THE 4 LEVELS OF EXISTENCE

Very good (although not as great as hyped) Greek psychedelic album. Sung totally in Greek language, an album that many people consider to be the best Greek psychedelic album ever recorded, a belief that would mean that the Four Levels of Existence LP would supersede albums by artists like Axis, Aphrodite's Child, Socrates, Akritas etc. This is not my personal opinion of course . I consider the music belongs to late 60s vibes, the vocals could be better and the lyrics are extremely poor and childish. At any case, this could not even compare to Aphrodite's Child '666' or 'Akritas' s/t. Nevertheless it's a collectors item, originally released in a very small quantity (1000 pcs) by the private Venus label in 1976. Three stars from me, for the good effort.

Very simple Greek psychedelia constructed only by two guitars, one bass, and drums - TA 4 ΕΠΙΠΕΔΑ ΤΗΣ ΥΠΑΡΞΗΣ (The 4 Levels Of Existence).

With due deliberation on the background and history of Greek rock (progressive or not), their rockin' soul might override the seven years when the civil administration was brutally suppressed by The Regime of the Colonels, I suggest. Maybe as for current opinions of many progressive rock freaks, their play and style is not really progressive, nor so psychedelic. However, let me emphasize that their flexible shouts for "freedom" with attitude against such a suppression should be progressive at that moment in Greece, alright? Indeed their skill of playing is not so good - their vocals are slightly out of tune (sorry) and Chiristos' drumming is slightly unsettled (sorry again) - but this less skilled flavour in them should be comfortable and familiar for me without any suspicion. The adverse circumstances in their nation should get to be their sensitivity and dynamism I consider. I'm so glad you can listen to this whole album with such due deliberation.

All the songs on this album are very simple, without any special instrument. Two guitars and a rhythm section - that's all - shoot simple, light, thin sounds, that can make psychedelia on a huge scale. Just like non-heavy, non-matured, and non-smokey-flavoured whisky...but they might be so great just upon the political change in Greece to produce such an interesting and amazing stuff.

Cannot recommend The 4 Levels Of Existence to all Psychedelic Progressive / Space Rock fans (so gave only two stars to it), but only to freaks immersed into oldie psychedelic rock and the historical background of rock music in Greece.

Personally this album is absolutely one of my favourites, anyhow.

The 4 Levels of Existence only existed just long enough to produce one album, recorded in about ten hours and released on an obscure underground label, but that's the stuff of which prog legends are made. The album is a tasty Greek salad of Psychedelic Rock, spiced up with a light sprinkling of feta cheese. The lyrics are all in Greek, but that's part of its endearing charm. In spiritual tradition, the name of the band and eponymous album is a reference to the four Sanskrit levels of human existence. Namely, the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. To improve physical well-being, you could try walking, stretching, massage, yoga, running, dancing or swimming. Or alternatively, if that all sounds like too much hard work and you want to save a lot of time and effort, why not just listen to the album instead. It'll only take 35 minutes of your time and you don't even need to take any vitamin supplements.