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Album Review #07
The Tree Of Life - Sakis Gouzonis
Review by Michael Doherty
Founder of the Michael Doherty's Music Log blog
California, United States of America
Monday, 16 May 2011Track List
01 | Seed Of Hope
02 | Two Worlds United
03 | To See Your Face
04 | From The Four Winds
05 | With Respectful Hearts
06 | Sweet Joy
07 | An Endless Love
08 | Holy Cure
09 | Eat And Live Forever
10 | The Source Of LightReleased in MP3 and CD format.
The Tree Of Life is the third album released by Greek electronic composer Sakis Gouzonis. All tracks are instrumentals. One thing I love about this CD is that it causes my brain to think in images rather than words as I listen. That doesn't happen to me that often. It's not simply the lack of lyrics that causes that, but the vibrant and evocative tones that Sakis chooses. He is able to create a living, visual landscape through his music, which seems rare for electronica.
Another thing that sets this CD apart from a lot of other electronica is that no track drones on. In fact, a couple of the tracks seem to end too soon. This is not mindless club music, where one track could easily substitute for another. Each song is distinct and has its own story to tell, its own emotions to evoke.
"Seed Of Hope"
The Tree Of Life opens with "Seed Of Hope." "Seed Of Hope" is electronica, but with almost a New Age bent, like if Windham Hill had gone more fully along the electronica route. It's not really club music, though it has a good beat. This is music to take you out of your body, to lift you away from mundane concerns and make your mind go off into some other realm.
"Two Worlds United"
"Two Worlds United" has more of a pop feel, but like 1980s pop (which of course is the best kind). It's the rhythmic keyboard part that adds that element.
"To See Your Face"
I've always said I can do without rain sound effects in songs (I even dislike it in "Riders On The Storm"). But then again, I own one of those rain sticks. So what am I talking about? Anyway, the rain-like sound is only at the beginning of this track. And then "To See Your Face" moves into its main section, which has a truly pretty sound. How often do you think of electronica as being passionate? But this love song has a definite passion to it.
"From The Four Winds"
When "From The Four Winds" starts, the keyboard fades in, like a twisted carnival ride operator approaching you atop a mechanical beast of his own creation. And the whole track reminds me of some dream-like funhouse or ride. Fellini would enjoy this one. And it's one of my personal favorite tracks. The song pulls you along, like it has you on its own ride. This is one that ends too soon.
"With Respectful Hearts"
"With Respectful Hearts" reminds me of some mid-1980s film soundtracks. Where there is a love story, and a character is learning a valuable life lesson. And there is some mild danger from a villain played by James Spader. If you infer from that that I dislike the track, you're wrong. It's totally enjoyable. It's just that it has this weird nostalgic sound for me.
"Sweet Joy"
The steady beat of "Sweet Joy" makes this one closer to a dance tune. But there is more going on in this song than a simple dance rhythm. There is a beauty to this track, and a positive vibe. Sakis is really able to build something wonderful from a simple pop rhythm. This is one of my favorite tracks.
"An Endless Love"
"An Endless Love" is definitely more in the dance pop vein, even with a repeated cheesy synthesized percussive sound effect. It calls to mind the last dance at a prom, with lights flashing on the heroes of a love story as they finally come together for a joyous spin around the floor.
"Holy Cure"
"Holy Cure" works on a completely different level, like an erratic heart beat thumping below the soaring tones on the keyboard.
"The Source Of Light"
The album concludes with "The Source Of Light," another wonderful track to pull you out of your own head and into the sky. Like walking on a ray of light, or being pulled through clouds - without fear, without danger. It's like a slow, swaying dance in orbit. This is another of the CD's best tracks.
CD Track List
01. Seed Of Hope
02. Two Worlds United
03. To See Your Face
04. From The Four Winds
05. With Respectful Hearts
06. Sweet Joy
07. An Endless Love
08. Holy Cure
09. Eat And Live Forever
10. The Source Of LightThe Tree Of Life was released on October 10, 2010. His previous two albums were released on August, 8, 2008 and September 9, 2009. So that's 8-8-08, 9-9-09 and 10-10-10. I can't help but wonder what happens when we get to 2013.
Size: 0.87 MB
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Album Reviews
Album Review #06
New Earth - Sakis Gouzonis
Review by Derek Walker
Music Reviewer for The Church of England newspaper
United Kingdom, European Union
Thursday, 14 April 2011Track List
01 | From The Sky
02 | A New Beginning
03 | Elohim
04 | Cosmic Crossroads
05 | Eternal Peace
06 | The Day Has Come
07 | So This Is Heaven
08 | Thank You For The Music
09 | The Light Within Us
10 | We Are All OneReleased in MP3 and CD format.
