VESPERO "Vespero have been quickly developing into one of the most exciting instrumental bands on the contemporary Space Rock scene. Utilizing elements of Space Rock, Psychedelia, Krautrock, Progressive Rock and ethnic influences, Vespero morph, mutate and blend their various influences into music that varies from one album to the next, but is always uniquely Vespero." (by Jerry Kranitz, Aural Innovations). Formed in early 2003 in Astrakhan, South Russia, VESPERO went through several personnel changes, produced numerous low budget recordings, and turned into a mainstay of local scene before releasing their official debut album in 2007. They spend most of the time diligently honing their musical craft and inventing their own fantasy world somewhere near the crossroads of psychedelia, space rock, progressive rock, kraut-rock, ethno-fusion, and improvised music. The band's current lineup features: Arkady 'Ark' Fedotov (bass, synths, flutes, voice), Ivan Fedotov (drums, percussions), Alexei Klabukov (synths, keyboards, accordion), Alexander Kuzovlev (guitars, electronics), Vitaly Borodin (violin), and Alexander Timakov (percussion, drums). VESPERO's live albums including free-to-download sets are presented in the LIVENTURE series. Follow VESPERO on Facebook.

Vespero / Lique Mekwas (2016) "Lique Mekwas" is the 7th studio album by VESPERO, their 1st one performed as a 6-piece ensemble comprising Ivan Fedotov (drums, percussion), Alexander Timakov (drums, percussion), Arkady Fedotov (bass, synthesizers), Alexander Kuzovlev (guitars, electric piano), Alexey Klabukov (keyboards, synthesizers), and Vitaly Borodin (violin). It’s all instrumental musical burlesque combining the elements of prog-rock, space-psychedelia, jazz-fusion, and world-beats. The album tells a story of a young man who was appointed to serve the Crown Prince of Abyssinia as a guard-impersonator, and after the years of hard trials and adventures got to know that he had always been a true King of his country. Recorded and mixed by Alexander Kuzovlev; mastered by Tobias Svensson. Original artwork image by Alexander Zhelonkin. (7 tracks - 75 min.). Free streaming or immediate digital download of the album (MP3, FLAC or other formats) is available through Official R.A.I.G. Bandcamp. CD: $13.00 / Digital Download: $8.00

"Lique Mekwas – an official noble title of impersonators or doubles of the Ethiopian Emperor, who accompanied him far and wide. Two trusted and highly favored officials were given this title at the same time. They always walked or rode on either side of the monarch in battle, or in public processions, dressing as magnificently, or even more magnificently then The Emperor, in order to distract assassins, enemies, and all ill-wishes."

Review clips:

"This Russian band is mining the same vein as classic Ozric Tentacles, spaced-out grooves that combine electronics and other instruments. But Vespero has a lot going on that lift the music about mere grooving... They know how long to ride a groove before switching it up, sometimes ramping up to double-time, sometimes dropping down to a more floating feel, varying the textures to build tension and release it. Lique Mekwas is great fun from start to finish." – by Jon Davis at Expose (USA) (October 2016).

"Lique Mekwas cheerfully displays a range of influences including prog, jazz, psych and even a hint of folk. These are skillfully entwined, to create the band's emerging signature sound... What shines through in this impressive album is the quality of the musicianship and the excellence of the compositions. The use of the violin and saxophone as a part of the band's palette, ensures that the music has an earthy, emotive feel that contrasts perfectly with the electronic wizardry of the various guitar and keyboard effects, to offer an altogether different, unworldly galactic sound... One of the most engaging aspects of the album also sets it out from the norms usually associated with space rock. Although many of the tracks establish a whirling, swirling groove, they also possess exciting changes of rhythm and frequent changes of tempo to keep things fresh and stimulating... Lique Mekwas has many distinct and appealing features, and in the end I was totally won over by its charms. (Conclusion: 8.5 out of 10)" – by Owen Davies at DPRP (UK) (January 2017).

