Stephan Micus - Athos

Label: EMC
Year: 1994

Athos sounds as a very difficult and powerful outcome of one extremely talented musical figure such as Stephan Micus is. 8 are the songs of this, maybe not an album with the strict and common usage of the term but, better described as a pilgrimage to Introspection. It feels, while listening to it, that the man has, finally, achieved to edit the silence loudly! For those who have no clue, Athos is the ''holy'' peninsula that comes under the Halkidiki county, in the northern part of Greece (next to Salonica), and is the refuge for some hundreds of monks devoted in body and spirit, forever, to their strong christianic faith (something like the Vatican but of a more mystical appeal than the latter). The recording is somehow, a small itinerary through the mystical and profound ways of the ecclesiastical motif of sanctity. Despite the religious references, that are clear and obvious, the unearthly atmosphere that passes through, is truthfully enchanting. Micus is the performer of all the voices and instrumentation. Symbolism plays a rather intriguing role in this solemn work! All the tracks that have an odd number are those with the vocal interpretation and all the even, are the mere instrumental ones (except for the last one, the eighth, that combines both.) All the vocalized tracks are an ‘’a cappella’’ orgasm of 22 voices (all by Micus!!) entwined harmonically to achieve a theurgical atmosphere that is able to transcend the listener to an extraordinary realm filled with sobriety and calmness. On the other hand, the low-key musical songs, derive from the minimal performance of two unique instruments: the Bavarian Zither and the Sattar (sounds like sitar!), bring a Byzantine ethnical scent in the whole concept of the album. If you are a fan of Dead Can Dance, Elijah’s Mantle, Ataraxia, Enya, Kitaro and of all kinds of the ritualistic sound (dark or not), I am pretty much sure that you will embrace it with no second thought. Oh!! tis an outstanding and divine piece of art and an unknown land, for most of the people. Even if you are a believer or a disbeliever try to listen to this album regardless of the religious background that thrives in it! And you will find peacefulness in it! Furthermore, if you are a wisdom seeker you would already know that knowledge engulfs everything! because knowledge is limitless and ever-permeable to anything. Wisdom includes belief as well as disbelief and a wise mind ought to be opened to everything!! Try out Athos and send me your opinions!!