chiparus - alcyone

Chiparus 

Alcyone
self-released; 2013

3.7 out of 5

By Kristen Fisher

Recording out of his living room, Chiparus aka Chip Yamada created a distinct style of Americana, spiritual awakening and using literally everything within arm’s length to his disposal. A part of Smith and Half Smith, Chip went back and forth between traveling and recording his newest solo work ALCYONE giving him this world traveler aura. Staying true to the disposition of using what’s available to you, if there was a creak in the floorboard or a slight slip of a rhythm, it was caught by the microphones. Capturing the sounds of nature surrounding his home could possibly be the reason this is an authentic American-styled album.  

From the longer tracks that rack in five plus minutes this EP gives you the intention of lounging back and forgetting your troubles for a bit. You could call him a serenade sort of man but ultimately this storyteller makes your day just a little bit easier to get through. “Amelia” became a personal favorite from the start, a tragedy of sorts about this girl. While the track has a serious tone vibrating throughout, there is a since of mystical running away that makes you feel hopeful.  As this song cascades into “Time Will Tell” my mind immediately went towards Cat Steven’s “Wild World.” The fact that, that song has an iconic trail of history to its name, holding the flame in the same fashion, has a bittersweet note. “Time Will Tell” may very well be that tune that leaves you either crying about another or thinking ahead in the near future. 

The whole of these eight raw, crafted musical tracks can easily be summed up. Natural, without the over-laying and processed synthesizers, Chiparus has a classic up his sleeve. If you didn't already know this album was out, it ventured into our world in June. And on a fun note, don't you love it when you come across an album name that just so happens to be one of Greece's worthwhile love stories.

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