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LP
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ITLINTL 004LP
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For the latest release in their ongoing International series, Into The Light Records takes the listener to Sydney and the dreamy, softly spun musical world of talented multi-instrumentalist Max Santilli. Surface is Santilli's debut album following years spent working alongside Jacob Fugar in Ken Oath Records-signed downtempo duo Angophora. It draws on a personal archive of home recordings made between 2016 and 2018 using a range of guitars, synthesizers, and acoustic percussion instruments. As you'd perhaps expect, it's an intimate and personal set that wraps drowsy, slowly-shifting musical flourishes around gentle, sun-kissed rhythms and suitably spacey chords. Santilli offers subtle nods towards his various inspirations -- think the mesmerizing ambient-jazz fusion of Michael Bierylo, Steve Hillage's timeless early ambient works and the intricate acoustic guitar playing of Steve Tibbetts and Miguel Herrero -- while forging his own distinctly lo-fi and otherworldly path. As a result, Surface is an album of impressive depth and diversity, held together by Santilli's reflective, emotion-rich vision.
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LP
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ITLINTL 003LP
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Jason Letkiewicz has released material under a dizzying array of aliases, each utilized to explore a different side of his multi-faceted musical persona. Now, some 14 years after he made his recording debut alongside Ari Goldman as Manhunter, Letkiewicz has joined forces with Into The Light Records to release his first album under his real name. The Reflecting Pool sees Letkiewicz exploring the uncomplicated and uncluttered in the pursuit of pure aural beauty. While his recent album as Opposing Currents was dense, dark, urban, and industrial, The Reflecting Pool is stripped back, quiet, and melodious. The contrast between the two projects is marked, with The Reflecting Pool drawing more on Letkiewicz's love of crystalline ambient, slow burn synthesizer soundscapes, early '80s library music and the kind of obscure electronic new age music that has been a hallmark of Into The Light's releases to date. The set's 12 tracks gently ebb and flow, with Letkiewicz making great use of dusty old drum machines, effects units and a range of vintage analogue and digital synthesizers. It's a set-up that results in a range of complimentary mood pieces and interludes, from the delay-laden military drums and lilting lead lines of "Out of Body Experiences", to the drowsy, sunrise bliss of "Sunspot", the bubbling Tangerine Dream style shuffle of "Mind Awake Body Asleep" and the outer-space atmosphere of "The Kill Fee". Throughout, Letkiewicz showcases his seemingly intrinsic grasp of mood, atmosphere, and melody. It can be heard within the glacial guitar motifs, occasional beats and elongated chords of "The Reflecting Pool", the rhythmic bustle of "Numb Drums", the glassy-eyed melancholia of "Arhythmia", and the cinematic paranoia of "Burning Off The Morning Fog". It's also evident amongst the classically beat-less ambient of closing cut "Weightless", whose alien electronics, effects-laden pulses and opaque chords recall established masters of the genre. With The Reflecting Pool, Letkiewicz has provided a much-needed dose of stress-free musical escapism, at the same time offering hope that in these troubling times, love may still save the day.
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12"
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ITL 008EP
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Into The Light's newest offering, Giant Step is a special maxi single by D.E., the early '90s dance project of Greek composer Akis. The A side includes the lost Aegean club hit "Giant Step" while the B side features its crazy demo take counterpart.
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CD
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ITL 003CD
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Into the Light Records continues to shine light on the undiscovered heritage of Greek electronic music, highlighting the work of prolific Greek composer George Theodorakis on the label's third archival release. The Rules of the Game features mostly unreleased studio recordings Theodorakis made between 1978 and 1996, with the addition of selected material taken from his sought-after Margo and Sima LPs. George Theodorakis is the son of legendary Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis. Unlike his father, George only released four albums -- pressed in small quantities -- over a period of time spanning nearly two decades. Despite such limited official output, Theodorakis was intensely involved in music. George has always had the privilege of owning a well-equipped home studio -- the SSR Studio (1976-1984) and later the Theta Studio (1985-1987, 1993-1997) -- where he'd spend most of his days working, often completely losing all track of time. These studios provided the ideal environment where he could explore new synthesized sounds and freely experiment. Although Theodorakis' music can be considered reclusive, esoteric and personal -- especially if measured against the standards of most Greek productions of the same time -- a number of his compositions found their way into the soundtracks of theater plays, TV series, dance performances, etc. Theodorakis' work was probably too forward-looking to meet with wider success and appeal to a broad audience back then; The Rules of the Game hopes to finally earn the composer the attention and acclaim his music undoubtedly deserves. N.B. There is an ultra-short drop out at the very end of "Genesis" due to the original DAT tape wear. The track was too good to be excluded; Into the Light hopes you feel the same. Includes one bonus track not available on vinyl.
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2LP
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ITL 003LP
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Into The Light Records continues to shine light on the undiscovered heritage of Greek electronic music, highlighting the work of prolific Greek composer George Theodorakis on the label's third archival release. The Rules of the Game features mostly unreleased studio recordings Theodorakis made between 1978 and 1996, with the addition of selected material taken from his sought-after Margo and Sima LPs. George Theodorakis is the son of legendary Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis. Unlike his father, George only released four albums -- pressed in small quantities -- over a period of time spanning nearly two decades. Despite such limited official output, Theodorakis was intensely involved in music. George has always had the privilege of owning a well-equipped home studio -- the SSR Studio (1976-1984) and later the Theta Studio (1985-1987, 1993-1997) -- where he'd spend most of his days working, often completely losing all track of time. These studios provided the ideal environment where he could explore new synthesized sounds and freely experiment. Although Theodorakis' music can be considered reclusive, esoteric and personal -- especially if measured against the standards of most Greek productions of the same time -- a number of his compositions found their way into the soundtracks of theater plays, TV series, dance performances, etc. Theodorakis' work was probably too forward-looking to meet with wider success and appeal to a broad audience back then; The Rules of the Game hopes to finally earn the composer the attention and acclaim his music undoubtedly deserves.
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LP
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ITL 002LP
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Into The Light Records go deeper into the archives of Vangelis Katsoulis after featuring him on their highly-acclaimed compilation, A Journey Into Greek Electronic Music, Classics & Rarities. A great selection (as you'd expect) of ambient/new age gems from this king of Greek electronics. Seven tracks from Katsoulis' back-catalog and four unreleased tracks.
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