Reviews: New Underground Music (The Netherlands), Dayz Of Purple And Orange (UK), ProgArchives (USA), Ages Of Rock (Italy), Babyblauen Seiten (Germany), Rock Progresivo (Spain), ProgRock.Gr (Greece), Scott's Music Reviews (Denmark), Arlequins (Italy).

Vespero / Fitful Slumber until 5 A.M. (2015) "Fitful Slumber until 5 A.M." is the 6th studio album by VESPERO. It’s a fascinating, all instrumental, conceptual piece touching upon the theme of intricate functions of the human subconscious, dream-visions and music. Arguably, this is the band’s most ambitious and complicated work that brings together traditions of progressive, psychedelic, jazz, academic, and folklore music. Art direction and design by ZonderZond. (7 tracks - 70 min.). Free streaming or immediate digital download of the album (MP3, FLAC or other formats) is available through Official R.A.I.G. Bandcamp. CD: $13.00 / Digital Download: $8.00

"Music is like a dream. At the same time it is, on the contrary, like a more distinct form of consciousness than that of our normal waking hours. Which of the two really was music, I used to wonder? Music had the power at times to reverse these contrary things." – from "The Temple of the Golden Pavilion" by Yukio Mishima (1956).

Review clips:

"Vespero continue to evolve, and on their latest album, Fitful Slumber until 5A.M., they serve up one of their most compositionally and instrumentally sophisticated and exciting sets to date... Vespero are deep into complex Prog territory on this album, while incorporating all manner of Jazz, ethnic and Space Rock influences. I’ve been an impressed follower of Vespero since their launch and have to say this is hands down their best album to date. The musicianship and compositional acrobatics are mind-blowing, but maintain a relaxed freeform feel so as to dispense with any overly flashy pretentions. This is complex Prog that rocks hard and takes chances. Fitful Slumber until 5A.M. will be a shoe-in for my Best of 2015 list. No shit, RECOMMENDED!" – by Jerry Kranitz at Aural Innovations (USA) (April 2015).

"This seventy minute epic finds the band continuing to blend their prog/ jazz/ psych rock template and adding subtle elements of folk and ethnic music to the mix. The musicianship is once again stellar and the arrangements are elaborate and superbly crafted. The unique brand of music that Vespero creates is constructed in such a way, that all it really asks of the listener is that they find a time and space to listen to the music from beginning to end. If received in this manner, it just makes the rewards that much more plentiful. (Score: 5/5)" – by Ryan Sparks at Sea Of Tranquility (USA) (April 2015).

More reviews: Progressive Tracks (USA), Subkultura (Russia), New Underground Music (The Netherlands), Musikreviews.de (Germany), Babyblauen Seiten (Germany), Universum Noll (Sweden), Sqzfnia (Spain), DPRP (UK), ProgArchives (USA), ProgRock.Gr (Greece), Arlequins (Italy).

Vespero / Droga (2013) Leaving behind them satire, irony and kraut-extravaganza, Astrakhan’s VESPERO created an impressive lyrical work inspired by visions of their homeland. Stylistically, “Droga” (from Italian: herb, spice, fragrant, drug, etc.) marked a distinct shift to the progressive rock area. This is all instrumental eclectic prog-rock with traces of Southern Russia’s ethnic music and jazz-fusion, though the presence of space-kraut-psychedelic elements is still very strong. Whatever you label it, this is an astonishing musical journey through time and space which lovers of modern instrumental rock will enjoy. CD (9 tracks - 73 min.) is housed in a thick rough cardboard folder with silkprinted artwork. Free streaming or immediate digital download of the album (MP3, FLAC or other formats) is available through Official R.A.I.G. Bandcamp. CD: $13.00 / Digital Download: $8.00

