artist: Iasos country of origin: Greece/USA style(s): Ambient, spacemusic, new age essential releases: Angelic Music (1978, Interdimensional Music) Elixer (1983, Interdimensional Music)

Greek-born composer Iasos has his roots firmly in Californian new age, a world of crystals, astrology, chakras and (ahem) "tuning into angels". Along with the singularly unexceptional music of Dr. Steven Halpern, Iasos' music was among the earliest electronica to be sold as healing music, with Iasos adding some incomprehensible new age gobbledygook on his sleeve notes for good measure. That's the bad news. The good news is that, on these two albums he has his finger firmly on the musical pulse.

Whether it's "healing" or not is beside the point, although there's no doubting the composer's sincerity. What really matters is that Angelic Music and Elixer contains some of the most cosmic, intricately textured electronic ambience ever to come out of America's West Coast. It literally sparkles with life and light. Iasos' synth sounds are very distinctive, lush without being overly glossy, and were the product of many years development. It may get a tad cheesy at times but tracks like "The Angels Of Comfort" and "The Decent Of Spring" are completely lovely and make these albums a must-have.

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