This journey from late '70s to early '90s consisting of Greek electronic obscurities was made possible through the common digging efforts of Tako Reyenga from Red Light Records and Ilias Pitsios, chief of Echovolt Records.
Ever wondered what’s behind the curtains of a so-called Hellenic electronic secret sound? Except Vangelis and a few established Greek musicians such as Mikis Theodorakis, the Greek electronic music heritage (if any) remains a mystery, for most of us. But you know what they say, ignorance is bliss!
Into The Light brings out a splendid assemblage of 12 tracks, from female electronic innovator Lena Platonos, to multi-instrumentalist Akis Daoutis and (legendary composer) Theodorakis's son, Giorgos Theodorakis, Greek singer Michalis Rakintzis or Dimitris Papadimitriou.
Most of the producers are still unknown, even in their own homeland, and judging by the music they put out, you can understand why. It easily fits in this closed circle of rarities and obscurities from all over the world, through hard-to-resist new wave tracks, psychedelic disco or deep and insightful ambient passages.
There are tracks like the ten minutes psychedelia ”Roots” from Syndrome (the Greek Σύνδρομο- a project of Nikos Ginnis) or the cinematic ”Stou” by Giorgos Theodorakis, or even the opening new age ”Into The Light” song by Akis, which stand out as proofs of why these hidden and obscure gems remained carefully locked and only available to a certain number of listeners. Who knows, this even might be the best music to run on the beach, with sand in the shoes, thinking of a nymph such as Calypso, also evoked on the cover picture.
What’s most significant about this compilation is that it hands on a plate, to any open ear, a shadowy and unknown world of musicians, all located in such an epic place as Greece. And for all that, this is the right place to be, the right context, if you’re digging for something to forge your mind.
p.s.: In 2014, Into The Light Records (the record label run by Ilias and Tako) released a compilation of unreleased material from Vangelis Katsoulis, a great collection of early new age and ambient music - strongly recommended!
Tracklist:
1. Akis – Into The Light2. Lena Platonos – A Physical Exercise Unresolved
3. George Theodorakis – No Name
4. 141 G – What You Gonna Do (12” Dub Version)
5. Syndromo – Roots (12” Extended Version)
6. Vangelis Katsoulis – Improvisation
7. George Theodorakis – Stou
8. Dimitris Petsetakis – Clearance Part I II (Unreleased Version)
9. Stavros Logarides – Snif Snif (Instrumental)
10. Dimitris Papadimitriou – John And George And Eve
11. Mihalis Rakintzis – Arrest
12. Akis – Space, Time And Beyond