ZODIAC

ZODIAC

Genres: electronic, synthpop, space rock, 80s, Retro

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About ZODIAC

Zodiac are at least 15 artists: 1) Zodiac (Зодиак/Zodiaks) was a Soviet and Latvian space disco / electronic synthpop band from Riga, Latvia. Founded in 1979 and led by keyboardist and composer Juris Kulakovs, it was called Arka (The Arch). In the very same year, while recording their first album, Kulakovs left the band because of a disagreement with the rest of the members. Keyboardist and composer Jānis Lūsēns took leadership. In 1980, the band was renamed to Zodiac. The first line-up was: Jānis Lūsēns - keyboards and composing Ainārs Ašmanis - bass guitar Andris Sīlis - guitar Andris Reinis - percussion Zane Grīva - keyboards All of the members were students at the Latvian State Conservatory. In the beginning, Zodiac played instrumental music only. Since sound equipment during that time was ill-suited to live shows, Zodiac was a studio-type band. In 1980, Zodiac recorded their first album - Disco Alliance. It resembled the type of synthesized electronic music similar to Space, Kraftwerk and Jean-Michel Jarre. Disco Alliance sold 20 million copies in the USSR. Andris Sīlis, Zane Grīva and Ainārs Ašmanis left Zodiac, and in 1982, Ivars Pilka (bass guitar), Dzintars Sāgens and Aivars Gudrais (both played guitars) joined the band. This line-up recorded their second album Music in the Universe. After recording it, Zodiac broke up. Although Music in Universe didn't reach Disco Alliance's commercial success, it was also well-appreciated by listeners. In 1987, Jānis Lūsēns formed a band called Zodiaks (the same Zodiac, but in Latvian). Musically, the new Zodiac was unlike the former band. Now they played synthpop and electronic rock, which was quite different from Disco Alliance and Music in Universe. Line-up was: Jānis Lūsēns - keyboards and composing Maija Lūsēna - vocals Zigfrīds Muktupāvels - vocals and violin Dzintars Sāgens - guitar Gatis Zvirgzdiņš - keyboards As the line-up shows, Zodiaks was a vocal-instrumental band. Their biggest success was in 1987 at the music festival Liepājas dzintars (held almost every year in the West Latvian city of Liepāja) where they won first place. In 1989 Zodiaks released the album In Memoriam, which contained only instrumental pieces. Later, the line-up changed again - Gatis Zvirgzdiņš and Dzintars Sāgens (replaced by Aivars Gudrais again) quit. Zodiaks disbanded in 1991, when one of vocalists - Zigfrīds Muktupāvels, joined another band, Bet Bet. Zodiac last reunited in 1996 to release their album Dedication, which was actually reissued as In Memoriam.

Taken from Last.fm

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