Keys to Imagination

Keys to Imagination is the second studio album by Greek keyboardist and composer Yanni, released on the Private Music label in 1986.

Keys to Imagination
Studio album by
Yanni
ReleasedAugust 18, 1986
GenreInstrumental, space music[1]
Length38:13
LabelPrivate Music
ProducerYanni
Yanni chronology
Optimystique
(1984)		 Keys to Imagination
(1986)		 Out of Silence
(1987)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

Background & production

In an interview with Cymbiosis, Yanni said that he often spent 12-15 hours a day producing the album. Yanni also stated that his favorite part about producing the album was to activate "up to six or seven [slave] keyboards" and that "the most simple sounds on Keys to Imagination are made with at least two or three keyboards."[3]

Critical reception

In a review by Backroads Music/Heartbeats, "Yanni's first Private Music release is a true masterpiece of dramatic synthesizer music. His music is lusty and brilliant, richly melodious and memorable, full of passion & life as befits his Greek heritage. One of the ultimate car-stereo albums, Yanni's flamboyant, superb style of compositions makes Keys to Imagination some of the most extravagant, hyperspace music we know."[1] Mark Jacobs of Cymbiosis, praised the album, writing "Yanni displays sensitivity and warmth that conveys emotions to the listener while still achieving excellent recorded sound; qualities that are sadly lacking on many 'Synthesizer' albums." Jacobs cited two songs, "Looking Glass" and "Santorini", which were also included in the corresponding cassette for the magazine.[3]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."The North Shore of Matsushima"5:08
2."Looking Glass"6:35
3."Nostalgia"4:27
4."Santorini"4:34
5."Port of Mystery"4:49
6."Keys to Imagination"5:13
7."Forgotten Yesterdays"3:30
8."Forbidden Dreams"3:57
Notes
  • "Port of Mystery" is most well-known around the web as being one of the background tracks used in The "Concept Unification" installation videotape from 1989, which instructed the process that replaced The Rock-afire Explosion animatronic band at ShowBiz Pizza Place with characters from Chuck E. Cheese's due to a licensing disagreement with Creative Engineering.

Personnel
  • All music composed and produced by Yanni

Production

Yanni recorded Keys to Imagination at his home studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

  • Executive Producer: Peter Baumann
  • Mixed by Peter Baumann, Jerry Steckling, and Yanni
  • Engineer: Jerry Steckling
  • Assistant Engineer: Chris Bubacz
  • Mastered at Masterdisk (New York City by Bob Ludwig)
  • Cover concept: Peter Baumann
  • Photo-Illustration: Stafford/Wehlacz for Prima Vista Studios
  • Art Direction: Dale Wehlacz
  • Photography: Stafford
  • Photocomposite: M. Bonner
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References
  1. Backroads Music. "Review of Keys to Imagination". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  2. AllMusic
  3. Jacobs, Mark (August 1987). "Yanni - New Orchestral Landscapes". Cymbiosis. West Covina, California. 1 (3): 36–38. ISSN 0895-6936. OCLC 16743840.
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