Description
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“Tomos 2” is a special album by Greek composer Costis Drygianakis, originally released in 1994 and now available for the first time on digital and vinyl through a collaboration between labels. The album is part of the Optiki Mousiki project, which was active from 1984 to 1987 and produced a range of recordings. “Tomos 1” was their first full-length release, showcasing a combination of industrial noise elements, electro-acoustic experiments, and instrumental pieces.
“Tomos 2” represents the second phase of the Optiki Mousiki project after a hiatus. It reflects Drygianakis’s contemplation on the meaning of his own music and the role of avant-garde art in general. Departing from the sound of its predecessor, this album questions conventional notions of taste by merging “non-serious” musical ideas with traditional elements. It draws inspiration from spiritual realms, including the lives of Christian saints, Tibetan Buddhism, Sufism, and Hinduism.
Drygianakis collaborated with musicians such as Sokratis Sinopoulos, Kostas Tsianos, Dimitris Yiagas, Ross Daly, and Konstantinos Karagounis. The album was shaped by his personal experiences and emotions, as he channeled his melancholy and frustration into four long tracks that synthesized his inspirations, impulses, and desires. The electronic nature of the project led Drygianakis to incorporate the legendary Akai S-1000 sampler, which allowed him to blend sounds from various sources, bridging the acoustic and digital worlds.
The result is an album that skillfully combines influences from artists like Tangerine Dream and Diamanda Galas into a distinct sonic landscape. It evokes a sense of the East without abandoning its Western roots. The opening section features ornate strings layered over electronic rhythms and submerged synthesizers, while hypnotic vocals allude to the album’s religious themes. The second segment adopts a minimal and gentle approach, gradually transitioning from acoustic to electronic elements. The third chapter showcases dense instrumental drones, creating an epic and cinematic atmosphere. The final section intensifies with crushing treatments, blending religious vocal techniques, Balkan string flourishes, searing noise, and dissonant electro-acoustic elements.
Listening to “Tomos 2” nearly three decades later, the album feels prophetic, addressing themes and concepts that have become even more relevant over time. By challenging the logic of world music, new age, and the avant-garde, Drygianakis presents a narrative that continues to resonate with each passing day.
