Translated Songs

Aquarium Albums

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1981

Sinii Albom (Blue Album)
It's the first album of Aquarium and the first professionally recorded album of underground Russian rock music. The sound of the “Blue Album” is typical for Aquarium as it goes from soft to sweeping. The lyrics are intense and emotional and the performance is most sincere. The album gives you the sensation of an uttermost freedom. It’s predominantly acoustic but “Electrical Dog” and “Strange Objects Between the Light and Sound” feature electrical guitar.

Treugolnik (Triangle)
It’s “an album of pure and unaccountable absurdity” (Boris Grebenshikov). In fact, the name of the album is the symbol on the cover, not the word “triangle”. The authors of the lyrics are BG and Anatolii Gunitskii. It’s the first collaboration of Aquarium and a virtuoso musician Sergei Kurekhin. The lyrics are the supreme form of absurdity, as is the music, although it’s based on traditional harmony (keyboards of Sergey Kurekhin and an array of most incredible ideas and sounds produced an extremely lively effect.) This album won Aquarium scores of new and dedicated fans.

Elektrichestvo (Electricity)
The first side of the album is Aquarium’s live performance (recorded during the rock festival in the town of Gori (Festival Tbilisi-80). Keyboards: Latvian composer Martinsh Braun (Riga). This album has a tangible punk feel. The second side is a studio recording (Andrei Tropillo Studio). It is “a wild outburst of our concepts of reggae & dub” (B.G.).

Akustika (Acoustic)
The album is a compilation of studio records of the songs initially performed in various “apartment concerts” between 1978-86. It is one of the favorites. The album is known for a pure, perfect sound, melodious, beautiful and diverse songs ranging from sensitive and sincere lyrics to philosophical and even graphic themes. The songs of that album became instant hits and popular quotations.

Taboo
An electrical album featuring extremely nervous tone and an intense sound. Performed by Sergei Kurekhin (keyboards) and Alexander Lyapin (guitar). It is the only album that has a question mark next to the name of the band. The overall tone is balanced by the final instrumental composition “Radamaerl”.

Radio Africa
“Is a full-blooded diversely positive recording” (B.G.). It is the proof of Aquarium’s ability to harmonize diversity. The album embraces a variety of musical styles ranging from Rock-n-Roll and reggae to traditional ethnic melodies and tunes that merge to form one living entity. The beginning and the end are marked by the sound of ringing bell and radio static fills the pauses.

Ikhtiologia (Ichthyology)
The recordings of “apartment concerts” (as public performances were forbidden in that period). “That’s why the instrumentation borders with asceticism” (B.G.). However, this is more than compensated by the energy of a live performance and the power of the lyrics that serve as a focal point of an “apartment concert”.

Den’ Serebra (The Day of Silver)
“This recording and this album, I believe, were the essential Aquarium of 1980’s” (B.G.). This album with a wide scope of music features the magic violin of Alexander Kussul. The lyrics are rich in associations and the sound is both refreshing and refined. (The son “Eye” (Glaz) is somewhat different from the rest of the album).

Deti Dekabrya (The Children of December)
This is one of the most powerful albums of Aquarium from the 1980’s. It reverberates with Irish poetry and fantasy. Profound lyrics, modern edge, humor and eclecticism of that album are those distinctly of Aquarium. The scope of music ranges from Celtic mysticism of “Kad Goddo” and “Village” to “She Can Move…” and the rich sound flow of “212-85-06”.

Desyat’ Strel (Ten Arrows)
Includes concert performances of 1985-1986 and is a tribute to the memory of a virtuoso violinist Alexander Kussul. His violin abounds in this album. The album includes previously unreleased songs as well as live versions of songs from earlier albums. The only song recorded in the studio: “The City” (Gorod), lyrics by A. Volokhonskii and A. Khvostenko, music by Francesco de Milano. Is became one of the trademark songs of Aquarium. “The two stanzas say everything a man has to know” (B.G.).

Ravnodenstvie (Equinox)
The album was recorded in Melodiya studios. For a number of reasons the songs included in the album weren’t those initially intended by the band. The music is complex with a variety of instruments. The atmosphere of Ravnodenstvie is close to the atmosphere of Tolkien’s books. A couple of the stanzas in the end of the song “Full Moon Partisans” are in Elfish. Nevertheless, the album closes with the song “Generation of Street Cleaners and Watchmen” that makes a strong statement.

