Purple Overdose: Indigo 1990 + Purple Overdose 1994 + Reborn 1999 + The Salmon's Trip Live 2001

 

Purple Overdose are considered among their fans as the one and only local group that revives and improves the fine psychedelic music of the great 60s artists.The group was formed in Athens,

Greece in 1988.Their leader, Kostas Konstantinou, was one of the most talented musicians in Greece. He was the man who formed the group, the lead guitarist, the vocalist, the light spirit who writes their music and his inspiration creates lyrics of exceptional beauty and sensitivity, forming poems beyond any imagination, exactly in the fine tradition of the futuristic psychedelic era.Purple Overdose, during their 12 years of existence, have already released 5 albums, prooving their big talent and knowledge in psychedelic music.
                        

The band seeks to recreate the psychedelic atmosphere of the mid 1960's while blending hard rock,

jazz, oriental and even some folklore into their music. The lyrics in English written by Konstantinou, can be described as poetic and somewhat sentimental, and draw inspiration from the flower power movement of the 1960's. They embrace ideals of nature and freedom of spirit.
The band has released 9 albums: 5 studio albums, 3 live albums and a compilation album.
           

The first album Exit 4 was released in 1988 and received critical acclaim. The arrangements on this

debut album are slightly simpler than on later albums, incorporating elements of hard rock with psychedelia. The second album, Indigo (1990) marks a move towards more complex compositions. On 1993 Purple Overdose released a double A sided single, with the tracks "2008 Old View" and "You Loose It" . The single was recorded for another small independent label, Fifth Dimension Records, featuring unique cover artwork too.
                            

The next album to follow is the same-titled Purple Overdose introducing the flute (Vasilis Kapanikis) and elements of jazz, and a further move towards more progressive compositions. Simply titled with

their name, this LP had the most extraordinary cover ever seen before. A giant size folded wall poster of colorful psychedelic artwork, painted by Iliana Noea. Inside, the vinyl contained 8 psychedelic classics, able to satisfy every soul dedicated to listening this kind of music. Great compositions like "Fell From The Stars" (a great opening for such an album), "My Little Elf", "Lord IT's Me", "Chase The Shadow" comprise an excellent album, that all the major music magazines of Greece rated with the highest possible rates.
                          

On the Spring of 1996 Purple Overdose's long awaited 4th album "SOLEMN VISIONS" was releases by Pegasus Records once more. Here the group reached the maximum of psychedelic power and sounded better and more mature than even before. The LP was again accompanied by

a multicolored futuristic cover artwork, created by Iliana Noea, showing thousands of strange creatures over and under unknown lands and oceans playing games with fairies. The music was evolving into uncharted paths of psychedelia and the use of sitar in some tracks gave an oriental touch to the overall result. Great compositions like "Pulsating The Door Of My Dreams", "Funny Decoration" and "Solemn Visions" gave again the chance to many local magazines for voting this album with 9s ans 10s. Solemn Visions (1996) which experiments in places with a curious mixture of blues and oriental influences.
           

Finally by the end of April 1999, Purple Overdose released their 5th album "REBORN", this time only on CD, through Action Records . With this superb concept work the group is stealing hearts everywhere in and out of Greece. Everybody, public and experts in the music industry, agreed

that this unexpected masterpiece is destined to be the best closing act of the century for the psychedelic/progressive rock era. The fifth studio album, Reborn, released in 1999, is arguably the pinnacle of their career. This album features longer spacier compositions, and again a variety of styles, showing the band at full maturity. Of the live releases of particular note is The Salmon's Trip whose title is taken from the track Reborn, a track which describes the life cycle of the salmon fish. There is also a composition album, Painting The Air which consists of tracks from the earlier years, as well as three previously unreleased compositions.
             