Vespero / Droga + Liventures, etc (2013) Limited to 101 units, this special two-disc set includes a regular "Droga" CD-album and "Liventures, etc" pro-duplicated CD-R (8 tracks - 68 min.). The latter is a satellite release to both the "Droga" and "Subkraut: U-Boats Willkommen Hier" albums. It captures VESPERO live and performing alternative versions of their favorite compositions, cover songs, compilation exclusives, and new songs. All tracks or versions are previously unreleased. "Liventures, etc" is not available as a separate disc-release. Free streaming or immediate digital download of the album (MP3, FLAC or other formats) is available through Official R.A.I.G. Bandcamp. CD+CD-R: OUT-OF-PRINT / Digital Download (Disc 2): $7.00

Review clips:

"The space rock payload hasn’t been jettisoned, but this is first and foremost a top-shelf progressive rock tour de force from one of the flat-out finest purveyors of modern prog. Taken as a whole, Droga is a growing expanse that submerges you from the start, rolling you over and over as it wraps around your ears. It certainly demands repeated listens for everything to bubble to the surface, each time dishing up another helping of details and tangents to latch onto." – by Mr. Atavist at Sunrise Ocean Bender (USA) (July 2013).

"Droga has got to be the most compositionally sophisticated set of music I’ve heard from Vespero yet, and the musicians have the chops to execute it. Imagine a cross between King Crimson, Djam Karet, Ozric Tentacles, and early Genesis, and you might get something like Droga. Vespero continue to be one of the most exciting, interesting and compelling instrumental bands on the contemporary Space Rock scene. Highest recommendation." – by Jerry Kranitz at Aural Innovations (USA) (August 2013).

More reviews: ProgArchives (USA), Musikreviews.de (Germany), Babyblauen Seiten (Germany), New Underground Music (The Netherlands), Psychotropic Zone (Finland), Progressive Area (France), DPRP (UK), Neformat (Ukraine), Aural Innovations' interview with Vespero (USA), Arlequins (Italy).

Vespero / Subkraut: U-Boats Willkommen Hier (2012) "A German bird of prey had been carved into the rock above the submarine dock, but Morris had used a kosher salami to blast away the swastika in its talons. Likewise a yellowed banner announcing 'U-Boats Willkommen Hier' had been scorched with lasers, and a stack of crates and steel drums stamped with the SS thunderbolt had served as the bull's-eye for numerous whipped-cream targeting experiments." – from "Sewer, Gas & Electric: The Public Works Trilogy" by Matt Ruff (Atlantic Monthly Press, 1997). CD: $14.00 / Digital Download: $8.00

The 4th VESPERO's official album, "Subkraut: U-Boats Willkommen Hier" is a conceptual framework for six instrumental kraut-rock songs which are inspired by Russian Futurism of the early 20th century, German musical underground of the 70's, modern American fiction writers, as well as mysteries of the Great Ocean still not completely explained by mankind. The first pressing of CD (6 tracks – 67 min.) is limited to 500 units. 450 units are packaged in an oversized thick folder of rough cardboard with silkscreened cover-art; it contains a big full color submarine navigation map. Original graphics and artwork navigation by ZonderZond. Free streaming or immediate digital download of the album (MP3, FLAC or other formats) is available through Official R.A.I.G. Bandcamp.

Under exclusive license from R.A.I.G. Records "Subkraut: U-Boats Willkommen Hier" was released on vinyl in Germany by Krauted Mind Records: 2xLP with poster, gatefold sleeve; 250 black and 250 blue wax copies. Sides A, B, and C have a track-list similar to the CD-edition. Side D features previously unpublished 20-minute composition in two parts "Liventure N8".

Review clips:

"Loosely conceptual and firmly steered, Subkraut finds Vespero taking their progressive space rock to gravity-free watery depths with as much drive and surge as ships taking off in the other direction. And finding that infinite space isn’t just over your head." – by Mr. Atavist at Sunrise Ocean Bender (USA) (May 2012).

