“Prāta Vētra’s Mini-Album ‘Pagalmi’: A Nostalgic Homage to Childhood in Jelgava”

At the end of last week, listeners fell on the heads of the listeners as a sudden dampness during the flowering of yarrows, that is, a new studio performance of the group “Prāta Vētra” – a compilation of four songs in EP or mini-album format – fell on the streaming services. Its first single and the entire album are dedicated to memories of childhood in Jelgava, where the quartet Renārs Kaupers, Jānis Jubalts, Māris Mihelsons and Kaspars Roga grew up.

Renars Kaupers about the mood of the mini-album: “Memories take us back to Jelgava and our favorite places, which, when visited today, look small and even humble. But back then, it all – friends, games, gambling, risk, joys, sorrows, pains, falling in love and broken hearts – happened right there! We are all yard boys – Janchuk looked after “Zhukovka”, Kaspar and I – the yards of Dzilna and Satiksmes streets, and Māris – the corner of Krišjāņa Barona street. In a way, this record is a homage to our childhood and where the backyard experience has brought us.”

The mini-album was created in creative sessions in Liepāja and Riga, but produced in both Barcelona and Stockholm.

The long-time producer of the group Pavel Olsons worked on the songs. The authors of the three song lyrics are the band’s musicians themselves, but the words of “Pasta balodīts” are a poem by Māras Zālīte. The record is accompanied by videos for all four songs, which have been created with the help of artificial intelligence. “It’s ironic that after the description of the authentic courtyards, the video versions of the new songs “Pagalmi”, “Mākoņi neatatja”, “Karilenes valsis” and “Pasta dovets” were created by artificial intelligence. Thanks to Kaspar and Powell who played with the latest technology and gave the computer programs precise instructions to follow. Each video has a reference to an artist. Try to guess – who!” intrigues Renard.

Admittedly, it is quite difficult to read the purpose behind the release of this four-song compilation. Or really just to remind you that “22. In July, the only concert of this summer in Latvia is expected in Liepāja, where songs from the new mini-album “Pagalmi” will also be heard” and I would like to add that “at this year’s concert of the “Gads bez Kalendar” concert tour at the stadium “Daugava” in Liepaja, several surprises are expected with the participation of band friends, musicians” ? The band’s fans will of course be excited about the new release, but others should be warned that the general mood is in the spirit of “in a small picture frame”.

The title song can now easily be imagined in the repertoire of “A Year Without a Calendar”, its text is also very interesting and perhaps even autobiographical. The song “Queen’s Waltz (Dame le mano)” is no less elegant – it will look and sound even better with the participation of three beautiful backing vocal ladies of the “smart” in the concert. On the other hand, “Clouds don’t look back” is a bit sadder, it already reads the stylistic mood of “small picture frame”, but “Pasta dove” could have been better left for a congratulatory evening for Māras Zālīte. In general – “Prāta Vētra” as “Prāta Vētra”, nothing sensational, another entry in the band’s CV.