ALBUM REVIEW: Through Space And Time (Alive In Athens 2020) – Villagers Of Ioannina City

Hailing from the picturesque city of Ioannina in the Epirus of Greece, VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY have been blending the enchanting sounds of Greek folk instruments into their captivating heavy psychedelic rock since their inception in 2007. Over the years the Greek sextet have demonstrated their innate ability to craft wonderfully enthralling stories into song. Bringing in traditional folk instruments to add a distinctly unique layer to their sound, their music conjures up glorious images of the Mediterranean and the wonders of Greek nature and cosmic phenomena. With expert production, all these elements come together spectacularly on the band’s first live album Through Space And Time (Alive In Athens 2020), and it is a live experience that opens the heavens and soars to the heights of Mount Olympus and beyond.

VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY’s 2019 sophomore album Age Of Aquarius received rave reviews across the board and plaudits for its authentic and original sound. Its expansive and immersive atmospheres and whirling folk melodies demonstrated that VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY are one of those bands that have an incredibly ability to push the boundaries of heavy psych with incredible proficiency. Utilising the melodic strength of Greek folk music in this way is incredibly exciting, especially if you are listening to the band for the first time. So, with their expert song craft and incredible musicianship, translating these songs into a live environment makes for an otherworldly experience.

The performance is structured around the ethereal Age Of Aquarius, as the band play it in its entirety, with a selection of songs from the band’s debut Riza spliced effortlessly in between. The two-hour performance is a journey through various aspects of Greek nature and cosmic phenomena as the incorporation and enchanting melodic uses of the traditional folk instruments give the music a defined sense of place. From the very first song you’re transported to this ethereal and celestial Greek landscape where the ancient Greek cosmology and mythology becomes vividly alive in your mind. VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY’s magnificent, majestic and powerful energy alongside their passionate performance is utterly mesmeric. As a result, Through Space And Time completely consumes you; like a religious experience in the Parthenon, your soul feels nourished as you’re left in complete awe.

Through Space And Time captures a spellbinding moment in time. The ridiculously perfect way that all the elements have come together makes it feel like all the stars and planets had aligned over Athens that night. The hypnotic, intricate melodies coming from Konstantis Pistiolis’ clarinet are interwoven with Alex Karametis’ vocals and Kostas Zois’ guitar parts whilst being supported by Aris Giannopoulos’ thunderous drums and driven forward by Akis Zois’ bass. Meanwhile, Achilleas Radis (keys) and Konstantinos Lazos (bagpipe, winds) continually layer the atmospheres, building them up with rich synth textures and ornate wind instrument passages. You can hear every ounce of the band’s energy has gone into creating something tangibly magical. As the album goes on, this magical energy builds with the audience to create an energy feedback loop. VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY just keep upping the ante, and you can feel it reaching fever pitch until it comes to a thrilling climax with their 11-minute psychedelic odyssey Karakolia.

Over the two-hour listening experience, you can really feel the weight of the songs. VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY’s power and prowess has been captured perfectly by the album’s high end production; everything about this album is vivid and full of colour. With everything perfectly balanced for an optimal listening experience, it is so easy to place yourself in the audience going hell for leather and having a good time. Given the significant length of the songs, VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY do incredibly well to keep you engaged with high energy throughout the performance. As a result, there is an abundance of visceral joy and transcendental delight that runs through each and every song. Not once does the energy drop as it is reciprocated by a highly appreciative audience, and in many ways it is hard not to get a little envious of those in the crowd that were there that night.

It is safe to say that VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY have absolutely nailed it, capturing all the magic and beauty of their music in vividly exquisite detail. With live albums few and far between despite the excellent levels of production we can achieve, when they do come around they have the power to be transformative listening experiences. With their high energy performance VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY have delivered that transformative experience on Through Space And Time, capturing a truly magical moment in time.

Rating: 9/10

Through Space And Time (Alive In Athens 2020) is set for release on March 3rd via Napalm Records.

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