New Earth
Artist: Sakis Gouzonis
Label: Independent 
Time: 10 tracks / 35 mins
                                                                                                        
Sakis Gouzonis, now based in Athens, is a great example of a musician’s work showing the inspiration of his surroundings. His keyboard instrumentals exude the sunshine and vitality of Greece.
 
A definite one-man act, he began arranging and recording when he was quite young, releasing a compilation of hymn arrangements while still at school and even then getting a positive reaction from Europe, the Americas and Australia. His career took off when he entered the fifth International Songwriting Competition, winning third prize and a commendation award in the ‘original electronic music composition’ category for two tracks from his 2008 album First Contact.
 
That album had the roots of this disc, but across the whole album his compositions betrayed a formulaic approach and the playing could be quite staccato and rigid. It cried out for more variety.
 
He has made great progress with this follow-up, which is more fluid, more varied and has several outstanding tunes. In particular, he has developed the anthemic tracks that soar and lift the spirit, such as “From the Sky” with its driving melody; “Elohim” with its sense of grandeur; the expansive “Eternal Peace” and “The Light Within Us,” which seems to have it all – inspiration, melody and a rounded arrangement.
 
There are weaker tracks, such as the cheesy bits of “A New Beginning” and the stilted, plinky-plonk “Cosmic Crossroads,” which unfortunately reminds me of the UK one-hit wonder “Popcorn” that took advantage of the Moog’s novelty in the early seventies. Sometimes (but less often than on his previous CD) the key changes sound a bit predictable.
 
One track that stands out is the simplest and most direct. “Thank You for the Music” is quite Andy Hunter-like in its effect, although it is less kaleidoscopic than Hunter’s material. Its simplicity works and the piece is strikingly memorable.
 
With his similarity to Jean-Michel Jarre, I can see Gouzonis working on film soundtracks, but they would probably have to be comedies or feel-good movies, as his music usually takes you to sunny places.
 
Derek Walker