Kristi Stassinopoulou & Stathis KalyviotisGreekadelia |
|
Reviews |
Guardian, UK, Thursday 14 June 20124**** stars There has been little good news from Greece in recent months, so it's great to find a Greek duo doing inventive, contemporary re-workings of traditional songs. Kristi and Stathis are not exactly newcomers - they once played together in a punk band, and have recorded a series of albums including the European bestseller The Secret of the Rocks - but for this set they are working by themselves, with Kristi's cool, clear vocals backed by lauto, the traditional Greek lute, Indian harmonium (it seems they were influenced by Nico and the Velvet Underground), along with samples and electronica. The traditional demotika songs come from the Greek islands, and right across the country, but are now transformed into a sometimes edgy, rhythmic style that veers from slow, drifting songs to the stomping Rodo Tis Protanastasis, which is driven on by an insistent sampled bass line. A highly original, compelling set. Robin Denselow |
Independent UK, Sunday 24 June 20124**** stars Nice to find something upbeat coming out of Greece, though that's not the first word this charming CD calls to mind. "Reinvented folk" is how these young musicians like to describe their art, but with its ancient vocal undertones their down-home reinvention goes back to the music's source. They set urban demotika, sailors' songs and village sagas to traditional Greek lauto, an Indian harmonium and frame drums, which they soup up with the aid of live looping. Michael Church |
fRootsThe all-star fRoots 30th Birthday Concert at the Roundhouse a few years back was a night of celebration and revelation. Even those whose music had previously failed to strike a chord with me delivered short sets that hit the spot. Chief among these were the duo of Kristi Stassinopoulou and Stathis Kalyviotis, who flew in especially from Greece to perform one song. My previous encounters with Stassinopoulou and her band had left me cold. A gifted singer with an interesting take on updating Greek traditions, but delivered in a somewhat over-fussy musical setting. Hearing her with just one accompanist, I realised what a wonderful expressive voice she's got (you can hear for yourself as the performance is up on YouTube.) This album - like June Tabor & Oyster band's Ragged Kingdom - was catalysed by that night, just Stassinopoulou and Kalyviotis, the former on harmonium and percussion as well as vocals, the latter on lauto (Greek lute), live looping and electronics, performing a set of tunes from the rural Greek demotika tradition. As the album's title suggests, these are not straightforward interpretations - Greece's branch of the Folk Police will no doubt be issuing a warrant as I write - but the delivery and arrangements are pleasingly understated and clearly made by people who love the material. Kristi's voice quite rightly takes centre stage and it really is a thing of beauty, neither florid nor overly dramatic, she just sings these songs of love, longing and loss like she means every word. The electronics and looping don't get ideas above their station, adding a little colour or a beat to the overall sound. I like things best when they're slow and haunting, as on Halassia Mou and the closing Rodise i Anatolie which features just Kristi and her harmonium. A low key gem that promises much for the duo's planned UK tour later this year. Jamie Renton |
Financial Times June 23, 20123*** stars The Greek duo set traditional demotika songs for harmonium and lauto, then pump them up with samples With a blast of a seashell horn and a mangled announcement from a ferry captain, Stassinopoulou and Kalyviotis set off on a tour of Greece, setting traditional demotika songs for harmonium and lauto (the Greek lute), then pumping them up with samples. Ships sink, birds sing in the night, the inevitability of death is confronted, all to relentless intricate lute patterns and Stassinopoulou's keening siren singing. David Honigmann |
More Reviews |
|
LISTEN & ORDER: www.worldmusic.net/store/item/TUG1065/ UPCOMING CONCERTS:
SPRING 2013:
INFO ON CONCERTS AND MANY MORE: CONTACT/BOOKING: |