"For my money there are a scant few bands, instrumental or otherwise, that continue to push the sonic envelope further with each subsequent release as effectively as the Russian space rock outfit Vespero. Now four albums into their career, their latest opus entitled Subkraut: U-Boats Willkommen Hier is a concept disc of sorts that finds the band keeping the crux of their sound and many of their key musical ingredients firmly intact, and yet at the same time, it also see's them continuing their relentless affinity for self discovery by carving out new paths in the search for those missing layers required to take them to the next level... Containing six instrumental compositions and clocking in at around an hour, Vespero once again thrive on guiding the listener through yet another one of their multi- dimensional, kaleidoscope journey's through the cosmos, and also in this case the murky depths of uncharted oceans. Although comprised of six individual tracks, the music presented here is woven seamlessly together in the rich and dense warmth that can only be achieved through analog sources, not to mention it is also a welcome contrast from today's music culture, which still favors pushing individual 'tracks' as opposed to the complete album listening experience. The shimmering atmospherics, heaping amount of synth washes and innovative guitar textures and effects are on full display throughout, as they mesh perfectly with the ever shifting rhythms and complex percussive patterns. Their 70's inspired Krautrock approach is further complemented on a few tracks with the subtle addition of sax, flute and cello. When you put it all together it comes across as yet another masterpiece from these Russian pioneers. What continues to set Vespero apart from many of their contemporaries operating in similar musical territory, is their continued desire to explore new sounds, without sacrificing any of the main ingredients (for lack of a better word) of their sound. With each new release comes the spontaneous and subconscious desire for growth and until they prove incapable of delivering on their promise, they will continue to offer us masterpieces like Subkraut: U-Boats Willkommen Hier. (Score: 5/5)" – by Ryan Sparks at Sea Of Tranquility (USA) (May 2012).

"With each new release the Russian band Vespero further reinforce my feeling that they are one of the best instrumental bands on the contemporary Space Rock/Psychedelic scene… I don’t consider Vespero’s music to be Krautrock. To me they’re like a cross between early Korai Orom and Ozric Tentacles, with more emphasis on the former, though more overtly space rock than Korai Orom… In summary, this is a shoe-in for inclusion on my Best of 2012 list. Nuff said…" - by Jerry Kranitz at Aural Innovations (USA) (August 2012).

More reviews: Deep Cycloid (Italy), Musikreviews.de (Germany), HeadBanger (Russia), AerialSounds (Russia), DPRP (UK), iO Pages (The Netherlands), New Underground Music (The Netherlands), Prog Sphere (Serbia), ProgArchives (USA), Musikreviews.de' interview with Vespero (Germany), Highlife (The Netherlands), Arlequins (Italy), Autopoietican (Peru), Esquizofrenia (Spain), Babyblauen Seiten (Germany), Last Rites (USA).

Vespero / By the Waters of Tomorrow (2010) "By The Waters Of Tomorrow", the third studio album by VESPERO covers a diverse array of space-rock, kraut-rock, world-fusion, and art-prog-rock elements. The band definitely has a vision of their own, and continues to forge ahead on this completely instrumental album. The line-up features Ivan Fedotov (drums, percussion), Arkady Fedotov (bass, melodica, bass-synth, oscillations), Alexander Kuzovlev (guitar, electronics), and Alexei Klabukov (keyboards, mellotron) as well as a number of guests including Vladimir Belov (cello, keyboards), Valentin Rulev (violin), and Alisa Coral (synths, production). The music successfully links various stylistic areas with mysterious and a bit dark atmosphere. (9 tracks - 63 min.) Free streaming or immediate digital download of the album (MP3, FLAC or other formats) is available through Official R.A.I.G. Bandcamp. CD: $11.00 / Digital Download: $7.00

Review clips:

"They are able to retain a steady and unique sense of direction, drawing heavily from the flourishing wells of 60’s and 70’s suggestions while skilfully moulding their brand of elegant, romantic and mind-tripping Progressive/Neo-Psychedelic/Space-Kraut-Art Rock that also incorporates echoes of Middle Eastern music... About a hour of fluid and dynamic music, whose serpentine and jamming structures do not allow any sense of anticipation to creep into the listening experience, sounding almost as though the musicians simply picked up their instruments and let the Music flow freely in any direction it chose... Authentic, soulful and passionate music that manages to take us on a nostalgic trip back in time while keeping a hint of something individual, new and fresh. (Score: 9/10)" – by Stina at Elitarian Music (Italy) (November 2010).

