Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Γ.ΖΩΓΡΑΦΟΣ - Τα τραγούδια του Νέου Κύματος (G. Zografos-New Wave Songs, Greek Folk 70’s)

After the rock and folk revolution all around Europe, a new music scene appears in Greece. It is called the new wave (νέο κύμα in Greek), and it refers to songs that have never been heard till these days in 60’s and 70’s. The lyrics have something from British acid folk and are a little obscurd and the instruments used are guitar and maybe bouzouki also. Simple acid folk songs, without a lot of instruments or difficult melodies for the listener to get. It seems like Dylan and Baez have spread their way of playing all around the world! Poetry comes into music too, although this was not something new for Greece, we knew it. These songs are presented in small taverns in Plaka (we call them Buat (Μπουάτ)), and no microphones are been used.
G. Zografos is a master of the Greek New Wave. He is singing with his guitar only (or bouzouki sometimes), and it is clear that a new music scene in Greece has been built. Savopoulos and George Romanos (do u know the progressive rock album "Two little blue horses" ?) are also New Wavers of this period.
This is no rock, jazz, blues, or soul music. It is folk greek music with a lot of English/ American musical influences. I don’t know if you gonna like it, but for Greece this was a golden music period. This is what our parents have described to us about “Plaka” place in 60’s and 70’s. Listen careful «Άκρη δεν έχει ο ουρανός» and you will get why this reminds me of acid. "Αλλού χορεύει η χαρά" is in the same mood.

Request : I am looking for G. Romanos record (Μπαλάντες (Ballads)) if anyone has it feel free to upload it for me!

Just get it!

14 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

eyxaristw.nasai kala.

12:32 PM  
Blogger βλαχακι (το) said...

όχι ότι έχει ιδιαίτερη σημασία αλλά *αν ρέπει* κάπου ο δίσκος "δύο μικρά γαλάζια άλογα", ρέπει προς (toy)psych. ήταν άλλωστε σχετικά νωρίς για prog.
:-)

7:06 AM  
Blogger Vlasdance said...

Entacsei opos thes pesto...
Oi tampeles pano sti mousiki outos i allos den exoune kamia simasia nomizo..
Kaloi oi raw material...
C U

7:37 AM  
Blogger βλαχακι (το) said...

να μην παρεξηγούμαι, εγώ ειλικρινά δεν έχω κανένα πρόβλημα!

(απλώς ξέρω ότι κάποιοι π.χ αν δουν progressive rock, περιμένουν και να το ακούσουν.
Το αποτέλεσμα είναι να μην ακούν το επιθυμιτό (σε αυτούς) prog και να αποφένοναι ότι: *ο δίσκος sucks*.

βέβαια, να μου πεις, γιατί θα πρέπει να ασχολήται κανείς με την στενομυαλιά;)

σκάω

9:38 AM  
Blogger βλαχακι (το) said...

*αποφαίνονται.

9:39 AM  
Blogger Edward Soja said...

For all who like Mediterranean music, as I did like with this wonderful music, which I didn't knew at all, try the greatest Portuguese singer. (Portuguese?? We know so few about that litle country...).

His name was José Afonso, and he died twenty years ago, back in February 23rd of 1987.

Cantares do Andarilho (1968)
http://rs24.rapidshare.com/files/17422086/zecacantaresandarilho.zip

Contos Velhos, Rumos Novos (1969)
http://rs30.rapidshare.com/files/17555504/zecacontosvelhos.zip

Traz Outro Amigo Também (1970)
http://rs57.rapidshare.com/files/17701018/zecatrazoutroamigo.zip

Cantigas do Maio (1971) (perhaps the greatest album of Portuguese music until now)
http://rs61.rapidshare.com/files/17800977/zecacantigasdomaio.zip

The blog which is providing this album is: http://ratorecordsblog.blogspot.com/

Check it out, for it will continue to provide more albums from him.

Eduardo

9:32 AM  
Blogger Vlasdance said...

Thanks man..
I m going to check him..

which one is his best album in your opinion?

1:48 AM  
Blogger Edward Soja said...

Hi, thanks for your attention and your message. Well, I'm a bit suspect, but, for me, there are three fundamental albums to Portuguese music, that José recorded:

1970 - Traz Outro Amigo Também ("Bring Another Friend Too") is a marvelous and one of the most pure and beautiful albums you can hear: only with acoustic guitars and a little percussion. No more needed to be in the memories of music lovers.

1971 - Cantigas do Maio
It's a revolutionary album. Nothing existed like that before. The sound (recorded in Paris), the arrangements, the purity, the musical approaches, the strenght... perhaps the best record in Portuguese popular music ever. (This is not only me who says it)

1973 - Venham Mais Cinco (more or less "Give me Five More") was, as the previous, also recorded in Paris, very rich in the arrangements, with great combat songs and folk influences (African and Portuguese folk, for Zeca lived some years in Mozambique and Angola). The responsible for the arrangements was also (like in 71 Lp) another important singer, José Mário Branco.

If you are logged in at http://rateyourmusic.com/ you can read the reviews I've made so far to José Afonso albums. Other people rated the albums. So you can have more ideas. But, I repeat, those three are wonderful. In fact, José Afonso made a constant evolution in his work, and all his albums are important, but in the period between 1968 and 1973 he recorded memorable albums, which are a rich cultural and civic heritage.

The great Spanish singer said he was as important as Dylan. But he had a problem: to be Portuguese...

Check it out at http://rateyourmusic.com/, for there are more albums available.

Please, take a listen at those three albums. If, after listening them, you feel you've wasted your time, my next message will be to say I'm completely sorry.

I'm being honest.

7:42 PM  
Blogger Edward Soja said...

Oh, I forgot to mention who was the great Spanish singer who said that. It was Paco Ibañez.

Thanks again for this different and rich music you provide to our crpa-tired-hears.

Eduardo F.

7:45 PM  
Blogger Vlasdance said...

ok, thans for the info!

I m going to listen to those albums!

Thanks again my friend...

7:07 AM  
Blogger Edward Soja said...

No, I should thank you, instead. ;)

I hope you hadn't problems in downloading the albums.

Read you soon,
Eduardo

4:40 PM  
Blogger Vlasdance said...

I have already downloaded a 1970 Afonso album, but hadnt listened to it yet...

I will tell you what i think as soon as i listen to it!

Thanks again for the links..

11:15 PM  
Blogger Edward Soja said...

Ok, I'm glad yopu followed the chronological direction.

In all his career, José Afonso made a remarkable evolution, not only in his music, but in the Portuguese music. His music is an unavoidable refference to many artists, and not only Portuguese. Galicia (in Spain) artists love him very much. In fact, more than Portuguese, sometimes...

He was as revolutionary to Portuguese popular music as Beatles were to pop music.

It's a long story...

7:50 AM  
Blogger Edward Soja said...

Well, I must inform you that the links to José Afonso albums were deleted. "Complaints received".

At least, you said, you have one album to hear.

If you have interest in his work, answer me here, and we can manage a way to publish his albums, ok?

Eduardo

7:10 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home