It’s hard to believe two Greek musicians create just about everything you hear on A Temporary State of Bliss -- an instrumental tour de force from Residuos Mentales that takes listeners from the deepest corners of space to the most contemporary realms of progressive pop. And that’s just one song: the perfectly titled 17-minute opener “The Stuff of Dreams," which was inspired by a book of the same title penned by Greek writer Sanejoker, whose work delves into politics, psychology and philosophy. That should give you some idea of just how serious these two gentlemen take their own work.
Stratos Morianos (pianos, synths) and Alexandros Mantas (guitars, flute) are joined by a handful of guest musicians -- most notably drummer Yiannis Iliakis and trumpeter Vaggelis Katsarelis -- to create progressive rock that balances Western music with traditional Greek music. The result is a stunning collection of songs that will give you a new appreciation for instrumental music as an art form. Whispers of classical and jazz flow in and out of “The Missing Part,” chamber rock meets Joe Satriani on the error-free “A Series of Self-Correcting Errors” and closer “Impending Catastrophe” expresses both musical angst and peace within its far-reaching borders.
Highly recommended without reservation, as this four-track, 44-minute album delivers on the promise of its title.
Track Listing:
1. The Stuff of Dreams
2. The Missing Part
3. A Series of Self-Correcting Errors
4. Impending Catastrophe
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