"It’s hard to believe how they could have some up topping the incredible quality of their predecessor… but they did it! The nine song, all between four and nine minutes long, are brimming with ideas and yet are never losing themselves in self-indulgent vanity... There may be no vocals, but the balancing act between space, psychedelic, progressive and ambient rock is done with such dexterity that you’d think this is some long lost gem from way back when and not a brand new item by an obscure Russian band. The panoply of instruments is of course also amazing: next to your regular rock instruments, you’ll hear melodica, oscillations, electronic manipulations, all kinds of keyboards, cello, bubbles, waves, violin and flute. This all makes for a very rich and most of all warm sound, thanks to the production skills of Ms Alisa Coral, but more importantly, Vespero never sound as if they are trying forcefully to recreate an ancient sound, but rather that no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t sound any different. The songwriting is incredible, and even though one may have wanted one of those epic twenty minute pieces, the end result proves Vespero right. Bands like the aforementioned influences still release today new and often also very good albums, but let’s face it: Vespero do it with more ease. By The Waters Of Tomorrow is an excellent album whose only drawback might be for the band to surpass it once again. (Score: 9/10)" – by Alex Thiel at DisAgreement (Luxembourg) (November 2010).

"The band have built nine stunning musical interludes that are elegant, each unique in their approach, jammed out in their inimitable style, a journey through ones mind, presenting elements of psychedelia, progressive, space and Kraut rock of the highest order, that is both fluid, mesmerising and dynamic in approach, music that has been created from the soul. The total dynamic of the band is stunning, adept in presenting vibrant bass lines, acrobatic drum work, heady and swirly keyboard stages, fantastic guitar interludes which underpins the whole structure of the music... Vespero have really majestically created a somewhat powerful musical statement, which sees the band really manipulating differing sounds, bonding them as one; unifying them for the pleasure of their audience. (Conclusion: 8.5 out of 10)" – by John O'Boyle at DPRP (UK) (December 2010).

"By The Waters Of Tomorrow is yet another masterpiece from Vespero. The band has amazingly once again put together an absolutely enthralling, free flowing and complex sounding collection of music that will slowly reveal itself to you one glorious layer at a time. If you haven't yet heard what arguably has to be not only one of Russia's premium musical exports, but also one of the finest examples of what modern, psych/space rock should sound like, then Vespero definitely have to be on your musical radar. (Score: 5/5)" – by Ryan Sparks at Sea Of Tranquility (USA) (December 2010).

More reviews: Progressive Area (France), Progwereld (The Netherlands), Inoi Lip (Russia), AerialSounds (Russia), Psychotropic Zone (Finland), Prog Sphere (Serbia), Aural Innovations (USA), iO Pages (The Netherlands), Muziek Reviews (The Netherlands), Canili d'Adda (Italy), Arlequins (Italy), ProgArchives (USA), Babyblauen Seiten (Germany).

Vespero / Surpassing All Kings (2009) "Surpassing All Kings" is the first VESPERO's album that resulted from all new studio sessions instead of merely compiling the best tunes from earlier occasional recordings. Basic tracks were recorded in Astrakhan from November 2007 through October 2008, mixed and mastered in Moscow by Alisa Coral (SPACE MIRRORS) in January 2009. The album leans towards space-prog-rock-rock with long, quirky but cohesive compositions featuring ethereal vocalisations in the invented language. Lovers of an eclectic symbiosis of progressive and psychedelic rock will find a lot to admire here. (7 tracks - 55 min.) Free streaming or immediate digital download of the album (MP3, FLAC or other formats) is available through Official R.A.I.G. Bandcamp. CD: $11.00 / Digital Download: $7.00

Review clips:

"What Vespero produce is music that manages to be both dark and ethereal at the same time, which sounds like a contradiction in itself, but in the sense that they have both prog-rock and avant-garde elements to their sound should start to make more sense." – by Ian Abrahams at Spacerock Reviews (UK) (August 2009).

