Rough Guide to Greek Café

Translators: Sandra Alayón-Stanton; Irène Rognier.
Calling this Greek Café is a bit of a misnomer, or at least a marketing ploy. What it is, in fact, is an introduction to Greek music, and a very good one. It covers many different styles, not only the rebetika and laika that many associate with Greece. It states its intentions strongly by starting out with Kristi Stassinopoulou's modern -- but still rooted -- music before delving into several other highways and byways, including the Turkish/Greek fusion of Dilek Koç and the stronger tradition of Nikos Papazoglou. There's enough true roots music to satisfy the hardcore, and enough that builds on that foundation but takes it in other directions to make the more adventurous happy. Apsilies fit the bill, taking early 20th century music and reinterpreting it acoustically, while Model Plagal & Vosporos veer into something best described as very rooted prog rock. With all the possibilities shown here, Greek music is not only warm, but also very richly alive. ~ Chris Nickson