TA PAICHNIDIA TOU ILIOU

TA PAICHNIDIA TOU ILIOU (Τα Παιχνίδια του Ήλιου / The Tricks Of The Sun) is a mysterious Greek rock project around the frontman, composer, producer Spiros ROUCHOTAS in late 2000s, that have released only one eponymous album in 2007.

Their psychedelic essence can be put together especially into the first track "Ra (Ρα)", the longest track (thirteen and half a minute one) and simultaneously their masterpiece - in my opinion, and guess everybody may say so. Under the first topping with squeezed synthesizer noises, a sharp-ended keyboard solo and soft, hypnotic sound triangle hits go together, occasionally with chaotic synthesizer-based atmosphere. Hallucinogenic, organic, Oriental flute and acoustic guitar solos (tinged with Greek flavour?) foot-printed here and there, can remind me something like Eastern Krautrock texture (more gracious than Seikazoku). In such a quiet and solemn manner, our altered state of mind slips into another scene, with mellow, trippy female chorus (what a sensuality). Exactly we can call this stuff as a transient trip into trance.

No, dream cannot be ended ? the next "The Dream (Τ' Όνειρο)", like a flood of moonshine, navigates us into another dreamy nature. This acid folk, so to speak, is created by soft and smooth voices, rings of a bell, and acoustic guitar vibes. The air, never continued persistently, gets altered in the following heavy space rock "Flutter Of The Butterfly (η Πεταλούδα ανοίγει τα Φτερά της)", that sounds excellent with magical flute sounds and heavy, deep rhythms ? easy to listen to, but not easy to completely digested, because of this perverse flavour around the song I imagine? The eponymous song "The Tricks Of The Sun (τα Παιχνίδια του Ήλιου)" is the mixture of a fine acid folk and a rhythmical bluesy rock. Comfortable is such a smooth melody and floating beat stream, and powerful riffs. A bit pop but not simple one, my tuppence.

The last "Epilogue (Επίλογος)" is absolutely multi-nutritional one, at least for me. I cannot understand why, but laughter of children and a graceful guitar solo (as if it may laugh together with children) can be fascinating - everyone says this song is a simple acoustic folk, but let me say, this epilogue is an attractive experiment, drenched into massive laughter, that can addict us surely.