DiN 26 Obsessive Surrealism by Parallel Worlds
Limited to 1,000 copies
Parallel Worlds is the main project for the Greek musician Bakis Sirros. He has been active in the Greek electronic music scene since 1998 having performed at several concerts including E-PHOS electronic music festival in summer of 2001, Mad club, Club22 (2nd Summer in the city Festival), Music Day Festival 2006, Small Music Theatre and the Underworld Club. He is also involved with other muscians in collaborative work. The new IDM project “Interconnected” with the German IDM musician Ingo Zobel (of DRON, Signalform, Self Oscillate) and the ambient / experimental project “Memory Geist” with the Australian electronica musician Steve Law (of Zen Paradox, Starseed Transmission).
“Obsessive Surrealism” (DiN26) is his fourth album having previously released “Existence” in 2003 on Greek label Rubber Recordings and “Insight” in 2004 and “Far Away Light” in 2005 both on the UK label Shima Records. He has also had tracks included on several compilation releases.
Bakis is a great advocate of modular analogue instruments and indeed is the moderator for the Doepfer A100 modular users group. He has also been extensively involved with sound design for the UK analogue modular synthesiser company Analogue Systems.
The music of Parallel Worlds is a combination of dreamy, atmospheric textures and pure analogue electronic rhythms and sequences, combining the feel of 70’s electronic music with modern electronica and ambient music. Sirros uses huge analogue modular instruments and analogue step sequencers of the past and present combined with digital FM, virtual analogue synths and sampling. However he manages to elude the fate of many of his contemporaries in not falling into the trap of simply recycling the past. He creates a music that lives and breathes, imbued with his own personality and mannerisms. At one and the same time familiar and fresh. Steady, organic rhythmic structures are overlaid with deceptively simple melodies that remind one of some lost John Carpenter soundtrack.
Track listing:
01 Beneath Fear ( 6.06 ) : Click here for MP3 edit
02 Different Pathways ( 5.18 )
03 Empty Human Cells ( 3.38 )
04 Increasing Complexity ( 5.52 )
05 Into the Caves of the Mind ( 4.50 )
06 Interlude ( 2.09 )
07 Reflective ( 9.32 ) : Click here for MP3 edit
08 Mindmists ( 8.49 )
09 Pale Yellow Sky ( 5.42 )
10) Distracted ( 6.57 ) : Click here for MP3 edit
11) Crying Spells ( 4.15 )
Total Time 63.29
All tracks composed, arranged & produced by Balis Sirros, between 2002 and 2006, in Wavemountain studio, Athens, Greece. Except track 10 by Bakis and John Sirros.
Treated vocals on track 10 by J. Sirros. Mastered by Ian Boddy.
parallel Worlds live are Bakis Sirros & John Sirros.
Selected equipment :
Doepfer A100 modular, Analogue Systems RS-Integrator modular, Technosaurus System D modular, modified EMS VCS-3 (x2), ARP 2600, Odyssey, Roland System 100, System 100m, modified Oberheim 2-voice, Korg MS50, MS20, SQ10, Trident, PE1000, Analogue Solutions Concussor modular, modified TR606, Nord modular, JP8000, Microwave XT, MS2000R, S750, Emax 2, Korg ES1, Roland Space Echo, Korg SE500, additional sound manipulators.
Photo by Antonis Chaniotis (chaniotisant@yahoo.gr)
Equipment photographed by Jim Davakis
Selected Reviews
"...So, I think it's Parallel Worlds' best album to date! Some great sounds they made, sometimes reminding of Japan (the group), sometimes even reminding of the great Isao Tomita! "
2007. Roel Steverink / The Netherlands
"...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. "
2007. Dave Law / SMD
"...From the first to the last key, I was struck by the musical approach of Parallel Worlds on Obsessive Surrealism, which gives me the same impact as Brian Eno with Nerve Net. Everywhere, samplers and sound effects paper the parts length into broad, over sizing the structures, all in their giving an artistic depth to the astonishing paradox. Very good, very refreshing, we perceive the parallelism intrusion with an amazing subtlety, signs of a perfect symbiosis. "
(Rating: 5 out of 6)
2007. Sylvain Lupari / Guts Of Darkness / Canada
"...This ain't your usual pixie grinnin' to the cosmos kind of thing, which is why time might paint Obsessive Surrealism as a minor masterpiece of the (anti)genre. "
2007. Darren Bergstein / e/i magazine / USA
"...Parallel Worlds’ Obsessive Surrealism is full of very original sound design, but also makes effective use of synth music staples like sequences, synth-strings and vocal pads. The combination draws you quickly into the pieces, where the depth of the music’s quirkiness slowly reveals itself.
Highly recommended. "
2007. Synthtopia / USA
"...A very interesting release on the DiN label and highly recommended for fans of contemporary EM and for those who simply want to hear something a bit different. "
2007. Artemi Pugachov / Encyclopedia of Electronic Music
"...But for all its alien feeling, the track titles suggest this bizarre world is not to be found in a galaxy far, far away, but within the mind of a human nearly as unknowable. A chilling adventure in every sense of that word. "
(Rating: 4.5 out of 5)
Jo-An Greene / All Music Guide
"...In any case the album will obtain a place of honor in my CD collection.
Thank you, Parallel Worlds, for this music. "
2007. Dieter Doepfer / Germany
"... this is one of the best non-ambient, non-Berlin School (though the influences are there) albums of electronic music in recent memory — with a mouthwatering arsenal of analog modulars and synthesizers, to boot.
Ten short and mid-length compositions (no epics) gives this a very "soundtrack" feel. Ian Boddy's DiN label keeps churning out winners! "
2007. Sea Of Tranquility / USA
"...But don’t get me wrong this album doesn’t sound “retro” or repeats the past; it keeps the faith in the roots of electronic music and opens the door into a new world of experimental music. The complex arrangements disperse a claustrophobic AND a snug feeling at once. This is intelligent song writing.
Right from the first notes of this album you have the feeling that you become a part of something special. Maybe an obsessive Surrealism!
A great album, inimitable! Perfect 10 ++ "
2007. Michael Mock / CUEMIX Magazine
"...Overall, Sirros's first recording for Ian Boddy's DiN label, Obsessive Surrealism might be the best-sounding purely electronic release this year..."
electrogothic.gr
"...a very beautiful work with super tracks like "Increasing complexity", "Reflective", and my favourite "Distracted". ...Exceptional!" Atraktos.net / Greece
"...Obsessive Surrealism i think is already a point of reference for greek electronica..." "...also it is one of the most important records from a greek group for the current decade and the most complete album that the DiN label has released so far "
almost 8.5 out of 10
