If you like your singer-songwriter music, you really ought to check out John Kampouropoulos and his amazing new EP, Hero and a Crucifix. It’s a truly heart-wrenching record – originally released during the pandemic in 2020, the record has recently been re-released, and we hope that John gains a lot of new listeners from this, as it really is a worthwhile listen!
By Jane Howkins
First up is the title track, Hero and a Crucifix. It’s a confessional track, containing some wonderful lyrics, portrayed in fantastic style by John’s raw and soulful vocals. In terms of the music, it’s definitely a rock song, but it errs more on the side of prog-rock and desert-rock at times, making for something really cool. The track starts out slow with some expertly produced guitar arpeggios, before turning into a full on rock and roll stomp!
Moonlit Sea was written before the pandemic, with the main theme being around a moonlit drive John went on one evening. As you might expect from something like this, it’s a relaxing and chilled-out song, changing the record tone vastly from the first track. The bass is prominent and throbs along nicely with the drums, as little guitar motifs creep through the track in a gorgeous manner.
On Mother, the EP takes a slightly more serious tone. The track was written about John’s mother and her battle with Alzheimer’s disease. It’s extremely intimate and emotional, with the music capturing the lyrical content perfectly – those arpeggios are simply wonderful to behold! This is a track that most people will be able to relate to, making it seem even more poignant.
Over the Top has a little more of an edge to it, due to the groovy guitar licks and heavy rhythm section! Whilst I felt the track also had a bit of a grungy sound, it sees John combining hard rock with a more melodic sensibility, mixing different styles well. The guitars are infectious, imparting something of a spaghetti western vibe with the punchy organ.
Perfect Way is the final track on the record, with the title being incredibly apt due to the perfect of the record. It’s pretty stripped-down at times, opening with a clean guitar arpeggio, alongside some backing slide guitar notes. It sounds rather simple at first, but it’s still undeniably beautiful, accentuating John’s vocals well.
John Kampouropoulos is a music legend in the making, if Hero and a Crucifix is anything to go by. John’s a fantastic performer and songwriter and it’s great to hear an artist trying something different! This is one of my favourite records of the year so far!
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