AnásanA

While this is the first solo album from the Greek pianist, singer and composer, it’s certainly not her recording debut. As well as being a member of bands and projects including Reverse Mode, Arcangel Trio and Farmagia, her compositions have been used for theatre, films, documentaries and contemporary dance performances. Straddling the experimental and underground electronic music scenes of Athens and Berlin, she merges classical piano with avant-garde electronic and traditional Greek melodies. The result is a collection of what she calls ‘ambient traditional psychedelic spells.’

The six tracks have an ethereal, otherworldly presence that defies categorisation. ‘The Youniverse’ combines cinematic background layers with chants, spoken words and what seem like animal sounds to create an enchanting soundscape that cleverly showcases the theatrical element of de Kol’s work. Melodic one moment, discordant the next, the result is by turns mesmerising and unsettling. Highlight of the album is opening track ‘The Water’, an ambient yet captivating and highly evocative piece that is clearly inspired by Maurice Ravel’s ‘Jeux d’Eau’.