Though a new name to many, in his homeland of Greece, Sakis Gouzonis has topped the MySpace Pop and Electronica chart. Closer to home, he has been a semi-finalist in the UK Songwriting Competition (Instrumental section) with two tracks, including ‘Eternal Peace’ from this disc.
While his First Contact release lacked variety, this more fluid follow-up sees him developing range in his music.
‘So This Is Heaven’ has hints of the hymns that he recorded at the start of his career. The invigorating opener ‘From the Sky’ uses separate synth tones for different melody lines over a pulsing Euro-beat. He adds enough variations to keep the track fresh throughout.
As stately as their names suggest, ‘Elohim’ and ‘Eternal Peace’ are typical of the bulk of the disc; and the rather direct ‘Thank You for the Music’ has Andy Hunter written all over it.
There are two aberrations: ‘A New Beginning’ feels a bit cheesy in places, while the staccato ‘Cosmic Crossroads’ is too reminiscent of the novelty hit ‘Popcorn’ for comfort. Overall, it can feel a little formulaic.
Otherwise, this soaring instrumental music, which provokes unavoidable comparisons to the work of Jean-Michelle Jarre, should do nicely as a soundtrack to the sunnier days ahead.
Size: 0.52 MB
Album Review #05
New Earth - Sakis Gouzonis
Review by Karen Woodham
Founder of the Blazing Minds blog
United Kingdom, European Union
Monday, 11 October 2010Track List
01 | From The Sky
02 | A New Beginning
03 | Elohim
04 | Cosmic Crossroads
05 | Eternal Peace
06 | The Day Has Come
07 | So This Is Heaven
08 | Thank You For The Music
09 | The Light Within Us
10 | We Are All OneReleased in MP3 and CD format.
I just love it when I get an email saying “I have an album out, would you like to review it?” It’s one of the ways that I can discover new music and some new artists.
A little while back an email dropped in my inbox about an album called New Earth by 8-time international award-winning composer Sakis Gouzonis, so how could I miss the opportunity of getting his album and giving it the music review treatment here on my blog!
The first name that always springs to my mind when I hear the term “Greek Artist” is Vangelis and I’m a big fan of his, specially the Blade Runner soundtrack, so I was intrigued to hear what this album by Sakis sounded like, with a track record of awards won for his musical compositions, I just couldn’t wait to get his CD on my iTunes and get playing it.
So on to the album, New Earth
The first track on the album “From The Sky” is just so bubbly and a really happy sounding track, it brings back the days of how original electronica used to sound, with its flowing beat, it’s bouncy bass and its gorgeous sounds keyboards, off to a good start so far then.
To be honest the album does have a similar sound throughout, though a few tracks do change tempo, giving you a break from the pop-electronica feel of the album, “Eternal Peace” might be one of my favourites as it slows the beat down and has some gorgeous chords that are a bit like Jean-Michel Jarre, very nice indeed.
Then it’s back to the happy sounding tracks, the album does, to me, have that Greek feel to it and it’s one of those albums that does bring you into a euphoria of complete happiness, something that is needed in this day and age.
So, would I recommend the album?
Yes I would, after writing this music review, I would also recommend that you check out the other albums by Sakis Gouzonis, it’s nice to hear something different instead of mad guitars, excessive drum n bass and the usually hip hop that knocking about at the moment and if you’re open to listening to something that you may have listened to in the past then this album is certainly one of those to listen to.
I mean over 150,000 MySpace fans can’t be wrong and being one of the most popular artists on PureVolume, iSound and IMRadio. So check him out, also take a look at the official Sakis Gouzonis website for more info and album downloads.
Size: 0.43 MB
Album Review #04
New Earth - Sakis Gouzonis
Review by Derek Walker
Contributing Writer for The Phantom Tollbooth magazine
Illinois, United States of America
Tuesday, 3 August 2010Track List
01 | From The Sky
02 | A New Beginning
03 | Elohim
04 | Cosmic Crossroads
05 | Eternal Peace
06 | The Day Has Come
07 | So This Is Heaven
08 | Thank You For The Music
09 | The Light Within Us
10 | We Are All OneReleased in MP3 and CD format.
Sakis Gouzonis, now based in Athens, is a great example of a musician’s work showing the inspiration of his surroundings. His keyboard instrumentals exude the sunshine and vitality of Greece.
