Short Reviews [Roz Vitalis - 2023 - "Quia Nesciunt Quid Faciunt"]

The Latin title of this album can be translated to ‘Because They Don't Know What They Are Doing’ and it would be interesting to ask Ivan Rozmainsky (keyboards) who he is aiming that at, although one can surmise. It has been five years between studio albums, during which time the world has changed for musicians in Russia and Ukraine, but finally here we are back with their latest release. There has been a slight change in personnel since the last one, but Ruslan Kirillov (bass), Vladislav Korotkikh (low whistle, flutes), and Vladimir Semenov-Tyan-Shansky (acoustic & electric guitars) are still involved, while long-time drummer Philip Semenov has now been replaced by Evgeny Trefilov who also provides some keyboards. As is usual, we also have some guest musicians providing additional instrumentation, of which the most key is the trumpet of Alexey Gorshkov. I have been following the music of Roz Vitalis for well over a decade now, and there is no doubt they are one of my very favourite Russian bands, but one is never quite sure in what direction they are going to lead us, and this album finds us in a different mood to what I normally expect. While there are still RIO elements, there are less of the modern classical (although some songs, such as “Fountain”, still demonstrate those roots), and in many ways this release finds the band both experimenting with their sound and becoming somewhat more commercial. This means it is one of the easiest of their albums to enjoy the first time it is played, and I certainly do not agree with some of the comments I have seen regarding the content, arrangements or production as while this may not be as dynamic and off the wall as their wonderful live albums, they are a quite a different band in the studio and this is far more reflective. This is their eleventh studio release, and it is nice to see a band continuing to explore what they wish to achieve and how they are going about it as opposed to going through the motions. I continue to be excited when I see they have a new release available and while this may not be as essential as some of theirs, it is still one I have enjoyed immensely and isn’t that what listening to music is supposed to be about?