Purple Overdose have created the sound reminiscent of the 1960's while managing to produce modern,

unique compositions to great effect, experimenting with a wide variety of sounds and styles. They are similar in style to The Smell Of Incense. Flower power lives on! Kostas Konstantinou, the mastermind, composer, guitarist and vocalist of the legendary psychedelic rock band Purple Overdose passed away at the age of 60 in 4 May 2020.  Purple Overdose are considered as the greatest Greek psychedelic rock band of all time.

Musicians:

                      

Kostas Konstantinou / Lead guitar, cymbal, effects, vocals 03 May 2020
Christophoros Triantophilopoulos / Drums, percussion
Andreas Andriopoulos / Bass guitar
Vasilis Kapanikis / Keyboards, organ, mellotron, flute S.&T. recorders
Stavros Eleftheriou / Congas, jug, assorted percussion
Other contributors: Stelios Drisis, Aris Christou, Aris Kontoangelos, Tolis Labouris, Mihalis Vasiliou, Giorgios Papageorgiadis, Giorgos Nikas, and Makis Mpellos

STUDIO ALBUMS

1. Exit #4 1988
2. Indigo 1990
3. Purple Overdose 1994
4. Solemn Visions 1996
5. Reborn 1999

PURPLE OVERDOSE - INDIGO 1990

                  

Purple Overdose's second LP "INDIGO" came out in 1990, featuring a painter of Salvador Dali

on the cover. The group has improved it's music more than anyone could expect. Songs of exceptional beauty and matured poem-lyrics can trap you in the sentimental soul oceans of Kostas Konstantinou, as soon as you put the LP on your deck. With a composition like "Golden Eyes" you'll love them and accept their talent forever. "Cosmic Ladder", "White Colors" and the marvelous "Magic Forest" can steal your heart at once.

Purple Overdose  – Indigo
Label: Pegasus Records – PEG 007
Format:    Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Greece
Released: 1990
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

Side A.

          

A1. Moonlight Sunshine    5:06
A2. Cosmic Ladder    4:13
A3. Suite For A Sunshine Day    5:39
A4. Rain Without Storm    5:14

Side B.

                 

B1. White Colours    5:27
B2. Golden Eyes    7:42
B3. (Shady Reflections At The) Magic Forest  (Vocals – Viky Variti)  5:53

NOTES

Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Lyrics By – Kostas Konstantinou
Backing Vocals – Chris Manolitsis (tracks: A4)
Bass Guitar – Andreas Andriopoulos
Design [Cover] – Vangelis Karatzas
Drums – Christophoros Triantaphilopoulos
Engineer – Chris Manolitsis
Flute – Tolis Labouris (tracks: A4, B1)
Keyboards – Aris Kontoangelos
Painting [Cover] – Salvador Dalí
Photography By – Triantaphilos Samargis
Producer – Chris Manolitsis, Purple Overdose
Written-By [All Songs By] – Purple Overdose

MP3 @ 320 Size: 96 MB
Flac  Size: 294 MB

PURPLE OVERDOSE - PURPLE OVERDOSE 1994

  

What a pleasant surprise this was. Given the band's name and listed under Psychedelic I was thinking

this might be in the vein of fellow Greeks P.L.J. BAND, a heavy duty Psyche album, but no. And this is very good! The band's leader referenced the first albums by the ELECTRIC PRUNES and 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS as being the major influences to getting him into making this type of music. The band was formed in 1987 and released five studio albums from 1988 to 1999. This is the middle one released in 1994. A five piece with the usual "rock"instruments plus keyboards, flute and sax.
               

I like all their album art, very psychedelic paintings that would make cool posters. "Fell From The Stars" opens with spacey sounds that are replaced quickly by a catchy beat and a full sound as flute and vocals join in. It turns kind of jazzy before 1 1/2 minutes with that bass as it settles down and the flute

leads as the vocals step aside for the rest of the song. Guitar and a heavier sound after 4 minutes. "The Unreal Life Of Emery Wax" has samples of a marching band, crowd noise and bagpipes before flute and strummed guitar take over. The chorus is beautiful, kind of dreamy. Distorted guitar just before 2 minutes with flute leads the way. Organ leads briefly before 3 minutes as the guitar returns. Again I really like the chorus.
           

