Līvi - Iedomu Pilsēta

Review by Ben Alexander

Album Review: Iedomu Pilsēta by Līvi – A Time Capsule of Soviet-Era Pop Rock Magic Alright, let’s talk about Iedomu Pilsēta by Līvi, a gem from 1986 that feels like it was plucked straight outta the USSR's musical melting pot. If you’re into hard rock with a pop twist or just curious about how bands navigated creativity under Soviet rule, this album is worth your time. Released on the iconic label Мелодия (Melodiya), it’s got everything—catchy tunes, heartfelt lyrics, and some serious guitar shredding. First off, props to the band for pulling together such a tight ensemble. With Ēriks Ķiģelis leading the charge on guitar and Jānis Grodums killing it on bass and vocals, these guys had chemistry. And can we take a moment to appreciate Indriķis Stūrmanis? Dude crushed both the artwork and photography, giving the whole thing a cohesive vibe that screams “we made this in the ‘80s but ain’t apologizing for it!” Now, onto the tracks. Let me tell ya, there are two songs here that stuck with me long after hitting stop: “Mazais sapnītis” (Little Dream) and “Iedomu pilsēta” (City of My Imagination). “Mazais sapnītis” hits different—it’s one of those tracks where the melody sneaks up on you. The mix of Modris Šterns’ keyboard work and Vilnis Krieviņš’ drumming creates this dreamy yet driving rhythm. It’s kinda bittersweet, y’know? Like when you think back to childhood dreams that felt so big at the time but now seem impossibly far away. By the second chorus, I was humming along, even though my Latvian’s rusty as heck. And then there’s the title track, “Iedomu pilsēta.” Man, this one’s a journey. The opening riff grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. There’s something almost cinematic about it—it paints pictures in your head without needing visuals. You can practically see the neon-lit streets of an imaginary city while listening. It’s catchy enough to stick in your brain but layered enough to keep things interesting on repeat listens. Plus, hearing it sung in Latvian adds this mystique that makes it feel otherworldly. One thing I gotta mention is how polished the production sounds considering the era and location. Hats off to Ivars Piļka for recording this bad boy because it could’ve easily been lost in muddiness. Instead, every instrument has room to breathe, and Grodums’ voice cuts through beautifully. But honestly, what really struck me wasn’t just the music itself—it was the context. These guys were making art during a time when creative freedom wasn’t exactly encouraged. Yet here they are, blending Western rock influences with their own cultural flair, creating something uniquely theirs. That takes guts. So yeah, Iedomu Pilsēta might not be perfect, but it’s got soul—and sometimes that matters more than perfection. Listening to it felt like stepping into another world, one filled with hope, nostalgia, and maybe even a little rebellion. Oh, and fun fact: try finding all the alternate spellings of the song titles online. Talk about a scavenger hunt! If you ever stumble across this album, give it a spin. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find yourself dreaming of ice flowers and rainy days too.

Artist: Līvi
Album: Iedomu Pilsēta

USSR

1986

Rating: 5.0

Review
About Album
Download
Tracks
Video
Images
Catalog Numbers
Labels
Listen online
Formats
Companies
Credits
Notes
Barcodes
About Artist
Interesting fact
Comments
Related albums

Download

Filename: lvi-iedomu-pilsta.zip

MP3 size: 84.6 mb
FLAC size: 691.2 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Ledus Zieds	3:57
Iedomu Pilsēta	4:02
Saulgriežu Rīts	3:12
Zušu dziesmiņa (Песенка угрей)	4:33
Mazais sapnītis (Маленькая мечта)	3:24
Zušu Dziesmiņa	4:33
Līviskā Ziņģe	2:51
Saulgriežu rīts (Зимний солнцеворот)	3:12
Ledus zieds (Ледяной цветок)	3:57
Iedomu pilsēta (Город моей фантазии)	4:02
Saldus Saule	4:34
Rožu Laukums	3:21
Mazais Sapnītis	3:24
Līviskā ziņģe (Ливская песня)	2:51
Saldus saule (Солнце Салдуса)	4:34
Uz Lietiem	4:00
Uz lietiem (К дождю)	4:00
Rožu laukums (Площадь Рожу)	3:21

Video

Līvi - Iedomu Pilseta / Ливы - Город моей фантазии (LP 1986)

LĪVI ''Ledus Zieds''

IGO (Rodrigo Fomins) - Saulgriežu Rīts

Images

Album herunterladen Līvi - Iedomu Pilsēta

télécharger l'album Līvi - Iedomu Pilsēta

Catalog Numbers

С60 23627 009

Labels

Мелодия

Listen online

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lyssna på nätet
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Formats

Vinyl
LP
33 ⅓ RPM
Album
Stereo
Laminated Sleeve

Companies

Role	Company
Copyright (c)	Мелодия
Recorded At	Rīgas Skaņu Ierakstu Studija
Pressed By	Рижский Завод Грампластинок
Printed By	Типография РЗГ «Мелодия»

Credits

Role	Credit
Artwork	Indriķis Stūrmanis
Photography By	Indriķis Stūrmanis
Bass	Jānis Grodums
Vocals	Jānis Grodums
Drums	Vilnis Krieviņš
Editor	H. Saulīte
Guitar	Ēriks Ķiģelis
Keyboards	Modris Šterns
Liner Notes	Klāss Vāvere
Recorded By	Ivars Piļka
Booklet Editor	H. Saulīte
Ensemble	Līvi
Leader	Ēriks Ķiģelis
Other	H. Saulīte

Notes

Vokāli-instrumentālais ansamblis "Līvi" Ērika Ķiģeļa vadībā
© «Мелодия». 1986
Рижская студия грамзаписи
Запись 1985 г.
Рижский ордена Знак Почета завод грампластинок
Тип. РЗГ «Мелодия» 1986 24 4900
Russian title: Город Моей Фантазии
Recorded in 1985
Арт. 11-3. Цена Руб. 3,00
White labels

Barcodes

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, stamped): C60-23627/4-1
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, stamped): C60-23628/4-1

About Līvi

Līvi is a Latvian hard rock band, that was influential in forming the Latvian rock music culture. Their signatures are poetic lyrics and guitar solos.

Name Vars

Lyvi
Группа \
Ливы

Members

Aivars Hermanis
Vilnis Krieviņš
Ainars Virga
Jānis Grodums
Juris Pavītols
Valdis Skujiņš
Ēriks Ķiģelis
Guntars Mucenieks
Dainis Virga
Aivars Brīze
Rodrigo Fomins
Modris Šterns
Tomass Kleins
Ingrīda Pavītola

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: The album *Iedomu Pilsēta* by Līvi is a hidden gem from 1986, released in the USSR under the iconic label Мелодия. What makes it special? It blends hard rock and pop rock with a unique Latvian twist. Fun fact—Indriķis Stūrmanis not only handled the artwork but also took the photos for the album. And get this: Jānis Grodums pulled double duty on bass and vocals, while tracks like “Zušu dziesmiņa” (or “Песенка угрей”) even have Russian versions. A true mix of cultures and talent.

Comments

trophybiker157019713

2025-03-12

Очень!

alaaeldin800800

2025-03-11

Liepāja nav iedomu kaut kādu pilsēta. Reālu skaistu atmiņu pilsēta gan !! Bērnībā dzīvots 2 gadus . Un pēc tam vēlāk stipri vēlāk piedzima pirmā mīlestība .......