Brudini – Rogue Oligarch

In a cultural moment where satire feels more necessary than ever and the dancefloor doubles as a space of protest, Brudini’s Rogue Oligarch resurfaces with an unsettling sense of timeliness. Originally relegated to B-side obscurity upon its late 2020 release, the track has since clawed its way back into the collective consciousness, not through algorithmic hype but via sweat-soaked East London club sets and word-of-mouth revivalism. Now, in 2025, it emerges not just as a song, but as a prescient statement—ferociously stylish and uncomfortably on point.

Musically, Rogue Oligarch is a masterclass in tension and propulsion. Brudini melds post-punk aggression with a hypnotic disco pulse, crafting a track that feels equally at home in a warehouse rave or a punk dive bar. The rhythmic structure is both relentless and meticulously arranged—tight hi-hats slice through the mix with mechanical precision, while syncopated claps and punchy snares give the groove a controlled chaos. There’s an urgency here, a forward thrust that compels movement yet suggests menace. It’s dance music with clenched fists.

The bassline deserves special mention—dark, elastic, and ever-so-slightly sleazy. It anchors the entire track, slinking around the beat with feline grace before lurching into snarling distortions at key moments. It’s the kind of bassline that you don’t just hear—you feel it in your chest, your spine, your gut. Whether it’s driving the chorus forward or laying back in the verses to let the vocals breathe, it never loses its hypnotic pull.

Complementing the rhythm section is a synthscape that crackles with analog grit and dystopian flair. Brudini doesn’t go for retro kitsch—this is not nostalgia—it’s weaponized electronics, filtered through a lens of present-day disillusionment. The synths often feel like alarms, rising and falling with a tension that never fully resolves. They shimmer and screech, often in the same breath, painting a backdrop that’s as cinematic as it is claustrophobic.

And then, of course, there’s the vocal performance. Brudini’s signature croon—equal parts Bowie glam and Nick Cave intensity—is pushed to new heights here. He delivers each line with theatrical flair, yet there’s genuine venom beneath the stylized delivery. The lyrics drip with irony and indictment, a poetic evisceration of power structures masked in dancefloor hedonism. “Rogue Oligarch” becomes not just a title, but a character—part tyrant, part seducer, haunting every bar and every beat.

Adding further dimension is the Istanbul brass section—a transcontinental collaboration that injects unpredictable energy into the mix. Their brash, swirling interjections evoke a kind of chaotic majesty, echoing both celebratory parade and political uprising. It’s a brilliant touch, both sonically and symbolically, and it elevates the track into something truly global and genre-defying.

Ultimately, Rogue Oligarch isn’t just a great track—it’s a necessary one. In sound, structure, and sentiment, it captures a zeitgeist that’s only grown darker since its initial conception. We’re proud to host this review on our webzine, not just as recognition of its quality, but as a signal boost for a song whose time, regrettably, has come.

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