Artist: Armik CD Title: “Lost In Paradise” Reviewed by: Nick Martinelli Reviewed: 5/6/2004

Flamenco master guitarist, Armik takes you on an old world journey into musical paradise. The CD cleverly titled 'Lost In Paradise' showcases beautiful songs combining many styles of guitar effortlessly. Armik can seamlessly combine bolero, flamenco, jazz, and Latin for a memorable musical experience. After giving this cd multiple listens I was still left breathless. His style is very invigorating, fresh and romantic at the same time. You’ll soon find yourself drifting of into an enlightened state of mind.

Armik starts this quest with the Spanish influenced 'Barcelona Sunsets.' His melodies are exquisite, bringing the listener into flamenco trance. One quality that shines through about Armik’s playing is his speed and cleanliness. Being a nylon stringed guitarist, much focus is spent on perfecting technique and clarity. Armik excels in all musical territories. His inspiring writing abilities come to light in 'Lost In Paradise' (the title track) with this medium paced masterpiece. Armik showcases a wide range of melodic leads accompanied by soulful rhythm nuances. Each movement in the songs pours into the next so smooth and fluidly. 'Golden Touch' is an upbeat flamenco entourage of stylish nylon stringdom. I really enjoyed his speedy runs that are strategically placed throughout the track. The songs main melody drives the endless flamenco vibe that Armik is known for. 'Bolero Passion' expresses the passion of two lovers embraced in a deeply romantic dance. His emotions as an artist pour right out of his hands into the rosewood fret board of his instrument. 'Almeria' will ignite the gypsy in you with this catchy fast passed flamenco/bolero style song. Armik never rests when it comes to evolving exciting melodies and intertwining chorus lines. His guitar has a voice of its own. What he does with his talent doesn’t seem humanly possible. 'Magic of Your Eyes' is a mysterious, melody-driven, timeless piece. Armik’s composition skills are enthralling and it’s a prime example of how he changes pace multiple times within one song. 'Treasures of Spain' is a European infused song that would please the king himself. It’s a little darker sounding than the other songs on the cd. This one is filled with layers upon layers of magic. Tasty key boards and quick guitar lines will embrace the listener’s ears many times over. 'Dreaming of You' truly puts you in a dreamlike state with its smooth trances. The percussion drives the song along steady and gives Armik a perfect platform to solo upon. Also enjoyable are the numerous piano/guitar duos where they play in perfect harmony. 'Gypsy Love' is a romantic piece filled with passion and desire. Armik’s soloing is purely divine and seams perfectly with his rhythm section. My favorite progression begins at 1:20 where he uses lots of triplet movements are very distinctly in the flamenco style. 'Romantic Escape' will take the listener on a dangerous journey into the world of passionate flamenco desires. Armik’s playing is very deep and sensuous leading the listener on a different turn with each note that steams from his guitar. Lastly, 'Solo Para Ti' sadly brings the cd to a close. This number is in a freeform style and almost seems improvised. He leaves himself a lot of headroom to perform over. His backing rhythms are faint and silent at times allowing his solo to do all the talking. Armik carries on with a very Spanish influenced approach by using triplets, tremolo picking wholetone scales.

Armik’s guitar virtuosity is truly a rare art form in today’s music industry. His music is deep, emotional and pure. Armik’s artistry is unbelievable. Every time I listen to his playing it inspires me to pickup my nylon stringed acoustic to compose. Another thing that contributes to his sound is that he plays all handmade flamenco acoustics from Spain. His guitar sound has a rich and deep tone, making for a perfect harmony of technique and tone. These handcrafted instruments are definitely works of art and Armik uses them to their fullest capacity. He is a true flamenco master. Armik has spent years perfecting his style and it’s most evident that it’s one of the best out there today. I’m eagerly anticipating his next release to see what flamenco experience he’ll take me on next. For more information please visit http://www.armik.com/.

Links:
http://www.armik.com/
http://www.bolero-records.com/