Four Corners No Walls

Maria Antonakos

  • AllMusic Rating
    6
  • User Ratings (0)
  • Your Rating

Four Corners No Walls Review

by Jason MacNeil

The theme of this new-age music revolves around countries and cultures, whether it's Greece, India, France or Ireland. Much in line with the likes of Charlotte Church and especially Sarah Brightman, Antonakos delivers a well-rounded performance throughout, hitting each note with agility and precision. The duet with tenor John McDermott on Sweet Sister Mary demonstrates the depth of her delivery as well as the etheral heights her vocals can create. Although the genre of new-age has been often given a bad name, this album proves to be a notable exception. Rusalka's Water Song, with its simple arrangement, teeters between rock and new age, reaching a fine balance. Some introductions into the tracks are a bit tedious, as poetry is recited in different languages along with chanting. If I Suffer is another hidden gem. Initially accompanied by piano, the song's strength lies in its simplicity, leading into a quasi-calypso progression. Inspired by writers such as Robert Burns and Victor Hugo, there are some miscues, including Mignon's Lied, sung in German but influenced greatly by ABBA's hit The Winner Takes It All. Nonetheless, the album is an eclectic offering by a promising talent.

blue highlight denotes track pick