"Blank Empty Space" is a little heavier as vocals join in. I like the wah wah guitar that comes and goes.

Another catchy well written tune. A psychedelic calm 2 1/2 minutes in but it's brief as that heavy beat and sound returns. A nice guitar solo after 3 minutes before another calm with vocals arrives briefly before 5 minutes. "My Little Elf" has some fun lyrics. A lighter tune with vocals, flute and strummed guitar leading. Lines like "She dances to the sound of the harpsichord" make me smile. It does turn heavy late. Very cool.
                  

"Lord It's Me" is an emotional song where his vocals almost cry the chorus "Lord! As I'm climbing to

the sky, please let my son be by my side." Strummed guitar and vocals lead but it does build as bass and keys arrive before 2 minutes. A full sound with flute 3 minutes in. What a song! "Coming Near To My Brain" opens with brief samples as a heavy distorted sound takes over as flute, vocals and drums join in. I like the drumming and flute here. Background synths provide atmosphere as the guitar grinds away.
                    

"Rainbows" opens in a Very laid back and dreamy with vocals. It kicks in just after a minute and the tempo picks up. Contrasts continue. I really like the mellow sections. "Chase The Colours" is the 8

minute closer. Solo guitar to start as flute and drums join in then vocals. A catchy with some energy. It settles back around 2 1/2 minutes with flute, drums and vocal melodies. Not for long though and this happens again before 4 1/2 minutes but this time it stays this way until after 6 minutes when it explodes with guitar out front to the end. Nice.

Purple Overdose – Purple Overdose
Label: Pegasus Records – PEG 015
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Greece
Released: 1994
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

SIDE A.

         

A1. Fell From The Stars    6:04
A2. The Unreal Life Of Emery Wax    4:40
A3. Blank Empty Space    5:56
A4. My Little Elf    4:56

Side B.

          

B1. Lord It's Me    5:23
B2. Coming Near To My Brain    3:58
B3. Rainbows    4:19
B4. Chase The Color    7:52

NOTES

Bass Guitar – Andreas Andriopoulos
Drums, Percussion – Christophoros Triantafillopoulos
Engineer – Andreas Trousas
Flute, Piccolo Flute, Saxophone – Apostolos Labouris
Painting, Design [Poster] – Iliana Noea
Photography By – Panayotis Kassimis
Piano, Organ, Synthesizer, Keyboards [Additional] – Vassilis Kapanikis
Producer, Lyrics By, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Tambourine, Effects – Kostas Konstantinou
Written-By, Composed By, Arranged By – Purple Overdose

MP3 @ 320 Size: 104 MB
Flac  Size: 313 MB

PURPLE OVERDOSE - REBORN 1999

           

With Purple Overdose’s playful floating psychedelic masterpiece, filled with eastern influences filtering though my speakers, I have the odd sensation that the chords actually hang momentarily in the

air before swirling into my head, where the notes take on a second life, expanding outwardly though my eyes, giving me a sense of inspiration and longevity. This is truly 60’s inspired psych-music at it’s finest, though living very much in the now, while conjuring up memories of heady incense, genuine smiles, laying with eyes closed on the olive drab canvas canopy of a duce-and-a-half trying catch a breeze, and perhaps some sleep in Vietnam, dreaming of home, summer days filled with structureless joy and well being. “Reborn” gently gives all this and more with hypnotic overtures that are well considered and designed with a conceptual integrity that so much of this sort of music lacks. It’s

one thing to lay in thick reverb, entranced echos, and layered chord structures, and it’s another thing to stir them together with the right amount of musical magic to bring you face to face with what is, and what never was. This is one of the best Rock albums ever made in Greece. Purple Overdose, are an amazing band and they  reached the top of Psychedelic Flower Power music. It's a real Masterpiece and it's difficult to find it. Mr Commendatore, this is for you.

