[2] Grebenshchikov wrote texts for Navigator in random places around the world, including Paris, Kathmandu, and a remote village in Russia.

Although the band already had draft music for the songs, it had no money for renting a professional recording studio.

In the Spring of 1995, while touring London, the band attracted attention of several musicians and music producers, such as Joe Boyd, Kate St John, Jerry Boys, Mick Taylor, Dave Mattacks and Anthony Thistlethwaite.

Mattacks replaced the drummer Alex Ratsen who left Aquarium in 1995.

St John arranged the album and invited a brass band that accompanied the last song ("Wonderful Master Lukjyanov").