Vacuum was co-founded by Alexander Bard, a multitalented musician and producer. The band grew out of an earlier Bard creation, the kitsch act Army of Lovers. He and composer Anders Wollbeck decided to create a band that was less tongue-in-cheek and chose the name Vacuum because it sounded clean and streamlined.
In 1996, Bard went to a concert by a band called Ceycamore Leaves. The singer, Mattias Lindblom, impressed Bard with his powerful baritone, and he asked him to join the band. He also recruited Marina Schiptjenko, an art dealer of Ukrainian origin, as the keyboard player.
Vacuum's music incorporated synthesizers and reggae beats, while its lyrics explored spiritual and space-age themes.
Bard and Schiptjenko left the band several years ago, and Lindblom and Wollbeck coalesced into a songwriting duo. The band will play at Rai without Wollbeck, but with regular touring members on keyboard and guitar.
One aspect of the band's appeal is Lindblom's consistently positive outlook on life and interest in all things spiritual.
In a recent e-mail, he described the band's visit to a church in Khabarovsk. "Listening to the beautiful choir for a short while, so far away from everything known to us, was a moment I'll remember for the rest of my life," he said.
Asked to explain Russians' liking for Vacuum, Lindblom said it was a mutual affair. "Maybe the Russian audience picks up on the fact that we do love Russia back," he said. "Russia's a huge part of our hearts and lives."
Vacuum plays Mon. at 11 p.m. at Rai, located at 9a Bolotnaya Naberezhnaya. Metro Kropotkinskaya. Tel. 767-1474, 230-0035.
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