Keys to Imagination
{{Infobox album
| name = Keys to Imagination
| type = studio
| artist = Yanni
| cover = Yanni-Keys to Imagination.png
| alt =
| released = September 1986
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Instrumental, space music
| length = 38:13
| label = Private Music
| producer = Yanni
| prev_title = Optimystique
| prev_year = 1984
| next_title = Out of Silence
| next_year = 1987
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000651002|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic]
}}
Keys to Imagination is the second studio album by Greek keyboardist and composer Yanni, released on the Private Music label in 1986.
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."
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."{{cite web |author=Backroads Music |url={{AllMusic|class=album |id=mw0000651002 |pure_url=yes}}|title= Review of Keys to Imagination |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=2015-10-15}} 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.{{cite journal|last1=Jacobs|first1=Mark|title=Yanni - New Orchestral Landscapes|journal=Cymbiosis|date=August 1987|volume=1|issue=3|pages=36–38|location=West Covina, California|issn=0895-6936|oclc=16743840}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| title1 = The North Shore of Matsushima
| length1 = 5:08
| title2 = Looking Glass
| length2 = 6:35
| title3 = Nostalgia
| length3 = 4:27
| title4 = Santorini
| length4 = 4:34
| title5 = Port of Mystery
| length5 = 4:49
| title6 = Keys to Imagination
| length6 = 5:13
| title7 = Forgotten Yesterdays
| length7 = 3:30
| title8 = Forbidden Dreams
| length8 = 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
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.yanni.com/ Official Website]
- {{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000651002|label=Keys to Imagination}}
{{Yanni}}
{{Authority control}}