The Age of Aquarium

Aquarium is something of a loner in the Russian rock music world; its often acoustic, spirit-filled, philosophical, almost folkloric music rarely fits into the rock mold. Perhaps that is the secret of its longevity...

Founded 40 years ago, the members of the band have changed many times; yet the group has always been led by poet and musician Boris Grebenshchikov (BG), born in Leningrad in 1953 and educated as an engineer.

The group got its start as underground rockers in 1972, the year of the forced exile of the poet Joseph Brodsky, who had previously been convicted of “parasitism.” Grebenshchikov (then a student in Applied Mathematics at Leningrad State University) formed the group with Anatoly Gunitsky, a playwright and absurdist poet. The young artists – influenced by Bob Dylan and Ian Anderson – wandered the city, composing poetic songs and performing them in acoustic apartment concerts (квартирники), while also taking part in the legendary concerts of the Leningrad Rock Club.

Just like Victor Tsoy (see Russian Life, Mar/Apr 2012), Grebenshchikov worked as a yardman and stoker – common biographical bullet points for rockers at the end of the Soviet era.

Fame and fortune arrived for Aquarium in 1987 when, in the first wave of perestroika, they emerged from the underground and released the albums Kino, Aquarium, Zoopark and Grazhdanskaya oborona (“Civil Defense”). More discs followed, as studios previously closed to them suddenly were accessible.

Aquarium first became known in the West through the efforts of Joanna Stingray, who produced the album Red Wave, comprised of works by various Russian rock groups. Fully one-fourth of the record was Aquarium.

Aquarium continues to actively tour and release new recordings to their huge collection. There are well over 40 albums to date, in a wide collection of styles, from Celtic to Rastafarian, from blues to Spanish ballads; this number does not even include the “Aquarium without BG” albums and many other spinoffs.

The group is known for its unique lyrical sound – usually comprised of acoustic guitar, flute and cello. Only rarely does an electric guitar, bass or drums make an appearance, about as often as an accordion, pipe organ or piano.

What is truly remarkable is that no album is unlike any before it. But all the albums feature Aquarium’s clear, poetic lyrics of BG – Russia’s last rock poet, rich in references to Russian spiritual literature and to Eastern, especially Buddhist traditions.

Indeed, for many Russians in their 30s and 40s, BG is a respected thinker whose opinions are worthy of attention. And while BG is apolitical, the albums often carry an appeal of some sort. For instance, Navigator (1995) bore this request: “May all the good that is in this album be directed toward the cessation of wars in Russia and beyond.”

The group’s most recent release is Arkhangelsk (2011), and is easily available online, as the group advocates the idea that music should be free and people should pay what they feel it is worth. Visit this site for more info: bit.ly/aquariumRL