The path
As alwaysGeorge Haslam manages to find musicians to the world that then enhances its label.This time it's a trio residing on the island of Crete, and quite well known in Greece for participation in many festivals.
AreNeonakis Dimitriselectric guitarAntonis Tsikandilakispiano andYannis Iliakisthe battery, which in a long series of short improvisations explore the sonic possibilities offered by their instruments.
The three go on quietly, but then speak out for brief moments in "Triple Path" for example.For the rest trying to keep alive a relaxed, bucolic, in which everyone takes his solo space but without trying at all costs.Proceed with developing an elegiac soundtrack of contemporary art, especially for winter landscapes.
Their music and soft wrap has a little heat to warm the soul.
Come sempreGeorge Haslamriesce a scovare musicisti per il mondo che poi valorizza sulla sua casa discografica. Questa volta è un trio residente nell´isola di Creta e abbastanza noti in Grecia per la partecipazione a tanti festival.
SonoNeonakis Dimitrisalla chitarra elettrica,Tsikandilakis Antonisal pianoforte eIliakis Yannisalla batteria, che in una lunga serie di brevi improvvisazioni esplorano le possibilità soniche offerte dai loro strumenti.
I tre proseguono in modo tranquillo, tranne poi alzare la voce per brevi momenti, in "Triple Path" ad esempio. Per il resto si cerca di tenere viva un´atmosfera rilassata, bucolica, in cui ognuno si prende i suoi spazi ma senza cercare l´assolo a tutti i costi. Procedono insieme elaborando un´elegiaca colonna sonora del contemporaneo, specie per i paesaggi invernali.
La loro musica avvolgente e soffice ha un poco di calore per riscaldare gli animi. Cosimo Parisi
http://www.musicboom.it/mostra_recensioni.php?Unico=20101220002035
OUTWARD BOUND has a trio configuration (Neonakis Dimitris, el g; Tsikandilikas Antonis, p; Iliakis Yiannis, d). Their CD, THE PATH (SLAM 526), starts off in what appears to be an ambient zone but goes on to begin filling in between the spaces with more noteful sounds (Fallacy/ Dawn/ Awakening/ First Cue/ Labyrinth/ Decisive Moment/ Being Alone/ Regulated Motion/ Shadows of Winter/ Sinking In/ Triple Path/ Falling/ Second Cue/ Brainstorm/ Getting Across/ Deceptive Signs/ Thinking Out Loud/ Letting Go. 53:25.) In the end there is a free-form ambience somewhere between classic ECM sorts of ambient music and the total float of Open Graves. Dimitris gets a variety of different sounds from his guitar and seems well in control over what he wants in the various moments where he is working on a phrase or sound envelop to compliment Antonis's impressionistic twinkles. Yiannis has a discerning Connie-Kay-on-Pluto sort of sensitivity to touch that goes with the proceedings well. They do in time get more dense in their improvs and there are pulse points that the drums instigate that work in a kind of raga-like way. This is not grandpop's Bop, as you gather. It's music that is in no hurry to get to where it will, which some might find boring. Then you come to an explosion of acid shred guitar and busy drums on "Triple Path." But then it settles back again for reflective meanders. Say what you might, these three do their own sort of expansive ambient trio work. They are recognizably lyrical and spaced out in a personal sort of way and that's not very common. You might not like it if you are looking for a more eventful and assertive sort of music. Let it go its way and you might find yourself pleased and occupied with its stories in sound. Grego Applegate Edwards oct - nov - dec 2011 | cadence
On the southern Balkan Peninsula, at the crossroads
of Europe and the Middle East, with seaports on the
Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean Seas, Greece is
ideally situated to embrace the hybrid cultural
commerce of jazz. Recent releases by Hellenic
improvisers reveal that the cradle of Western
civilization still swings.
Crete-based Outward Bound, with guitarist
Neonakis Dimitris, pianist Tsikandilakis Antonis
and drummer Iliakis Yiannis, further explore their
unique chemistry on The Path, their second disc as a
trio. The three-part suite of short extemporaneous
pieces evinces an ultra-minimalist aesthetic,
favoring modal canvases of subdued chord colors
(often shifting minor triads), meditative drones and
restrained, back-of-the-mix percussive shadings.
Even the pauses between tracks make a statement:
ranging from direct segues to 20-second drop-outs,
they forefront silence and space as expressive
gestures. When - as on "Triple Path" or "Deceptive
Signs" - Dimitris kicks on his overdrive pedal for
some ‘post-blues' riffing, the music sounds like a
new wrinkle on classic Pink Floyd. Interest is
sustained via constant variation of instrumental
combinations, timbres and textures.Tom Greenland
THE NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD June 2011
Φώντας Τρούσας, Jazz & Tzaz#215, Φεβρουάριος 2011
Η πρώτη ηχογράφηση των Κρητικών Outward Bound που έφθασε στα χέρια μας,
το φερώνυμο CD-R τους στην Triple Bath δηλαδή, ήταν μια απο τις εκπλήξεις του 2009.
