SYNEMOTION

OH. stands for Olivia Hadjiioannou who is a multi-instrumentalist from Greece. "Synemotion" is an instrumental concept album about the journey one goes through emotionally after experiencing very difficult circumstances. This isn't the first instrumental concept album I own in fact I have a few and i'm always amazed at how effective the music can be when keeping the title of the song one is listening to in mind.

Olivia plays all the instruments here including bass, drums, guitar and keyboards as well as the spoken words on the title track. I did feel a little disappointed when I read somewhere else that the vocals on her EP reminded the reviewer of Anneke Van Giesbergen and Sharon Den Adel two vocalists that I consider right at the top of my favourite female singers. Regardless the music here is what I would describe as "Metal" and was somewhat surprised that this project is listed under Crossover and not Prog-Metal but then again I haven't heard the EP, plus it may be because there are only two songs over 4 minutes here at 4:01 and 4:21 respectively. While the songs are short this is supposed to be one long suite but is broken down into parts for radio airplay purposes.

I won't go track by track as there is a somewhat a samey feel throughout this recording which isn't a negative for me at all. It is fairly heavy and dark with heavy riffs and prominent drums. I do really like "Elegy", especially the way it starts with keys and some atmosphere. Also the instrumental version of "Synemotion" is probably my favourite with those vocal melodies and the contrast of the heavy and lighter passages.

Without a doubt this is a good album but I must admit i'm tougher on one man(or woman) projects as I prefer bands. My Brother In Law has made several Krautrock/ Psychedelic recording that I prefer to pretty much any other one person project i've heard as he also plays all the instruments and records them and puts it all together in his rather rudimentary studio.