Parallel Worlds - "Obsessive Surrealism" CD review of
Synth Music Direct (www.synthmusicdirect.com) :


"Electronic bleeps contrast with a lovely organic
piano as 'Beneath Fear' gurgles into life. All manner
of sounds fizz and slither around the piano melody-
then in comes a sedate but sublime rhythm, ethereal
pads sighing over it all. The beats become more
aggressive then subside again leaving wonderful
contrasting melodies. What an absolutely awesome
opener this is: inventive, compelling but also easy to
get on with. 'Different Pathways' takes an alternative
but equally as effective approach. Strange alien
animal sounds mix with a staccato rhythm which
literally seems to crack with energy. We then go
through a grungy section as if electricity is arcing,
escaping from some vast energy source. Subtle lonesome
little lead lines roll over the top demanding your
attention. Each sound is so precise and covering most
areas of the sonic spectrum but at no time is there a
sense of clutter. It's as if every single element can
be heard and taken in. If anything extra were added it
would be too much. If something were removed the track
would not be complete. Perfect. 'Empty Human Cells'
features melodic stabs over almost growling bass
shudders which form a melodic focus all of their own.
A deep rhythm purposefully stutters underneath. It's
almost as if some awesomely powerful but injured
creature is making its way through the darkness. You
wouldn't want to meet it! 'Increasing Complexity' has
a wonderfully moody five note repeated melody to which
another rather sinister lead is added. A gentle rhythm
compliments the melodies wonderfully but it's the
sounds chosen for the beats that are the most
impressive feature- subtle rather than bludgeoning.
Even though it's all incredibly beautiful, there is
something slightly unsettling about it at the same
time.

'Into the Caves of the Mind' uses a repeated
three-note melody which slowly rises up, floating
through a sea of tinkling percussion. Mean drums crash
out like a whip, joined my all manner of other
fascinating syncopations- then its all calm again for
a few moments. Weird manipulated and scrunched sounds
mingle with each other, at one moment trying to meld
into harmony then at the next seemingly vying for
supremacy. Whip- the drums return. Scratching creeping
creatures emerge for 'Interlude', creating quite an
eerie atmos. 'Reflective' starts with very moody pads.
The drums give a feel of foreboding, a squelchy bass
line heightening the tension whilst a lovely little
questing melody provides a mysterious contrast. I've
heard nothing like this combination of sounds and
rhythms before and I'm completely drawn in by it all.
'Mindmists' contains yet another wonderful collage of
sounds then piano and gurgling slithering effects. We
start to chug along again and there's even mellotron
thrown in there adding a further level of mystery.
There is an unclutteredness to it all and yet so much
is going on that it is just impossible to take it all
in. 'Pale Yellow Sky' rumbles into life. And these
rumbles are so incredibly deep. Little melodic note
droplets fall like water from a carven roof high
above. Ticking percussion mixes with the coolest a
beats which grab the attention and don't let go.

'Distracted' is initially a riot of bleeps and
twittery sounds. Two sequences and a rapid staccato
rhythm suddenly propel the track forward and I'm taken
with it on the back of the bubbling cauldron of
pulsations. Then it's all stop and I'm left in a
delightful state of float before the syncopations
return and I'm off again. We finish with another
rather spooky section, a voice being heard so low in
the mix that it is impossible to work out the words.
This of course makes it seem even more sinister.
'Crying Spells' has a slow build up, a throbbing pulse
and swirling effects very gradually getting louder but
never really bursting through. Again it's all so
tremendously moody but this time in a brooding
understated sort of way.

What an album! File under 'God Knows' or 'Genius',
both would be applicable. Truly unique and Very Highly
Recommended to anyone who wants to try something that
is new but also accessible. (DL) "

more reactions on the new cd album, and a full (great)
review in italian:

Tom Carpenter (Analogue Solutions):
"...CD it's great! I like atmospheric music and the
sounds are great"

Bob Williams (Analogue Systems):
"...definitely your best work to date, ...and all the
sound programming is excellent"

Peter Grenader (Plan B):
"It's terrific, ...I really like it."

Mike Brown (Livewire Electronics):
"got the CD yesterday... been listening to it ever
since! excellent!"

www.Dagheisha.com (Italian Music webmag):
"Un surrealismo che incentra la propria ricerca sulle
infinite potenzialitΰ del Doepfer A100 modular e
sulla combinazione tra atmosfere sognanti ispirate
all'elettronica analogica e agli anni settanta quanto
ai traguardi raggiunti in questi anni dalla musica
ambient. 'Obsessive Surrealism' conferma la
straordinaria visionarietΰ di un Bakis Sirros
sempre piω vincente nella catalogazione delle
proprie emozioni e influenze. L'inesorabile e morboso
incedere di questo manifesto ossessivo di elettronica
moderna trova il suo apice assoluto in 'Different
Pathways' e 'Into The Caves Of The Mind' che pitturano
in un contesto schematico ma mai freddo la
deframmentazione organica di quelle cellule visive con
le quali siamo abituati a confrontarci
quotidianamente. Nessun confine e nessun limite θ
stabilito in tale ricerca anche quando a tratteggiarsi
sono 'Pale Yellow Sky' e 'Crying Spells' che si
allontanano leggermente dall'imprevedibilitΰ
generale per ricordarci che anche le menti piω
sperimentali amano sottolineare i propri concetti. Non
fatevi scappare l'artwork curato da Progs von Don
limitato alle prime 1000 copie."

Bakis Sirros - Parallel Worlds / Interconnected / Memory Geist
1 group owner
http://www.parallel-worlds-music.com
http://www.myspace.com/parallelworldsmusic
http://www.myspace.com/interconnectedmusic
http://www.DiN.org.uk
http://www.shimarecords.co.uk
http://www.rubber.gr
Athens-Greece



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