The band originated in Kurgan in 1993. Three years later, in 1996, they recorded their debut self-titled CD, which was produced in Kurgan and actually didn't cross the city border. One of the songs from the album was used in the audio-bonus to the FUZZ magazine of St. Petersburg. In 1996 the band did a lot of performing in clubs of different cities and St. Petersburg also. In 1997 they recorded their second CD, "Pearl-diver" which was produced by Gala Records. At writing the band is working on the new album, "Twilight" which is still not released, although it's completely recorded and ready. In 2000 the band moved to Moscow. Their music is very diverse, from trip-hop guitar alternative resembling 4AD to synth-goth and even brit-pop-something; at present ("Twilight" album) Damsel's Dream play something that gothic magazines refer to as dark trip wave. On Russian Gothic Compilation you can listen to their "Elegy for a rhythm-box" from their still non-released album.

"Damsel's Dream" - 1996 (CD)

"Pearl-diver" - 1997 (CD - S.B.A./Gala Records)


Compilations:
Russian Gothic Compilation - "Elegy for rhythm-box" - 2000 (CD)

"Pearl-diver" - 1997 (CD - S.B.A./Gala Records)
Doors to "Savoy"

Damsel's Dream "Pearl-diver" - 1997

Marvellous!!! Each russian gothic / romantic CD is always a favourite with me, and this one is no exception. A band from Kurgan, an unusual CD, a nice ethereal female vocal resembling 4AD (sometimes Elizabeth Frazer-like) combined with techno-beat (fairly sophisticated) make a good impression. I'm at a loss to determine the style of this CD (Max, the fifth member of RGP, claims it brit pop), but one of the songs - Door to 'Savoy' - is of no less power than Synth Gothic masterpieces of Deep Red, La Floa Maldita, Derriere Le Miroir, Switchblade Symphony, etc; and it doesn't copy the already-existing templates, but creates a really interesting musical material - it seems to me that this song is the best on the album. A very fine and nice CD. Strongly recommended.

Damsel's Dream "Pearl-diver" - 1997

One of the most interesting bands from Kurgan (though we don't seem to know much about the rest) recorded a CD a year, 1996 and 1997. It seems worth expecting another one pretty soon, and it's really worth it - although Damsel's Dream aren't very original, frankly showing their love for 4AD production, but nevertheless there aren't too many band in our country who would name COCTEAU TWINS as a primary source of inspiration. The first CD is very "cocteau-twinish" - save the fact that there are two vocalists, both with good voices and both not very well recorded - and it's hard to prefer any song to any other of 12 - well, maybe "Escamillo"... But the solidity (with a hint of monotony) doesn't bother and is fairly exciting to listen. "Pearl-diver" is more diverse, a bit more eclectic and is recorded a whole lot better, though the quality is by no means perfect. Moreover, CD contains a very long press-release which depicts the life of the band, the process of recording and the personal likes and dislikes of the musicians. To tell the truth, their love for some kind or other of some foreign education isn't always revealed in their creative work; except the already-mentioned ORBITAL, COCTEAU TWINS and Alexey Rybnikoff I'll try to suspect Damsel's Dream in frequent listening to PORTISHEAD, MASSIVE ATTACK, EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL and probably RADIOHEAD. Plus live violin and flute, samples from Ravi Shankar and Yuri Antonoff, speeches of cosmonauts and the musicians themselves, an extract from Massnet's "Elegy", texts taken from a French text-book and immortal masterpieces of Conan-Doyle, a nurse-rhyme about King Leopold, two lullabies, an allusion to mercy-beat ("An English Lady") and a dance-mix of "Galadriale" (from the first CD). The compilation isn't variegated, it's interesting and good to listen. There's even a slight nostalgia for the concert tour in Saint Petersburg of 1996 and a timid wish to visit the capitals again. I'm not against it. A funny fact: song No. 14 from "Pearl-diver", described as a "genuine countryside cradle-song, recorded somewhere in a distant peasant stock by a folklorist" is in fact a poem by Michael Lermontoff. I've no more to tell you of Damsel's Dream.

no

Helen Ilyina - vocals, violin
Irene Sapunova - vocals, flute
Andrew Chertischev - guitar, computer
Dmitry Bykov - lyrics, sound

e-mail: [email protected]