"They recreate an organic progressive psychedelic sound that sets them on the same level as the artists who have inspired them. Russian music may still be quite an overlooked thing in Western Europe, but if you want to lay your hands on a really good piece of structured free-form music, this is definitely the place to start! (Grade: 9/10)" – by Pascal Thiel at DisAgreement (Luxembourg) (September 2009).

"The emphasis is back to delivering heaping amounts of long, spacey sounding instrumental passages and multi-shifting tempos, which are executed at the drop of a hat and with razor like precision, thus each composition feels like it's in a perpetual state of change. The light and shade element and how effectively they play the dark, brooding sections off of the lighter textures, is in my opinion the biggest reason why their music is so compelling and keeps the listener fully engaged from beginning to end. Surpassing All Kings proves that Rito wasn't a fluke and in all actuality it may be the stronger of the two albums. Once again these five supremely talented musicians have proven they are more than capable of giving you an hour's worth of stunningly complex and thought provoking music. (Score: 5/5)" – by Ryan Sparks at Sea Of Tranquility (USA) (September 2009).

More reviews: Inoi Lip (Russia), ProgArchives (USA), Rate Your Music (USA), Progressive Area (France), Eclipsed (Germany), Metal Library (Russia), Progwereld (The Netherlands), Quebec Audio & Video (Canada), Psychotropic Zone (Finland), DPRP (UK), Darkside (Russia), Neformat (Ukraine), HeadBanger's interview with Vespero (Russia), Music Waves (France), iO Pages (The Netherlands), Metal Library (2) (Russia), Arlequins (Italy), Babyblauen Seiten (Germany).

Vespero / Rito (2007) "Rito", the first real album by VESPERO consists of the compositions recorded at various studio sessions in Astrakhan in 2005-2006. It features line-up of: Ivan Fedotov (drums, percussions), Arkady Fedotov (bass, voice, synth, flute), Alexander Kuzovlev (guitars, electronics), Alexei Klabukov (keyboards, synth), Valentin Rulev (violin, synth), and Natalya Tjurina (voice). Arguably, the album collects all best tunes created by VESPERO in their early days: “Triptych”, “Inna’s Burst In Tears”, “Crabs Ashore”, “Silence Breath Echo” are all here. Mastered by Alisa Coral (SPACE MIRRORS). (8 tracks - 66 min.) Free streaming or immediate digital download of the album (MP3, FLAC or other formats) is available through Official R.A.I.G. Bandcamp. CD: $11.00 / Digital Download: $7.00

Review clips:

"Rito bridges the gap between improvised music and composed art rock, with Vespero taking ingredients from genres such as space, psychedelic and progressive rock, turning it all into a cocktail that everyone should enjoy. (Grade: 8/10)" – by Pascal Thiel of DisAgreement (Luxembourg) (September 2007).

"There is so much great music to discover on Rito, and it’s one of the few discs I’ve consistently enjoyed playing from beginning to end, each and every time. Rito’s true allure is its power to lure the listener in with its splendid combination of bold and beautiful ambient atmospherics. To put it simply, this disc is nothing short of a masterpiece. (Score: 5/5)" – by Ryan Sparks at Sea Of Tranquility (USA) (October 2007).

"Rito is a constant, dark, layered mix of psychedelia, Kraut rockish elongated droning sound, and jazzy rhythms... This album will appeal to fans of psychedelic music, Kraut rock, early Pink Floyd, and experimental music in general. (Conclusion: 8 out of 10)" – by Jim Corcoran at DPRP (UK) (November 2007).

More reviews: Nota-Bena (Russia), Psychotropic Zone (Finland), The Silent Ballet (USA), ProgArchives (USA), Leicester Bangs (UK), Aural Innovations (USA), Eclipsed (Germany), Progressive Area (France), MADZ-zine (Russia), Arlequins (Italy), Babyblauen Seiten (Germany).