Russkii Albom (Russian Album)
The Russian Album is not performed by Aquarium, but rather by “BG-Band” (“although the band members are the same, the mission is different” (B.G.). Virtually, this album (neither music nor lyrics) has no distinctive eclecticism otherwise so inherent for Aquarium. It is definitely influenced only by Russian folk music. Each song opens the doors into a unique Russian world full of pain and light. The songs are deeply spiritual and religious and the vocals are extremely expressive. The music has a full acoustic sound enriched by folk musical instruments.

Lyubimie Pesni Ramzesa IV (Ramsey the IV’s Favorite Songs)
“Ramsey IV has really influenced this music” (B.G.). Each song opens the door into a special world. Though the songs are very different, they definitely belong together. Oriental motives are intertwined in the refined filigree of psychedelic music. The album widens the horizons of perception.

Kostroma mon amour
“The album turned out to be very honest, not prefabricated and therefore is very loved”. (B.G.). It is one of the most elated and affectionate of the Aquarium albums. The songs are very melodious, very Russian in spirit. The album is full of waltz rhythms. The lyrics express a unique harmony between Buddhism and Russian Orthodoxy. The album has a wide spectrum of moods and creates an overall sensation of joy and elation.

Navigator
The album was recorded in London in Livingston Studio. It is one of the most popular albums by Aquarium. The tone is mostly gloomy as songs truly reflect the Russian realities of the time. The music ranges from heavy edgy sound to quite melodious lyrics. The inner cover of the insert reads: “May all good intentions and blessings of this album work against wars in Russia and beyond.”

Snezhnii Lev (Snow Lion)
The 1996 album opens with an instrumental composition “Silver Rose”. It draws inspiration from a variety of musical sources and associations ranging from Indian music (“Incident in Nastasyino”) to blues (“Ancient Russian Melancholy”). However the dominant sound is the one typical of Aquarium, full of embellishments (“Dubrovskiy”, “Great Railroad Symphony”). The mood is most varied ranging from rather grim “Fighter Aircraft” (Istrebitel’) to the cheerful “Incident in Nastasino” (Instident v Nastasino).

Hyperborea
“The closest literary equivalent to this music is the work of Michael Moorcock. As far as musical equivalent, I haven’t found one yet.” (B.G.). Hyperborea is a sacred land beyond the Northern Wind. The songs are naturally and symbolically close to fantasy, however they have a realistic touch to them. The lyrics though seemingly complicated make one read between the lines and lead to revelation of powerful truths. Music is perceived as the relationship between the Chaos and the Harmony.

Lilith
The album was recorded by BG in Woodstock, NY together with the legendary group The Band. Lilith, according to some mythological tales, was Adam’s first wife. In astrology Lilith is a fictitious planet of Black Moon. The album is dedicated to the Great Mother. It abounds with the appeals to the Woman (Yin) in her different hypostasis. Songs are the most powerful in Moonlight.

This symbol, which became album’s name, has about 20 meanings. All of them are fully in tune with the tome of album. The songs have a feeling of innovative purity and sincerity. The lyrics are complex and simple at the same time very. The music is most eclectic ranging from blues to reggae. Some songs feature Japanese tunes.

Sestra Haos (Sister Chaos)
The album is perfect. There are no ‘bad’ songs on it. The music ranges from Reggae, “Rastafarian from the Sticks”, to rap of “500”; from the edgy sound of “Brother Nicotine”, to the gentle musings of “Cardiogram”. “Northern Bloom” mesmerized with a unique solo performance of Givan Gasparyan (a famous wind musician playing the Southern Caucuses version of a fife).

Pesni Ribaka (Fisherman Songs)
The album full of light and joy and the songs are filled with irony, humor, and tenderness. The sound is enriched by Indian musical instruments, jazz saxophones, and pianoforte. The mood is open and vivacious.

Aquarium Incognito

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Anna Karenina Quartet
Instrumental compositions are very unusual in sound and arrangement. The album is full of various innovations as it explores new sounds and opens new horizons.

Russian-Abyssinian Orchestra “Bardo”
“This recording by the musicians “Anonymous Unconfirmed Nuns” performing spiritual music from non-traditional sources.” (B.G.) This album was initially conceived in 1989 as a soundtrack for S. Debizhev’s film “Golden Dream” but soon outgrew the soundtrack project. “The lyrics are meaningful however, they cannot be translated or boxed into human notions.” (B.G.)

Terrarium. “Pyatiugilnii grech” (Terrarium. "Pentangular sin")
Terrarium is pseudonym of Aquarium. The album’s songs are based on the songs of ab-surdist poet Anatolii “George” Gunitskii. Many famous Russian rock musicians had participated in the making of that album including Maksim Leonidov, Vyacheslav Butusov, Sergei Chigrakov, Alexander Vasiliev, Nastya Poleva, and others alongside with the musi-cians of Aquarium. The music breaks stereotypes and clichés with innovative arrangements and musical experimentation.

