Iris Manta – Memoirs (Album – Iris Manta)
Genre/Influences: Electro, Ambient-Electro.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: “Memoirs” is the third album by Greek artist Manos Zafirakis. The album comes three years after “Kilonova”.
Content: Iris Manta hasn’t really changed the sound formula from previous albums. It remains a sound influenced by early Electronic pioneers, reminding me of JM Jarre, Tangerine Dream and co. The songs feature an astral sound dimension created by the typical old-styled Psychedelic leads. The album features 6 songs, which all are instrumental edits.
+ + + : The compositions of Iris Manta remain well-crafted and elaborated with subtle sonic details. Melody lines are more accentuated than on the previous work. I get the impression of listening to a refreshed version of Tangerine Dream. The analogue sound treatments and –effects have this unique touch of magic.
– – – : I personally experienced this work as a bit more ‘cliché’ than its predecessor. It’s a sound we’re familiar with for years so the songs become a bit predictable after a while.
Conclusion: If you like the early pioneers of Electronic music, you definitely are going to like this work.
Best songs: “Misguided”, “Tiny Distractions”.
Rate: 7.
Artist: www.facebook.com/Iris-Manta-767551936654269
About Iris Manta
Iris Manta is the solo project of Greek musician Manos Zafirakis, who writes, programs, records, mixes and produces the material himself. Side-Line reviewed the debut CD album Mental Equations, self-released on 24 December 2014, in June 2015 and profiled the project in the January 2016 Face The Beat piece Side-Line introduces Iris Manta – listen now to ‘Entropia’.
The second album “Kilonova” (2018), described as an attempt to translate astronomical events into music, was reviewed in November 2018. In March 2021 Side-Line reported that Iris Manta ready to shop new album to record labels. “Memoirs” was released on 18 April 2021 on CD and as a download. Zafirakis writes on Bandcamp that each of the six instrumental tracks relates to a period of his life; they are “Tiny Distractions”, “Pessimism Probability”, “Exaggeration”, “Sadness Vapors”, “Misguided” and “Peaceful Erasures”. Panos Bothos mastered the album.
The two-track release “Wacko” followed on 1 February 2024. “Memoirs” is the third Iris Manta album.
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