Pelkė

The history of the band “Pelkė” (Eng. "The Swamp") began in 1999 when two students at Vilnius University set up a rehearsal studio on the upper floor of the Economics Faculty, dispelling the myth that Lituanian Rock could only be played by architects and engineers. However, since 2003 the band has not been performing live, but whilst the waters of the swamp appeared still, beneath the surface creativity was bubbling away. From the mists of the swamp „Pelkė“ has drawn inspiration for a host of new songs, some of which appear here for the first time and will draw you into the waters of the timeless swamp and the songs of the Swamp birds will float once more on the Baltic winds. Why swamp? The name of the band, “Pelkė“ (“The Swamp“) was not chosen by chance as the symbolism of the swamp is important to the band members. The swamp stops the time and the swamp is difficult to access; it hides an unspoiled and special wildlife, rare birds and plantlife. Swamps helped our ancestors defend themselves against our enemies and to protect our homeland for our people. “Progiesmiai“ With their debut album, “Progiesmiai“ (untranslatable to English), band shares the genesis and progression of their 20 year creative journey. The emotional modulations of the A Side brings thread together the songs from Pelkė’s beginnings bubbling with youthful idealism. In musical counterpoint to Side A, the B Side represents the band’s current musical direction and the move towards a new form of “Poetic Rock. The album “Progiesmiai“ is named after the unique lyric genre of Lituanian poet Antanas Kalanavičius. “Progiesmiai“ is the Lithuanian version of the Japanese “haiku“: fateful revelations born in solitude. With this album “Pelkė“ pays a small tribute to our unappreciated literary talent who wrote free poetry rich with peculiar and vibrant language. Kalanavicius’ poetry was born in deprivation, loneliness and wilderness. His poems are like cranberries of the wild swamp untouched by human hand or heart for a thousand years. Band members: Giedrius Čiurinskas - acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocal Martynas Stanionis – electric guitar, keyboard, back vocal Darius Čiurinskas – bass guitar, flute