A definite one-man act, he began arranging and recording when he was quite young, releasing a compilation of hymn arrangements while still at school and even then getting a positive reaction from Europe, the Americas and Australia. His career took off when he entered the fifth International Songwriting Competition, winning third prize and a commendation award in the ‘original electronic music composition’ category for two tracks from his 2008 album First Contact.
That album had the roots of this disc, but across the whole album his compositions betrayed a formulaic approach and the playing could be quite staccato and rigid. It cried out for more variety.
He has made great progress with this follow-up, which is more fluid, more varied and has several outstanding tunes. In particular, he has developed the anthemic tracks that soar and lift the spirit, such as “From the Sky” with its driving melody; “Elohim” with its sense of grandeur; the expansive “Eternal Peace” and “The Light Within Us,” which seems to have it all – inspiration, melody and a rounded arrangement.
There are weaker tracks, such as the cheesy bits of “A New Beginning” and the stilted, plinky-plonk “Cosmic Crossroads,” which unfortunately reminds me of the UK one-hit wonder “Popcorn” that took advantage of the Moog’s novelty in the early seventies. Sometimes (but less often than on his previous CD) the key changes sound a bit predictable.
One track that stands out is the simplest and most direct. “Thank You for the Music” is quite Andy Hunter-like in its effect, although it is less kaleidoscopic than Hunter’s material. Its simplicity works and the piece is strikingly memorable.
With his similarity to Jean-Michel Jarre, I can see Gouzonis working on film soundtracks, but they would probably have to be comedies or feel-good movies, as his music usually takes you to sunny places.
Size: 0.59 MB
Album Review #03
New Earth - Sakis Gouzonis
Review by Andy Argyrakis
Music Reviewer for Christianity Today magazine
Illinois, United States of America
Tuesday, 1 June 2010Track List
01 | From The Sky
02 | A New Beginning
03 | Elohim
04 | Cosmic Crossroads
05 | Eternal Peace
06 | The Day Has Come
07 | So This Is Heaven
08 | Thank You For The Music
09 | The Light Within Us
10 | We Are All OneReleased in MP3 and CD format.
Christianity Today editorial department does not allow their reviews to appear elsewhere online. To read the New Earth album review written by Andy Argyrakis, please click here.
JPG: Not Available
Album Review #02
New Earth - Sakis Gouzonis
Review by MC Rydel
Founding Partner of IMRadio and Poet
Illinois, United States of America
Monday, 9 November 2009Track List
01 | From The Sky
02 | A New Beginning
03 | Elohim
04 | Cosmic Crossroads
05 | Eternal Peace
06 | The Day Has Come
07 | So This Is Heaven
08 | Thank You For The Music
09 | The Light Within Us
10 | We Are All OneReleased in MP3 and CD format.
Let Sakis Gouzonis transport you to another world with songs from his recently released “New Earth” album. One of the most popular artists on IMRadio, Sakis has given us “From the Sky”, “Eternal Peace”, and “Elohim”. These instrumentals can mesmerize and inspire any listener anywhere on the globe. Visit our Greece station today and let Sakis Gouzonis show you the world!
Size: 0.27 MB
Album Review #01
First Contact - Sakis Gouzonis
Review by Kenneth Morton
Editor of Highwire Daze magazine
California, United States of America
Tuesday, 9 June 2009Track List
01 | Anthem Of Love
02 | Journey To The Sky
03 | Give Me A Chance
04 | With All Of My Strength
05 | Elegy
06 | Electronic Ballroom
07 | A Star Brighter Than Others
08 | Sea Of Sorrow
09 | Exodus
10 | Time To Say GoodbyeReleased in MP3 and CD format.
Checking out the world of electronic music as presented by Sakis Gouzonis is like traveling on a journey to the most wondrous and mystical of places. Based out of Greece, Gouzonis is an award-winning composer who has just released a debut collection of tunes entitled First Contact. The results are simply magical!
Definitely a world class act, tunes such as Anthem Of Love, A Star Brighter Than Others, and Give Me A Chance enchant the senses with their sheer vibrancy. Elegy is especially sweeping, sounding like a grand score to a big Hollywood epic. Influenced by film composers as well as by electronic musicians, Gouzonis has nevertheless developed his own signature style, which is utterly breathtaking.
With over 800 live performances to his credit and a collection of Grecian music awards, Sakis Gouzonis has a bright and glorious future ahead of him. First Contact is a stunning effort that is sure to greatly enrich all that encounter its harmonious musical tapestries.
Size: 0.54 MB
