Optimystique

{{Infobox album

| name = Optimystique

| type = studio

| artist = Yanni

| cover = Yanni-Optimystique1984cover.png

| alt =

| caption = 1984 release front cover

| released = 1984

| recorded = {{ubl|1980|Cookhouse Studios and Sound 80 (Minneapolis, Minnesota)}}

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| length = 38:41

| label = Independent (1980)
Varèse Sarabande (1984)
Private Music (1989)

| producer = {{flatlist|

}}

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Keys to Imagination

| next_year = 1986

| misc = {{Extra album cover

| header = Alternative cover

| type = studio

| cover = Yanni-Optimystique1989cover.png

| border =

| alt =

| caption = 1989 release front cover

}}

}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|2|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000200176|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic]

}}

Optimystique is the debut studio album by Greek keyboardist, composer, and producer Yanni, released in 1980 independently. It was re-released in 1984 by Varèse Sarabande and in 1989 by Private Music.

Liner notes

{{cquote|Optimystique was recorded in 1980 and released for the first time in 1984. I considered re-recording or reworking the material before re-releasing it again, but the album has a very special sound representative of a particular time early in my career which I wanted to preserve. For me, it is a piece of my history I remember fondly.{{cite AV media notes |title=Optimystique|others=Yanni |year=1989|type= CD liner|publisher=Private Music}}}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

|all_writing = Yanni

|title1 = The Sphynx

|length1 = 4:13

|title2 = Butterfly Dance

|length2 = 6:26

|title3 = Strings

|length3 = 3:50

|title4 = Twilight

|length4 = 7:35

|title5 = The Chase

|length5 = 5:08

|title6 = Farewell

|length6 = 2:47

|title7 = Turn of the Tide

|length7 = 3:57

|title8 = The Magus

|length8 = 4:45

{{listen

| header = "Butterfly Dance" (1980)

| filename = Yanni ButterflyDance.ogg

| title = "Butterfly Dance"

| description = Early in his career Yanni focused heavily on the electronic side of music.Burnett, Richard, [http://blogs.montrealgazette.com/2012/06/14/from-the-acropolis-to-america-yanni-still-sits-on-top-of-the-world/ "From the Acropolis to America, Yanni still sits on top of the world"] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120620162224/http://blogs.montrealgazette.com/2012/06/14/from-the-acropolis-to-america-yanni-still-sits-on-top-of-the-world/ WebCite archive]), The Gazette (Montreal), June 14, 2012.

| format = Ogg

| pos = left

}}

{{-}}

}}

Personnel

Production

  • Produced by Jerry Steckling and Yanni
  • Executive Producers: Mark MacPherson and Tom Paske
  • Engineered by Jerry Steckling
  • Assistant Engineer: Chopper Black
  • Recorded at Cookhouse Studios and Sound 80, Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Los Angeles

References

{{Reflist}}