Oblachny kray Group Country: Russia

1. Rise to Prominence through the "Mag Tape Samizdat"
2. Formation and Early Recognition
3. Early Albums and Studio Innovations
4. Break into the Leningrad Rock Scene
5. Further Collaborations and Album Releases

Rise to Prominence through the "Mag Tape Samizdat"

The mid-1980s marked a pivotal era for the underground rock scene in Arkhangelsk, with the emergence of "Oblachniy Kray" (Cloud's End). During this period, when live performances were heavily restricted, musicians turned to sound recordings as a means of reaching a wider audience. As part of this "mag tape samizdat" movement, "Oblachniy Kray" released a series of albums that showcased their musical talent and ingenuity, producing professional-sounding recordings in improvisational conditions.

Formation and Early Recognition

The core of "Oblachniy Kray" formed in the late 1970s, consisting of Sergei Bogayev (guitar), Nikolai Lyskovskiy (keyboards), and Oleg Rautkin (vocals). Their distinctive style and name emerged in 1982, when they performed their hard-rocking track "Ego Zaryli v Shar Zemnoy" (He Was Buried in the Earth) at a regional Soviet song contest. Despite the negative reception from the official jury, the song marked a turning point for the band.

Early Albums and Studio Innovations

Determined to avoid the perils of live performances, "Oblachniy Kray" set up their own studio and recorded three albums in quick succession. These releases, including "Khudozhestvennaya Samodeyatelnost" (Amateur Art) and "Vershina Idiotizma" (The Peak of Idiocy), solidified their popularity and drew the attention of renowned Leningrad sound engineer Andrei Tropillo. In 1984, Bogayev collaborated with Tropillo and drummer Evgeny Guberman ("Zoopark") to record their most acclaimed album, "Ublyuzhya Dolya" (Bastard's Lot).

Break into the Leningrad Rock Scene

In 1986, "Oblachniy Kray" joined the Leningrad Rock Club under the pseudonym "o'key." Despite their attempts to perform at the club's festivals, Bogayev's lyrics, which criticized bureaucracy and authority, proved too inflammatory. However, the situation changed drastically in 1987 with the opening of the Arkhangelsk Rock Club. The band became the headliners of the city's first major rock festival, featuring an expanded lineup that included Andrey Ilyichev (bass) and Dmitry Leontiev (drums). They then embarked on a tour of Leningrad, performing alongside "Alisa" and impressing audiences at the "Podolsk-87" festival.

Further Collaborations and Album Releases

Throughout the late 1980s, "Oblachniy Kray" focused on honing their sound, resulting in the 1990 release of an album recorded at the prestigious "Melodiya" studios in Leningrad. This period also saw the departure of Ilyichev and Leontiev and the arrival of Andrey Lukin (bass) and Yuri Korablyov (drums), both from the band "Autodafe." The band continued to evolve and experiment in the years that followed, solidifying their legacy as one of the most influential and groundbreaking acts to emerge from the underground rock scene of Arkhangelsk.