Albums in English

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Radio Silence
The album was recorded in the US in cooperation with musicians from Eurythmics, Ray Cooper, Michael Cayman, Darryl Vey, Chivon Feyh-Stuart, Billy Mackenzie and others. The album is mostly in English except for two songs in Russian (“Young Lions” and “China”). The sound differs significantly from traditional Aquarium and has an American feel to it. A documentary (“The Long Way Home”) was shot in the process of recording this album.

Radio London
Recorded in London. “Virtually everything was recorded in the home studio of Chucho Merchana, the bass player of “Eurythmics”, as a demo for the follow up album, “Radio Silence.” (B.G.) The sound character is close to that of “Radio Silence”.

Anthologies

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History of Aquarium. Archive Volume 3
The album includes both concert performances and studio recordings with old and new songs made specifically for that album. It features some exquisite Celtic-style poetry. The sound on this album in its perfectionism and meticulous arrangement is typical of Aquarium.

Babylon Library. History of Aquarium. Archive Volume 4
The album covers the period from 1981 to 1993. It embraces very different songs for some reason never included in the albums produced in that period. The three songs that stand out in particular are: “Jungle”, “Kozli” (lit. Billy Goats, fig. Scum), and “Angel of the All Russian Hangover” are full of sarcasm. The song “Stand by the River” is very philosophical. “Fourteen” is a magical song of Vertinski. “The Things I Must Say” (“I don’t know who had to do it and why…” became somewhat of Aquarium’s motto of the period. This album also features one of the all time favorites: “The Silver of My God”.

Peski Peterburga (Dunes of Petersburg)
“Songs of the Imaginary 80s”. The album is very peculiar in its mood and sound. It includes the songs composed between 1975 and 1986. Recording old songs, dating back to Aquarium’s “prehistoric” times was in itself a rare achievement.

Kunstcamera
This album contains previously unrecorded songs, instrumental compositions and two songs from the album “Ramsey the IV’s Favorite Songs”. “How to Return Home” and “Morning of the Monarch” re-arranged for the album. This album guides you in the world of Aquarium. The path is illuminated with a variety of pictures of this eclectic world.

Territory
Enter the territory of Aquarium. These are the songs that make the Aquarium. They encompass a harmonious world with a wide panorama. This anthology mostly contains the original versions of previously recorded songs, such as “Adelaida” (from “Equinox”), “Babylon” (from Electicity), and “Mountain Crystal” (from Kunstcamera). There are also songs that weren’t recorded before, such as “Under the Bridge Like Chkalov”, “The One I Love” and “A the New Song About the Motherland”.

Songs BG Recorded Independently

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Songs by Alexander Vertinskii
It’s hardly possible to imagine the phenomenon of Russian song without the influence the unique artistic talent and exceptional intonation of Alexander Vertinskii. His songs are in a class of their own, with their sophisticated, refined and flirtatious hero. Boris Grebenshikov interprets Vertinskii’s songs in his own way, with enormous respect and understanding, in tune with their unique character.

Chubchik
“The album contains recordings made at different time united by the essentially Russian propensity drawing one to the festive table to sing.” (B.G.) The album contains both Russian folk songs popular during the Soviet period and romantic ballads. The lyrics of the “Heart” went through some creative interpretation in the process or recoding. Also included in the album are songs written by BG “New York Travails” and “Let Me Die Irretrievably” that “had accompanied Aquarium from early years on holidays”. (B.G.)

Refuge
This album features Tibetan Mantras performed by BG, Gabrielle Roth and the Mirrors. The version of this album was released in the US (“Refuge”). The album has certain magic qualities. It brings clarity and focus and generates spiritual effect akin to that of a religious ceremony.

Songs by Bulat Okudzhava
Bulat Okudzhava had a unique poetic gift. His songs had expressed feelings and voiced con-cerns of the very best of Russian intellectuals. He was one of Boris Grebenshikov’s spiritual teachers. BG stays true to Okudzhava’s traditions. The album includes songs of different periods but sounds very up-to-date. The songs are performed in a very special manner, most respectful of the original with carefully loving arrangement.

Bardo
Bardo is another album featuring BG, Gabrielle Roth and the Mirrors. Some of the compositions were performed by “Russian Abyssinian Orchestra”. The quality of the music is somewhat magic and the lyrics are beyond translation into everyday language.