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RAINY SEASON

Psychedelic/Space Rock • Russia


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Rainy Season biography
Rainy Season is Russian Space Rock band from St. Petersburg and lead by guitar player Maxim Pshenichny. Rainy Season have recorded three albums, the first being The Return in 1992 which is often said to be the groups best offering, followed by The Grasses in 1993, and Nostalgia in 1997. Rainy Season make extensive use of keyboards and other electronics, this use of electronics gives Rainy Season a very ambient and, at times, new age sound to their brand of Space Rock.

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RAINY SEASON discography


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RAINY SEASON top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.55 | 16 ratings
Возвращение / The Return
1992
3.33 | 11 ratings
Альбом трав / The Grasses Album
1993
3.35 | 7 ratings
Ностальгия (Nostalgia)
1997

RAINY SEASON Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

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RAINY SEASON Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

RAINY SEASON Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

RAINY SEASON Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Ностальгия (Nostalgia) by RAINY SEASON album cover Studio Album, 1997
3.35 | 7 ratings

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Ностальгия (Nostalgia)
Rainy Season Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

3 stars 3.5 stars. RAINY SEASON were a band out of Russia who managed to release two studio albums in back to back years('92/'93) before leaving us with this archival live recording released in 1997. The tracks from this one precede their debut from 1992 giving us a look at their beginnings. The drummer and guitarist are on all three releases then they brought in musicians as they needed them to fill out the sound. Five songs worth 67 minutes with tracks ranging from 10 1/2 minutes to 17 minutes here.

This band can be surprisingly ambient and patient making this an interesting live act, or maybe not an interesting live act. Ambient and getting close to new age this certainly requires patience for the listener unless your really into this style of course. I'm not. Thankfully we do some interesting guitar solos and expressions. The first two tracks were recorded live in Vladovostok, the first on December 25th the second December 26th. These are the only two tracks with keyboards/electronics along with drums and guitar as a four piece. And I do like the outbreak of guitar on the opener especially as it offers a great contrast to the laid back stuff.

The next two tracks were recorded live in Tallin October 16th 1989. We get no keyboards but an extra guitarist who also plays bass along with a flautist as again they operate as a four piece. I feel fortunate to have their debut which for me is their best one and the only one I have given 4 stars to. It's one of a few cds I have where looking at the front cover I draw a blank because it's all in Russian but the back has English titles and info thankfully. A good album that is even more impressive because this is live music and it is challenging. I like this better than their second record at least but the debut is the one to get.

 Альбом трав / The Grasses Album by RAINY SEASON album cover Studio Album, 1993
3.33 | 11 ratings

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Альбом трав / The Grasses Album
Rainy Season Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

3 stars RAINY SEASON are a Psychedelic band out of Russia and this is their second release from 1993. I have the debut "The Return" which is better than this one in my opinion. "The Grasses Album" I find a little too ambient and the first track is by far my least favourite so it's like getting off on the wrong foot every time I spin this. I do like how melancholic this recording is and I thought of Terje Rypdal on more than one occasion. This band is a duo with guests helping out just like on the debut.

"Dances On The Roofs" has this relentless percussion that bothers me for some reason, of course given the title I guess that beat is important. Atmosphere comes and goes along with the percussion until the percussion stays and spacey synths help out. Angular guitar after 3 minutes along with drums as the percussion continues. The guitar stops before 6 minutes as the keyboards? replace it. The drumming is relentless and I'm just not a fan of this one. "Breathing Of Water" is ambient to start with gentle sounds coming and going. Some low end picked guitar and droning keys lead the way here. This is very melancholic. Flute arrives later on and it becomes more prominent around 7 minutes then it starts to wind down 10 minutes in.

"The Return" is the longest track at over 15 minutes. A dramatic intro of electronics before it settles right down with spacey and pulsating sounds. This is really laid back. The guitar starts to cry out and it's such a moody sound reminding me of Rypdal. Some dramatic outbursts after 8 minutes then the guitar is back leading. It's crying out again big time 11 1/2 minutes in before it all settles back down once again. "On The Other Side Of The Hill" features more droning sounds and picked guitar and again it's melancholic. The guitar starts to soar at 3 1/2 minutes and I like the guitar solo late to end it. "Light Grasses" is my favourite. Spacey sounds to start as picked guitar joins in. A second guitar joins in sounding really good. Drums follow as it builds. "Upwards" is the short 1 1/2 minute closer with pulsating atmosphere and relaxed guitar melodies throughout.

Lots to like here and it's probably closer to 3.5 stars.

 Возвращение / The Return by RAINY SEASON album cover Studio Album, 1992
3.55 | 16 ratings

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Возвращение / The Return
Rainy Season Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars I'm not up to speed with Russia's Progressive scene but this release from 1992 has to be considered a classic and one of the early Prog albums from that nation.The band is from St.Petersburg and is basically two guys with a few guests helping out. Maxim the guitarist is the creative force behind RAINY SEASON. We get three long tracks over 41 plus minutes.This is their debut and they've released two others since this one.The band played in many concerts and festivals during the eighties before making this record.

