
With very little information available about Mescherin, Tim sets out to find out more about the man.
His search takes him from one of the world's leading Theremin players to a Soviet Cosmonaut. Tim discovers that, far from the obscure rarity it is today, in the 1960s and beyond Mescherin's music was a quirky soundtrack to life in the Soviet Union - on radio, TV and even in factories. The futuristic sounds of the electronic instruments he pioneered provided the perfect accompaniment to the space race era. Nearly twenty years after his death, many Russians can hum Mescherin's tunes, yet few know his name.
But what of the rumours that Mescherin's sounds were blasted into space? And will Tim be able to find more of the music he craves?
Producer: Peggy Sutton
A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

[@andyharpist2938]

I loved Vyacheslav Mescherin's orchestra so much I stopped listening to Tim Key and loved it! Really so delightful. Just love it.

[@flammablesolid]

i didn’t see that ending coming, such a sweet doc!

[@davidobrien644]

This is a delight! I only wish this music was available on CD once more.

[@Miniro27]

20:05 Holy shit Tim

[@Glennw]

Спасибо большое

[@Gayestskijumpever]

I made myself some cheese!

[@GreenScreenAnima]

cool

[@mishalagovsky7837]

all these nu pogadi tunes

[@stephaniewaters1777]

It's a pretty language

[@oblongtom]

Едва все антилопы ушли, как терьер закричал: «Кто ты?»?

[@captain_the_puggy8486]

If you were given a CD then why are you fast forwarding and rewinding a tape?

[@RFC-3514]

Maybe he wasn't... www.reddit.com/r/ofcoursethatsathing/comments/9urrfc/a_dvd_rewinder/

[@stuffandthat157]

At 0:43 it's very obviously the sound of a CD spinning

[@TocTeplv]

I loled at the notion that weapons factory workers were listening to light-hearted music and that's a secret propaganda weapon. Like, what should they listen if they make firearms? Deathrock and blackmetall? I mean, really!? Otherwise - cool story by bbc4.

[@RFC-3514]

I laughed out loud at someone using the word "loled" and not understanding that factory workers could be listening to anything from military marches to patriotic operas to no music at all.

[@SMGJohn]

They listened to Soviet metal, yes its real.

[@kahkah1986]

maybe it would be safer to listen to something reasonably calm but not too relaxing when you are dealing with explosives?