Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ÉNTEKHNO
Manos Hatzidhakis
Matomenos Gamos: Paramythi horis
Onoma
(Columbia). Nikos Gatsos lyrics, with Lakis Pappas
singing.
Ì
Yannis Markopoulos
Rizitika
. “La Chante Profunde
de Crète” - the French subtitle - says it all: stirring anthems
like “Pote Tha Kamei Xasteria”, which launched Xylouris'
éntekhno
career.
Thiteia
, with lyrics by Manos Eleftheriou, is
also a sentimental favourite.
Ì
Mikis Theodhorakis
Epitafios/Epifaneia
with
Bithikotsis and Hiotis, and
To Axion Esti
with Manos Katrakis,
are among his most influential, reputation-justifying works,
in white-boxed remasters of the original sessions.
Stavros Xarhakos
Syllogi
. More lyrics by Nikos Gatsos,
Nikos Xylouris's crystalline voice and orchestra (including
funky electric guitar licks) conducted by Khristodhoulos
Halaris make this a 1973 landmark.
Ì
Nikos Xylouris
Itane mia Fora
(2 CDs). A thorough
selection of Xylouris' best 1970s work, with Yiannis
Markopoulos and others, making clear why he is still
worshipped nearly three decades after his tragically early
death. The title track is particularly loved and still
frequently heard.
LAÏKÁ
Ì
Haris Alexiou
Start with
Ta Tragoudhia tis Haroulas
,
with lyrics by Manolis Rasoulis and Manos Loïzos, which
established her as alto queen of 1980s
laïká
.
Ta Tsilika
has
her rembétika interpretations;
Yirizondas ton Kosmo
is a
more recent live
éntekhno
/pop disc.
Ì
Eleftheria Arvanitaki
Tragoudhia yia tous Mines
is
upbeat and
laïká
-based; in
Ektos Programmatos
Eleftheria
gets rootsily down in lively sessions at Athens and
Thessaloníki clubs.
Yiorgos Dalaras
Latin
. A 1987 team-up with Al Di Meola,
Glykeria, Alkistis Protopsalti and others, plus Latin rhythms
and instrumentalists, resulted in nearly half a million
copies sold.
Glykeria (Kotsoula)
Me ti Glykeria stin Omorfi Nhykhta
.
Live recording showcases this versatile
laïká
singer and
rembétika
/nisiótika
revivalist active since the 1980s.
Stelios Kazantzidhis
Iy Zoi Mou Oli
(2 CD). Retrospective
of all the classic hits that made him a national institution.
Ì
Sokratis Malamas
Ena
. A 2000 release that
embodies his mature, confident style, with just voice and
guitar; 1992's
Tis Meras ke tis Nykhtas
, with Melina Kana,
was the big breakthrough for both.
Thanassis Papakonstandinou
He's not for everyone,
but arguably among the most original musicians
working in Greece. If you like his trend-setting
Vrahnos
Profitis
(2000), carry on to
Agrypnia
(2002), where he
reprises “Ayia Nostalgia”, title track of his utterly
different 1993 debut.
Nikos Papazoglou
Synerga
. A gentle, mystical album;
2005's
Ma'issa Selini
is rootsier and broke a long recording
silence.
Dhionysis Savvopoulos
Trapezakia Exo
(Lyra MBI).
The
catchiest outing from the man who set off the folk-rock
movement.
Ì
Nena Venetsanou
This female singer has a deep,
earthy voice lending itself to a number of genres.
Ikones
reworks everything from Hatzidhakis (including some
premieres) to
nisiótika
to chanson;
Zeïbekika
is a
surprisingly successful recasting of rembétika as “profane
prayers”, performed in French chapels.
SINGER
SONGWRITERS
Ì
Himerini Kolymvites
Eponymous first and still best
of their CDs, with often surreal lyrics plus richly textured,
drunken melodies.
FOLK REVIVAL AND FUSION
Ì
Bosphorus
(Fanari tis Anatolis)
Beyond the Bosphorus
.
This tour de force, with guests Mode Plagal, revisits
Constantinopolitan and Anataloian melodies, with Vassiliki
Papayeoryiou on vocals.
Haïnidhes
Haïnidhes
(MBI) and
Kosmos ki Oneiro ine Ena
(MBI) are their first two, and arguably best, albums, with
folk-influenced original compositions taking precedence
over old standards.
Ì
Loudhovikos Ton Anoyion
O Erotas stin Kriti ine
Melangolikos
helped rescue the Cretan mandolin from its
rhythm-backing ghetto;
Pyli tis Ammou
exemplifies his
evolution in a larger group, with guests Malamas,
Papazoglou and Venetsanou.
Mode Plagal
Mode Plagal II
. The best of several solo
albums; folk tunes meet funky guitar and saxophone licks à
la Coltrane and Miles Davis improvisations/compositions.
Savina Yiannatou
Anixi sti Saloniki/Spring in Salonika
.
Ladino Sephardic songs, with crisp backing from Kostas
Vomvolos' orchestra; Savina's voice (and trademark vibrato)
can take some getting used to, though.
Greeks & Indians
(9 vols to date): This series (vol 3,
Ta
Ipirotika
; vol 4,
Ta Pondiaka
; and vol 8,
Ta Laïka
Ì
) sees
top performers of Greek regional music - including Petro-
Loukas Halkias, Ross Daly, Nikos Saragoudhas, Sofia
Papazogou, Yiorgos Amarantidis and Yiorgos Koros -
joining forces with some of the best North Indian musicians
around.
