Instrumentals we love, part two: When Morricone meets Wilson

“September Memory” by Ilias | Ilias is a singer/songwriter, partly Algerian, based in Sydney – more proof that I attract a lot of Aussies to this blog – and he sent me links to his first album, Somewhere In Time. (A product of ten years of work, it’s now available for download here.) It’s a pretty nifty mix of guitar playing and a bit of atmosphere, the best example being in this instrumental track “September Memory”.  “I think it really takes you on an emotional journey as well, but without any lyrics whatsoever,” he told me. “Ennio Morricone was the master of this.” Among his other influences are Brian Wilson (“lot of the sounds were moved around and assembled later in the mixing stage … he used this technique extensively on Smile“) and Burt Bacharach, which you can hear on “Sometimes I Wonder”, soulful vocals and all. Worth a listen, if you ask me. (Have things I should hear? Drop me a line here.)