So for my first ever
unknown artist review I shall be looking at Ilias and his album Somewhere in Time. When on my usual random clicking blitz on
bandcamp I decided I was feeling in a predominantly alternative mood, so when I
stumbled across the relaxed styling’s of singer/songwriter Ilias I knew I’d
found what I was looking for.
You’re instantly hit
with haunting vocals and backing which immediately zone you out and make you
feel very chilled. If I had to pull up a sound that was very similar to it I
would probably go for Bon Iver however, Illias does seem to have a very original
sound overall.
When I tracked down
Ilias’ Facebook page and found that one of his influences was the Bee Gee’s, I
couldn’t help but immediately start picking up their vibes in his music through
the vocals which mess with harmonies, pitch shifts and all sorts of vocal
wizardry. I do feel sometimes the music and the vocals don’t quite click
together and merge into one sonic landscape, for at times, the voice zaps me
out of the music a little bit whereas I would prefer it to pull me in a little
more and really immerse me. It should be stressed however, the quality of
merging voice and backing into one is a very difficult venture and is very
rarely achieved, but I feel with time Ilias could really nail this down and
create some mind blowing stuff. The album itself fits very nicely together with
great song selections which complement each other very well, so well in fact
that at times I found myself completely lost in the music and revelling in the
beauty of it.
I think particular
homage has to paid to the quality of the guitar playing in this which is absolutely
phenomenal. As a guitarist of nine years who stills plays very enthusiastically,
I can’t help but have some serious envy at his wonderful balance of wailing
guitar fading in and out, delicate little riffs and seductive vibrato. This is
why personally September Memory has
to be the outstanding sound of the album for it is honestly some of the best
guitar I have ever heard. He may not be Joe Satriani or Van Halen but I’m
pretty sure he could easily waltz into a room with BB King or Eric Johnson and
not feel the slightest bit intimidated. He just seems to understand silence,
timbre and all the little details of guitar which make for, dare I say,
virtuoso qualities.
The greatest question
which emerges for me in listening to Somewhere
in Time is which direction Ilias goes from here. Does he build on the
qualities of hypnotising his reads and create deep, layered music? Or focus on
being a little bluesier and introducing the guitar a little more into his
music? Personally I feel he could either way to great effect and create
wonderful music or perhaps merge the two styles. I think there is great
potential for Ilias to create some amazing music, which whilst it won’t be
mainstream could definitely attract a very loyal cult crowd.
I would heartily
recommend Somewhere in Time and I
know for sure I shall listening to it fervently through the comings days and
fall asleep blissfully about a million times throughout.
Find
Ilias on Bandcamp: http://ilias.bandcamp.com/album/somewhere-in-time
Ilias’
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/tamalocal?fref=ts
Follow
me on Twitter: @Philip_A_Bell
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