"Putumayo Presents Greece: A Musical Odyssey", Various Artists
"Putumayo Presents Greece: A Musical Odyssey", Various Artists, Putumayo, 2004
Putumayo is known for their many world music compilations. Often, as is the case here, they put together more pop and less traditional music than might be desired by serious listeners. Still, this CD works well as an introduction to this kind of music, sort of a "Greek Music for Dummies."
Many of the cuts are updates of traditional songs, like the first, "To Parelthon Thimithika." Even though a modern band performs it, it sounds authentic since traditional instruments are used. The CD booklet says that the third cut, "Pino Pino" by Anastasia Moutsatsou, is an example of "entehno," a mixture of original and popular songs.
"Eleni," by Kostas Mantzios, is a modern song but it again uses traditional instruments and it is about Helen of Troy, certainly a historical subject.
Love songs are well represented here. "Arnisi" by Melina Kana, includes the lyrics "How can my life be so unfair? /You don't fulfill any of my dreams." On "Ela Mia Nichta," Theodosia Stiga sings, "I ask my loneliness for the star of love." Longhaired Pantelis Thalassinos, who looks like a movie idol, sings, "You came into my life/The earth and the heavens opened up."
Actually, a few of these songs may sound better if you DON’T understand the lyrics.
There is a song by George Dalaras, a huge star in Greece. This one sounds different, with a clarinet, violin, accordion, and percussion accompaniment without the usual stringed instruments.
One cut, by a group called Children of the Revolution, combines Greek music with flamenco. This cut, "Ragizi Apopse," has the interesting combination of a Spanish guitar combined with another player on bouzouki. Glykeria is also a star in Israel, so there is a klezmer sound to her "Ta Ziliarika Sou Matia."
String instruments are the most dominant throughout the CD, led by the bouzouki, a long-necked lute. The closest Western instrument to its sound is the mandolin. Another is the santouri, a hammered dulcimer played with mallets. Guitars are also heard. The string backup usually sounds "jangly." Accordions and clarinets are occasionally added.
There is no bass, except patterns that might be picked on the lower strings of a guitar or on bass drums. The percussion is simple, using hand drums, or less often here, elementary use of a drum kit.
The accompanying CD booklet is excellent, with pictures and biographies of each of the twelve performers or groups. There are translations of some of the lyrics, and a short explanation that includes a rundown of the instruments used.
If your knowledge of Greek music is pretty much limited to a few film soundtracks like "Zorba the Greek," this is an excellent way to learn a bit more about the islands.
- Dave Howell
(This article first appeared in the FMSound music site.)
Putumayo is known for their many world music compilations. Often, as is the case here, they put together more pop and less traditional music than might be desired by serious listeners. Still, this CD works well as an introduction to this kind of music, sort of a "Greek Music for Dummies."
Many of the cuts are updates of traditional songs, like the first, "To Parelthon Thimithika." Even though a modern band performs it, it sounds authentic since traditional instruments are used. The CD booklet says that the third cut, "Pino Pino" by Anastasia Moutsatsou, is an example of "entehno," a mixture of original and popular songs.
"Eleni," by Kostas Mantzios, is a modern song but it again uses traditional instruments and it is about Helen of Troy, certainly a historical subject.
Love songs are well represented here. "Arnisi" by Melina Kana, includes the lyrics "How can my life be so unfair? /You don't fulfill any of my dreams." On "Ela Mia Nichta," Theodosia Stiga sings, "I ask my loneliness for the star of love." Longhaired Pantelis Thalassinos, who looks like a movie idol, sings, "You came into my life/The earth and the heavens opened up."
Actually, a few of these songs may sound better if you DON’T understand the lyrics.
There is a song by George Dalaras, a huge star in Greece. This one sounds different, with a clarinet, violin, accordion, and percussion accompaniment without the usual stringed instruments.
One cut, by a group called Children of the Revolution, combines Greek music with flamenco. This cut, "Ragizi Apopse," has the interesting combination of a Spanish guitar combined with another player on bouzouki. Glykeria is also a star in Israel, so there is a klezmer sound to her "Ta Ziliarika Sou Matia."
String instruments are the most dominant throughout the CD, led by the bouzouki, a long-necked lute. The closest Western instrument to its sound is the mandolin. Another is the santouri, a hammered dulcimer played with mallets. Guitars are also heard. The string backup usually sounds "jangly." Accordions and clarinets are occasionally added.
There is no bass, except patterns that might be picked on the lower strings of a guitar or on bass drums. The percussion is simple, using hand drums, or less often here, elementary use of a drum kit.
The accompanying CD booklet is excellent, with pictures and biographies of each of the twelve performers or groups. There are translations of some of the lyrics, and a short explanation that includes a rundown of the instruments used.
If your knowledge of Greek music is pretty much limited to a few film soundtracks like "Zorba the Greek," this is an excellent way to learn a bit more about the islands.
- Dave Howell
(This article first appeared in the FMSound music site.)