A sonic journey through real and imagined landscapes, where field recordings meet memory and listening becomes ritual.
Athens, Greece-based composer, electronic music producer & sound artist Giannis Papaioannou returns with his multifaced Ambient project IØN, announcing the release of the new album “Soundscapes Vol. 2,” due out digitally on May 16, 2025, through the first single, titled “Athen Autobahn Berlin”, and the accompanied DIY visuals.
The 20-track “Soundscapes Vol. 2” LP is a continuation of the series initiated by “IØN with Vol. 1”, now delving even deeper into sonic observation and personal acoustic exploration. It continues IØN ‘s mark on contemporary Ambient music, featuring field recordings, analog and digital textures, and hints of melancholy reminiscent of the work of composers such as Roedelius or William Basinski.
“Athen Autobahn Berlin” evokes a cocooning calmness with glimmers of bittersweet hope in the not too far distance, by constructing a majestic and resonant aura through an alluring, sinuous atmospheric symphony, built with a giddy weave of solemn luminescences, soft vaporous pulsations, tinkling vibrations, melancholic, spindly fluting spirals and scattered percussive patterns, to provide a listening full of intensity and emotion, exploring the thin line between fantasy and reality
The Official Video by Giannis Papaioannou himself uses AI to create a visually immersive ambient journey through urban plazas, architectural fragments, and buried emotions, opening a portal into a world where machine-generated visions meet human memory. Surreal, grey, and welcoming, the vision stirs the soul with cherished recollections of childhood, romance, and feelings that the sky is the limit. The clip helps the viewer draw from their own personal experiences by making the concept abstract, whilst travelling around winding roads in an old-fashioned car searching through the fog and looking at shadows.
IØN‘s new album, “Soundscapes Vol. 2”, will be out digitally on May 16, 2025 via all the major digital platforms. More details about the Cassette edition and upcoming live appearances will be announced soon.
Keep up with IØN:
photo by Peny Sotiropoulou
