A CHILD IN THE MIRROR

Once a friend of mine suggested we should go and see a Verbal Delirium gig. Thankfully we did so because I discovered two marvellous bands since Ciccada were supporting them! That time their configuration was entirely instrumental since their singer had just given birth to her baby and she had to take some leave for a while. The thing is I was stunned by this set-up. I remember I thought to myself "hey, they should play a Camel cover" and, believe it or not, they played the first side of The Snow Goose (and a few years later the whole album in its entirety). I had no other option than go to the merchandise and buy their music (this album was their only one back then). Ciccada are knee-deep into the 70s sound (Camel, VDGG, Jethro Tull to name a few), but, to my understanding at least, they do have their own, distinctive sound. The way they change meters so seamlessly and effortlessly is astonishing. I also love their rich orchestrations which aside the standard flute (and saxophone, but not on this album) by Nikolopoulos, they include clarinet, glockenspiel, cello, french horns and trumpet. George Mouchos balances beautifully the electric and acoustic parts (although as far as I can understand he is more accomplished as a classical guitar player). There is only one knock on Ciccada and that's the vocals, not all the time, but when Kozoni sings on a higher pitch (Ένα παιδί στον καθρέφτη - A Child in the Mirror is a prime example) she sounds a bit annoying to my ears. I don't mean that I don't like high-pitched vocals as a whole, but Kozoni's tone of voice isn't as good. Let me tell you, if you find the vocals OK, then you will definitely fall for Ciccada because their music is pure gold. The full- instrumental tracks Ciccada, A Storyteller's Dream and Elisabeth are surely among the best. An Endless Sea, Isabella Sunset, The Moment and Epirus - A Mountain Song (the birthplace and origin of Mouchos) are just as good and the title-track, Raindrops and Garden of Delights fall a bit short largely due to the vocals. But the bottom-line, in my opinion, is that if vocals aren't a nuisance, it is highly unlikely that you won't find interesting this album.