Purple Overdose – Reborn
Label: Action Records – ACT 002, Action Records (6) – Act. 002
Format: CD, Album
Country: Greece
Released: 1999
Genre: Rock
Style: Acid Rock, Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

          

01. (It's a) Fortune Teller (12:00)
02. Gonna Be Tomorrow, Today (4:55)
03. Nobody There (8:04)
04. Her Arms Braced The Sun (8:11)
05. Fading Sound Of Lost Thoughts (3:22)
06. The Drone (1:29)
07. Long Way Down (3:06)
08. The Flight (pt.1) (2:22)
09. The Flight (pt. 2) (3:16)
10. Reborn (5:00)

Total Time 50.65

Line-up / Musicians

Kostas Konstantinou / lead guitar, cymbal, effects, vocals
Christophoros Triantophilopoulos / drums, percussion
Andreas Andriopoulos / bass guitar
Vasilis Kapanikis / keyboards, organ, mellotron, flute S.&T. recorders
Stavros Eleftheriou / congas, jug, assorted percussion
Stelios Drisis / sitar
Aris Christou / backing vocals, effects

MP3 @ 320 Size: 125 MB
Flac  Size: 338 MB

PURPLE OVERDOSE - THE SALMON'S TRIP LIVE 2001 (VINYL AND CD EDITION)

               

A live album of Purple Overdose. The CD (that has a completely different tracklisting to the vinyl

edition) contains "you lose it", previously only available on 7'' single, and a version of Love's "Signed DC" - The only cover song I've ever heard them play. The Vinyl is issued in a limited edition (500 copies) hand-numbered box including a 12-page booklet, a poster with the artwork of the album and several concerts posters and cards.
                   

Purple Overdose – The Salmon's Trip Live VINYL EDITION
Label: Onion Music – OLP#10S1.1-2
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered 500
Country: Greece
Released: 2001
Genre: Rock
Style: Acid Rock, Psychedelic Rock

SIDE 1.

                  

A1. Orange Journey    12:37
A2. (It's A) Fortune Teller    11:52

SIDE 2.

            

B1. Fading Sound Of Lost Thoughts    13:33
B2. Golden Eyes    8:36

SIDE 3.

            

C1. Chase The Color    13:55
C2. Rooby Go Round    10:39

SIDE 4.

            

D1. Sail On Your Wings    4:49
D2. Solemn Visions    14:24

MUSICIANS

                 

Bass – Andreas Andriopoulos
Congas, Percussion [Additional] – Stavros Eleftheriou
Drums, Percussion – Chris Triantaphilopoulos
Guitar, Vocals – Kostas Konstantinou
Keyboards – Vassilis Kapanikis

MP3 @ 320 Size: 214 MB
Flac  Size: 499 MB
             

Purple Overdose – The Salmon's Trip Live CD EDITION
Label: Onion Music – OCD#1001
Format: CD, Album, Stereo
Country: Greece
Released: 2001
Genre: Rock
Style: Acid Rock, Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

           

01. Reborn    4:22
02. Blank Empty Space    7:24
03. You Lose It    6:43
04. (Shady Reflections At The) Magic Forest    5:30
05. (It's A) Fortune Teller    12:09
06. Sail On Your Wings    4:45
07. Pulsating The Door Of My Dreams    7:57
08. My Little Elf    10:47

MUSICIANS

                   

Bass – Andreas Andriopoulos
Congas, Percussion [Additional] – Stavros Eleftheriou
Drums, Percussion – Chris Triantaphilopoulos
Guitar, Vocals – Kostas Konstantinou
Keyboards – Vassilis Kapanikis

MP3 @ 320 Size: 141 MB
Flac (My EAC Programme refuses to convert it to Flac)

Purple Overdose on Urban Aspirines:
   

Exit #4 HERE
Solemn Visions HERE
You Lose It!/2008 Old View (Vinyl 7" Single) HERE
Painting The Air HERE