*Get "Dare to Dream" by Yanni on Amazon here*
*Get Yanni In Words by Yanni with David Rensin on Amazon here*
With his swarthy good looks and hair a male pattern baldness sufferer like myself would kill for, Yanni was almost as pretty as the music on this album. Unfortunately, more than half the songs here confirm the reputation that New Age/Ambient music has acquired over the years- a lot of this stuff is really good, and a lot of this stuff is slop. By song:
1. Once Upon a Time
The song's sudden start will catch you off guard, and the tune has a touchy-feely-warm-fuzzy ambience to it. It sounds like the end credits to a "The Mighty Ducks" film.
2. A Love for Life
An edgier feel makes this a better listen. The album should have opened with this.
3. Nice to Meet You
An acoustic violin gives this a jaunty, jazzy, Celtic bounce. Really great.
4. So Long My Friend
Simple and sad piano is punctuated by completely unnecessary background instruments.
5. You Only Live Once
Driving percussion dress up this average cut, but this is way too long at over seven minutes.
6. To the One Who Knows
This time, simple and sad piano is helped by background instruments; a nice, plain piece.
7. Face in the Photograph
The piano sails here, in a lush tune that screams for comparable lyrics.
8. Felitsa
I do not know who or what a Felitsa is, but this feels contrived and emotionless.
9. Desire
I certainly hope this is not what desire sounds like to Yanni- bored drums and harsh wind instruments.
10. Aria
Taken from a French opera, this is the only cut on the album with vocals. There is more than just a backbeat here, and Yanni re-imagining other operatic works could prove interesting.
11. A Night to Remember
The less than stellar CD starts to wind down with a night I would prefer to forget- long and repetitive.
12. In the Mirror
The album ends where it begins- on a sour note.
Never mind that the song titles sound like greeting card categories at a strip mall pharmacy, or the program at a really dull French film festival. The entire effort smacks of mediocrity. I usually like this kind of stuff but the negative outweighs the positive. I must slightly not recommend "Dare to Dream."