"Scents Of A Forest" is a title that makes me use my imagination since it's -17 and snowy here this morning. Flute and atmospheric background sounds early. Guitar before 2 1/2 minutes then it turns intense briefly before settling back then percussion joins in. A nice relaxing tune for the most part. "Towards A Clear Water" opens with faint spacey sounds and it's kind of haunting. Atmosphere rolls in before 2 minutes.The tempo picks up before 3 1/2 minutes and the guitar sort of cries out with a beat. Bass and synths arrive after 6 minutes.The guitar is winding out pretty good before 8 minutes. Nice. Synths are back when the guitar stops. Drums follow and some vocal melodies arrive around 13 minutes.The final minute features a powerful atmosphere with no beat.

"Red Night" is the 20 minute side long suite. It opens with the sound of someone walking as spacey sounds come and go. Lots of atmosphere after 3 minutes.Then we get this beat coming out of the darkness. A change in sound after 8 minutes then it kicks in louder with drums. It settles quickly though as synths pulse slowly and vocal melodies join in. Cool sound. A change 12 minutes in with experimental sounds coming and going. Drums are back after 13 minutes. Another change before 16 1/2 minutes as the tempo picks up and the guitar leads as the drums pound. A spacey atmosphere ends the song and then the sound of someone walking (like the intro) officially ends the album.

A solid 4 star album that fans of spacey psychedelia should enjoy.

 Возвращение / The Return by RAINY SEASON album cover Studio Album, 1992
3.55 | 16 ratings

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Возвращение / The Return
Rainy Season Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by mandrake2

4 stars This LP was real surprise to me . I bought it not knowing anyhting about them - and now they rae one of my favourite bands. they play a very unusualu kind of music i can only describe as Prog-Ambient! Taking a very interesting approach to instrumentation with glockenspiels and xylophones adding to the more usual guitars and keyboards. The Return is full of atmospheric music, ideal as cinematic soundtracks, and a spacey feel dominates. Side one is very Floyd-like ethereal keyboards and gently plinked pianos and guitars - a moddy soundscape not unlike Spain's Neuronium, Wish You Were Here-era Floyd or the better parts of Tangerine Dream's output. only two long tracks occupy Side One - Side Two has just one long dark 20 minute opus - a pulsating Heldon-like piece that gradually gaines power as the full band crash in - Aswell as Heldon, similarites with Austria's brilliant sound sculptor GANDALF, and the best of brain Eno can be found. the Eno touch is especially transparent on Side Two were the piece originally builds out of strange sonic textures, like shards of glass or something glistening. It really is a very rich sonic experience this LP. There is no fast, virtuoso showmanship, just great textures and building dynamics - mysterious space-rock and ethereal trance-rock. One to relish in the dark - just you and your mind. Overall - a greeat obcure band waiting to be discovered again and again.
 Возвращение / The Return by RAINY SEASON album cover Studio Album, 1992
3.55 | 16 ratings

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Возвращение / The Return
Rainy Season Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by platform

2 stars I like the opening haunting flute track which reminds me of Jade Warrior. The rest of the CD is I suppose good for its genre ,but its not really to my taste as a consequence I have only played it a few times.I suspect that it might become more enjoyable if I persevere, only trouble is ,the first listenings give me no inclination to do so.
 Возвращение / The Return by RAINY SEASON album cover Studio Album, 1992
3.55 | 16 ratings

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Возвращение / The Return
Rainy Season Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by Steve Hegede
Prog Reviewer

4 stars "Return" was recorded in 1992 by the unique Russian group RAINY SEASON This 40-minute album consists of three tracks (20, 14, and 7-minutes). The music seemed quite strange to me at first. My ears were treated to music of an ambient nature. Instruments like the flute, glockenspiel, triangle, woodblocks seemed to try to escape from their echo-y, reverb-drenched, world without success. The overall atmosphere seemed mellow, haunting, and ZEN-like. At other times, I could hear guitar, and various spacy synth-like effects. Soon, however, new detail started to emerge after each listen. This music might not appeal to most prog fans, but the album needs repeated plays to appreciate. Overall, "Return" is recommended to ambient, electronic, and/or movie soundtrack fans.
 Возвращение / The Return by RAINY SEASON album cover Studio Album, 1992
3.55 | 16 ratings

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Возвращение / The Return
Rainy Season Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by loserboy
Prog Reviewer

3 stars RAINY SEASON's "Return" was their crowning moment and represents a wonderful mix of space, ambient and electronic progressive rock. This album consists of three long cuts. The first two were obviously Side 1 of the original LP, and the third was a side-long cut on Side 2. The first two cuts I would describe as GONG meets PINK FLOYD with some KLAUS SCHULZE tossed in for effects. The guitar work is slowly soloed over a heavy dark tapestry of space vibes. The total effect is something like a slowed down version of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" without the drums and vocals. The third track focuses much more on an electronic texture aka TANGERINE DREAM with a nice long exploratory 20 mins song. The atmosphere created is dark and forboding very representative of the bands dark album cover and title "Rainy Season". In many ways this last track actually runs along like horror movie soundtrack. Overall "Return" is a well recorded album with some nice deep tones and self reflexive melodies.

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