Τώρα στα τέλη του '10 ένα κανονικό CD τους, το "The Path", τυπωμένο για την βρετανική
Slam Productions- ένα προχωρημένο ταγμένο label, στον κατάλογο του οποίου συναντάμε
τον Charles Hayward, τον Lol Coxhill και δεκάδες άλλους αυτοσχεδιαστές- έρχεται να
ενδυναμώσει την πεποίθησή μας, πως οι Outward Bound είναι ένα απο τα πιο ενδιαφέροντα
σχήματα, που παρεπιδημούν, αυτή τη στιγμή, στο εγχώριο εικονοκλαστικό σκηνικό. Τιμή,
λοιπόν, για τους τρείς Κρητικούς, τον Αντώνη Τσικανδηλάκη πιάνο, τον Δημήτρη Νεονάκη
ηλεκτρική κιθάρα, τον Γιάννη Ηλιάκη ντράμς, καθώς βρίσκουν "διέξοδο" σε μια αναγνωρισμένη
βρετανική ετικέτα, ευχαρίστηση ταυτοχρόνως και για 'μας, όταν ακούμε μια τόσο ζωντανή
μουσική απο τρείς 30άρηδες, οι οποίοι, αν και πειραματιστές, ποτέ δεν αρνούνται
την... οριοθέτηση και την αφηγηματικότητα. Το άλμπουμ, διάρκειας 53 λεπτών, και με τις
εναλλαγές των 18 κομματιών να μην είναι πάντοτε σαφείς, είναι χαρακτηριστικό ενός
τρόπου ομαδικού παιξίματος και επικοινωνίας μεταξύ των μουσικών, ο οποίος (τρόπος)
μπορεί να άγεται απο τον κλασικό euro-improv σκηνικό, δεν τα στυλώνει όμως και
μπροστά στην "Keith Jarrett-ική" μυσταγωγία.
Αργύρης Ζήλος, Αθηνόραμα #559, 27 Ιανουαρίου 2011
www.athinorama.gr/music/records/
Translation Outward Bound's first recording that reached our hands - the Triple Bath namesake CD-R that is, was one of 2009's surprises. As we approach 2011 a CD named "The Path" is released by the British "Slam Productions", a modern, loyal label that has also collaborated with other improvisers such as Charles Hayward and Lol Coxhill.This fact proves that Outward Bound is one of the most interesting groups that sojourn in the country's iconoclastic scene.
An honour for the three musicians from Crete, Antonis Tsikandilakis (piano),Yiannis Iliakis (drums) and Dimitris Neonakis (el. guitar), as they find the... Path through a recognized British label.
A pleasant occasion for us as we listen to such vivid music from three 30year olds that dare to experiment but in the same time adopt delineation and narrativity.The album that lasts 53 min and includes 18 not always distictive tracks, reveals a certain connection between the three musicians, a way of playing music that may emanate from the classic euro-improv scene but also does not show intimidation in front of the "Keith Jarrett ritual". Fontas Troussas , "Jazz & Tζαζ¨" magazine . February 2011
Αυτοσχεδίαζε ο Σατί; Όχι κατ' αυτόν τον τρόπο πάντως, δηλαδή με τον μίνιμαλ
ενδολυρισμό του πιάνου (Αντώνης Τσικανδηλάκης) εκτεθειμένο στον "κακόβουλο"
αντίλογο της ηλεκτρικής κιθάρας (Δημήτρης Νεονάκης), ενόσω τα ντράμς
(Γιάννης Ηλιάκης) αδημονούν να εκτρέψουν την ίδια την βάση του διαλόγου
πρός ένα τζαζίστικο laissez-faire, αν όχι προς έναν "τελετουργικό" μαξιμαλισμό-
αφήσουμε τις ροκάδικες ενορμήσεις τους, που δεν τους πολυβγαίνουν...
(Slam) 3,5/5
Trans:
Did Satie improvise? If so, definitely not in such ways. Not with the minimal
lyricism of the piano (Antonis Tsikandilakis) exposed to the "malicious" retort
of the electric guitar (Dimitris Neonakis), while the drums (Giannis Iliakis)
long to turn the dialog's base itself into a jazz laissez-faire, if not into
a "ritualistic" maximalism. However, although beautifully performed, we shall
let aside their rock attempts, as they are not very successful...
Argiris Zilos , Athinorama . January 27th, 2011
http://www.athinorama.gr/music/records/default.aspx?i=1791
OUTWARD BOUND / The Path (Slam Productions)
Un trio grec qui propose un jazz feutré, atmosphérique, aux accents ECM, avec une dimension expérimentale légère et intégrée aux ambiances. L'écriture est souvent discrète et spartiate, laissant beaucoup de place aux résonances entre les notes du guitariste électrique Neonakis Dimitris et du pianiste Tsikandilakis Antonis. Agréable sans être marquant.
A Greek trio playing velvety, atmospheric, ECM-tinged jazz, with a light experimental dimension mostly related to ambiances. The writing is often discreet and sparse, leaving lots of room for Neonakis Dmitris's electric guitar notes and Tsikandilakis Antonis' piano notes to resonate. Nice, not great.
François Couture http://blog.monsieurdelire.com/2011/01/2011-01-05-outward-bound.html