Regular visitors to this website know I have issues with colour. As much as possible I try to strip it from my website. I’m not sure if it was intentional or not, but Evangelos Koudonas has released the first album that I’ve decided to write about and included a colour in the album name. Obviously Evangelos couldn’t have known that I’d write this article, but still he has made me say Into the Blue is an outstanding album. Even if it does say blue.
As I mentioned, I’ve never attempted to write about an album before. So this is what I’ll call a semi-review. Why not call it a fully fledged album review? Well for starters I’m biased. I have been following Evangelos on Twitter for quite some time now and I have even sent him some of my scarebear.org plectrums (some of which he used while recording the tracks If Yours Was Mine and Don’t Be Scared (It’s Only a Song)). I like the guy. He’s always sharing great music with me. What’s not to like there? Evangelos also included me in the dedications section of his latest album. My biased opinion continues.
Even if I wasn’t biased, I’d have to mention some of the outstanding qualities of this album. First and foremost is the tone. Evangelos is a proud advocate of the iOS software the people at Positive Grid put together. He has been using JamUp and BIAS for a long time on the recordings he’s shared on his SoundCloud page. It’s worth pointing out at this point in the article that the majority of the songs on this album were recorded using JampUp and BIAS on iOS. That’s very cool (and impressive).
I’m constantly surprised with Evangelos’s ability to release track after track with so many different guitar tones that somehow seem to magically come together no matter the style of music being played. That leads me to the second outstanding quality of this album. The variety.
Somehow Evangelos has released an album that features guitar instrumental music on an album that also features regular songs (you know … the kind that feature vocals) and music with a strong keyboard instrumental component. Yet it all works on the one album. I know this because I’ve been listening to this album for a while now and it’s been on loop as I write this article. I’m a very slow writer.
Perhaps the most appealing feature on this album for many people will be the cost. The cost is essentially anything you’re comfortable paying. Feel like supporting independent music with $5 or $10. Do it. Do you want to download the album for free? You sure can cheapskate! You can hear the entire album before you buy it as well. Try before you buy. Kick the tyres on this music before you take it for a ride.
So, my biased opinion is that this album rocks. I know I’m right, but I did want to present a somewhat balanced review. So I did the most respectable thing I could. I asked my wife (she generally hates my music). It is with great satisfaction that I say Into the Blue by Evangelos Koudonis is the first album to receive the Approved by Mrs Scarebear stamp of approval. If that doesn’t make you check this album out I don’t know what will.
