Keys to Imagination is the second studio album by Greek keyboardist and composer Yanni, released on the Private Music label in 1986.
Background & production
In an interview with Cymbiosis, Yanni said that he often spent 12–15 hours a day producing the album. Yanni also stated that his favorite part about producing the album was to activate "up to six or seven [slave] keyboards" and that "the most simple sounds on Keys to Imagination are made with at least two or three keyboards."[3]
Critical reception
In a review by Backroads Music/Heartbeats, "Yanni's first Private Music release is a true masterpiece of dramatic synthesizer music. His music is lusty and brilliant, richly melodious and memorable, full of passion & life as befits his Greek heritage. One of the ultimate car-stereo albums, Yanni's flamboyant, superb style of compositions makes Keys to Imagination some of the most extravagant, hyperspace music we know."[1] Mark Jacobs of Cymbiosis, praised the album, writing "Yanni displays sensitivity and warmth that conveys emotions to the listener while still achieving excellent recorded sound; qualities that are sadly lacking on many 'Synthesizer' albums." Jacobs cited two songs, "Looking Glass" and "Santorini", which were also included in the corresponding cassette for the magazine.[3]
Track listing
No.
Title
Length
1.
"The North Shore of Matsushima"
5:08
2.
"Looking Glass"
6:35
3.
"Nostalgia"
4:27
4.
"Santorini"
4:34
5.
"Port of Mystery"
4:49
6.
"Keys to Imagination"
5:13
7.
"Forgotten Yesterdays"
3:30
8.
"Forbidden Dreams"
3:57
Notes
"Port of Mystery" is most well-known around the web as being one of the background tracks used in The "Concept Unification" installation videotape from 1989, which instructed the process that replaced The Rock-afire Explosion animatronic band at ShowBiz Pizza Place with characters from Chuck E. Cheese's due to a licensing disagreement with Creative Engineering.
