Aquarium

Country of origin:

Russia

See also:

Wikipedia's entry on Aquarium

Covers/own material:

Own

General comments:

Aquarium is a Russian group, whose leader and soul Boris Grebenschikov has recorded an (uncharacteristic) album in the States called Radio Silence. The group has been around for quite a while and the style of their music varies greatly with time. The first two "albums" were very amateurish and aren't considered as full-blown releases (even for their then-underground status) by the group itself.
     The lyrics are just fantastic, though quite weird for the inexperienced. (mbravo@tctube.spb.su)

Recordings include:

• Iskushenie svyatogo Akvariuma (Temptation of Saint Aquarium)
• Menuet zemledeltsu" (Minuet to a farmer)
• Ikhtiologia (Ideology)
• Radio Afrika (Radio Africa)
• Den' Serebra (Day of Silver)
• Deti Dekabrya (Children of December)
• Radio Silence

Availability:

Radio Silence is probably the only one widely available outside of Russia.

Additional comments:

Iskushenie svyatogo Akvariuma (Temptation of Saint Aquarium) and Menuet zemledeltsu (Minuet to a farmer) were both recorded in 1973. You are highly unlikely to ever find even traces of them, unless you are a real collector of the group's music. Pritchi grafa Diffuzora (Koans of Count Diffusor), from 1974, is an acoustic concert recorded in an apartment (guitar, piano and percussion). S toy storony zerkalnogo stekla (On the other side of the mirror glass) from winter 1975/76 are Boris Grebenschikov (solo) and Gakkel's guitar songs, quite thoroughly arranged and recorded, with lots of instrumental guitar pieces. The title song was later included on Akustika album and cut on Ikhtiologiya. Vse bratya—sestry (All brothers—sisters) from 1978 is a Boris Grebenschikov and Mike Naumenko album, and consists of songs sang with guitar and harmonica, and was recorded, according to a legend, under an open sky on an [antique] Mayak tape player. (mbravo@tctube.spb.su)

Thanks to Neal Copperman for work on this entry.