The couple is interested in provoking thoughts from its audience, and there are many subjects covered even though there are not words attached to the music. Their music is so powerful that words are not needed, just look at the titles; they are suggestive enough to engage you and compel you to develop your own storyline while listening. It was easy for me as I can relate much better to instrumental music than compositions entangled with words, which are frequently difficult to understand to begin with on most recordings. This CD starts you off with a clean slate as a perspective listener and each composition is an aural landscape, an adventure that will transport you away to another place in time very quickly. It is easy if you let the music take you. With good instrumentals, it is my choice to immerse myself in the sounds and land wherever it takes me. That is what makes an instrumental track so exciting and special.
I was very impressed with this music and the sound is very good as well. Music so delicate and complex needs top-notch engineering and mixing. It is obvious to me after several listens that there was a job well done in all the important aspects of producing a quality recording. Do not be surprised if you hear this music in the background of a film someday.
Your recording is very good and the arrangement is perfectly suited to listeners who like their music light, but dramatic. With the string section swelling against the piano and the percussion on the trap drums high in the mix, this track is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
The CD Memories From A Dream is their debut album, which includes 12 compositions by Elgazzar plus an arrangement of ABBA’s Lay All Your Love On Me; all created on the border of an instrumental Pop aspect. Without any particular tension, Honest Touch creates a welcomed atmosphere. Whether it is the skillful dialogue between the keyboards of Elgazzar with the piano of Maniadaki and their melodic passages between the bass, the percussion, the guitars and the violin; whether it is the expressive soprano Marita Paparizou, the choir Fons Musicalis or the collaboration of a symphony orchestra. Something is happening; it can not be. Especially in the compositions Dancing Under The Moon and Autumn Tear.
The Honest Touch project is the brainchild of Greek composer and keyboardist Samy Elgazzar and compatriot, pianist Fofi Maniadaki, very capably backed by up to 60 musicians, including an orchestra and choir. Although the project was formed in 2000, this is their first CD release to date.
The majority of the tunes are pure “Cinematic Pop” compositions (their own description), beautifully-crafted melodies that would be worthy of a John Williams or indeed Ennio Morricone. Good examples of these are “A Lonely Ride”, “A Promise Forever” or the eerily atmospheric “And A time for War”.
The “Dramatic Moment” tracks such as the Prologue or “Then You Came” start softly and build up to a powerful climax, thanks to the inclusion of electric guitar and heavier percussion. However, where the band really comes into its own is in what I would call the “Fun” tunes like “Moments with You” or their playful re-working of the ABBA hit “Lay All Your Love On Me”. Both of these immediately dispel a nagging feeling with some other tracks that perhaps they are holding back a little.
To end with, a couple of curiosities. The project’s website, packed with information and resources about them, includes recommendations on which tunes to listen to if, for example, you are jogging or alternatively, feeling slow and sluggish. An interesting innovation, but not as good as the 14-day, 100% money-back guarantee! I can think of a number of bands who might well be out of pocket if they tried this, so you can only admire the faith of Honest Touch in their work, a final point in their favour.
Overall, a 7/10 – and I look forward to listening to the next one! (full text)