Sankt Peterburg II - Sankt Petersburg (1991) Jimco Records

It is the first official full-length album by Sankt Peterburg II. Unfortunately, it was only  released in Japan by Jimco Records (a division of Japan Jimco Corporation). It is a real gem worth ca. $100-200, so it can be regarded as a collector’s item.

„Sankt Petersburg“ was recorded at Vladimir Kiselev Leningrad Music Center, and the line-up of the band was the following: Vladimir Trushin (vocals, guitar), Valery Ostapenko (guitar), Victor Drobysh (keyboards), Valery Sudakov (bass guitar) and Sergey Gritsenko (drums). My expectations as for this album were great, since, in my humble opinion, aforesaid line-up was the strongest in the history of Sankt Peterburg II.

The album starts with a slow ballad - „Russians“ („Russkie“). Its distinctive element are cosmic keyboard parts. The next track - „Moscow“ („Moskva“) is a catchy rocker with interesting guitar solo and expressive keyboards. This tune is another version of the track „Ey, strana!“. Sankt Peterburg II wanted to perform all tracks in English, but the label asked them for doing it in choruses in first two songs only. Both „Russians“ and „Moscow“ refer to the label’s conception. The rest songs are entirely sang in Russian.

The third track - „A Step To Meet“ („Shag navstrechu“) is a Lite AOR song with soft sound and played at moderate pace. „Sacred Love“ („Svyataya lyubov“) is a soft-rock ballad with beautiful chorus and calm sound of solo guitar. Do you remember a specific atmosphere of success on Wall Street in the 80s? If not, I recommend you to listen to a pop-rock tune „All Is Very Simple“ („Vsyo ochen prosto“). „Bonjour, Madame!“ is Mikhail Zvezdinskiy’s cover - a romantic ballad that reminds me of lyrical poetry. For me, it is the modern version of „Romeo and Juliet“ (a beau sings for his sweetheart and so on). „Play With Fire“ („Igra s ognyom“) is  a typical melodic hard rock tune with distinctive guitar parts and shouted-out chorus. It is a real rock’n’roll! „I’ll Steal You“ („Ya tebya ukradu“) is a hit rocker with rhythmical guitar parts, fantastic keyboard layers and (obligatorily) melodic guitar solo. „Forget Me“ („Zabud menya“) is melodic rock in its light kind with catchy chorus. „Don’t Go“ („Ne uhodi“) starts as a reflective and gentle ballad, but then moves on into a lively rocker. „Mystery“ („Tayna“) is a captivating ballad with wondrous melodic lines. The closing track is S. Pokrass’ and A. Daktil’s cover - „Two Roses“ („Dve rozy“) - that can be numbered among the tracks in the style of lyrical poetry.

As an interesting fact, I can add that Sankt Peterburg II wanted to record another track on the debut. Its title is „Idyll“ („Idilliya“) and it tells about Unidentified Flying Object. The track was broadcasted on radio and TV, but then threw out of the artistic program.

As far as texts are concerned, most of them tell about existential matters, but the most advantage of the album is that there is nor lyrical, neither instrumental redundancy. All tracks are professionally composed and perfectly arranged. This is a great AOR diamond from the former Soviet Union!