VA - 2016 - Why The Mountains Are Black: Primeval Greek Village Music 1907-1960 2xLP

Third Man Records ‎– 334

Third Man Records is proud to present a truly rare musical oddity a two disc collection of primal and unhinged Greek village music that at times sounds more like free jazz or doom folk, feral and trance-like as it is. After years of research, fieldwork and collecting, Christopher King-Grammy-winning producer, sound-engineer, curator and writer- has gathered together from his private 78 rpm archive the most mind expanding and libido inducing song and dance music from the rural hinterlands of mainland Greece and its islands. Recorded between 1907 and 1960, this collection contains the first and the last-the alpha and the omega-of Greek demotika- or folk music. And it is not what you would expect.
Remastered from the original 78 rpm discs, this set contains 28 previously unissued recordings made in the cramped, primitive studios of Athens, Greece, New York, NY, and Chicago, IL. Crazed Macedonian bagpipes, keening violins, shiver-inducing zournas and shepherd-pipes are found throughout the two discs. Cover artwork is by legendary underground artist R. Crumb and designed by Grammy winning Susan Archie. A beautifully thought-provoking if not radical essay on this music by King accompanies the lavish package. Not simply for historians or collectors of long gone sounds, this compilation is intended to push the limits of what we have come to expect of music, its purpose and indeed its origin. You will experience a profound musical transformation immediately upon listening.

 Tracklist
A1     –K. Bournelis, F. Tsilikos, Christos Kantilas     Kalamatianos (Dance Of Kalamata)    
A2     –G. Canteris & G. Gombakis     Sousta Rethymniotiki (Sousta Dance Of Rethymno)    
A3     –J. Lengas, J. Patsios, G. Kokotis     Giati Ine Mavra Ta Vouna (Why The Mountains Are Black)    
A4     –Athanasios Lavidas     Ousak Tsiftelli (Tsiftelli Rhythm Dance In Ousak Mode)    
A5     –Diamadidis     Enas Aetos (An Eagle)    
A6     –Elias Karathimos     Mirologi-Epirotiko Makedoniko (An Epirotic-Macedonian Lament)    
A7     –Efthimios Christou     Makedoniko Hasapiko (Hasapikos Dance Of Macedonia)    
B1     –Demitrios Halkias     Selfos (Nightingale)    
B2     –Tchous, Damalas & Company     Enas Aetos-Tsamiko (An Eagle - Dance)    
B3     –Alexis Zoubas, C. Papagikas     E Triantafylllia (The Rose Tree)    
B4     –Christos Daralas & Nikos Karakostas     Pera Ston Pera Maxala (Over To The Other Neighborhood)    
B5     –Nikos Harhalis & Μαυροδημήτρης     Syrtos Haniotikos (Syrtos Dance From Hania)    
B6     –Kyr. Keravnos & Michalis Giasemidis     Syrtos Politikos (Dance From Constantinople)    
B7     –S. Zembillas & I. Mailles     Kalymnikos Issos (Dance From Kalymnos)    
C1     –K. Bournelis, F. Tsilikos, Christos Kantilas     Arvanitiko O Aetos (An Eagle, Arvanitiko Style)    
C2     –Christos Daralas & Nikos Karakostas     Svarniara (Reckless Woman)    
C3     –Panagiotis Kokontinis, Harabalos Kavakos     Kalamatianos (Dance Of Kalamata)    
C4     –Athanasios Lavidas     Platanos (Plane Tree)    
C5     –Unknown Artist     Golfo (A Ballad)    
C6     –Georgios Zisis & Athanasios Kolisaras     Patinada Tis Nifis (Wedding Dance)    
C7     –Efthimios Christou     Pousteno, Boufiou (Loose Dance)    
D1     –Vasilis Vasiliou With Demotic Orchestra     Karagouna, Gianniotiko (Karagouna Dance, Ioannina-style)    
D2     –Antonios Sakelarou     Kotta Mou (My Chicken)    
D3     –Christos Baniakas     Syrtos Politikos (Dance From Constantinople)    
D4     –Christos Baniakas     Eseis Padia Vlahopoila (You Young Vlach Children)    
D5     –A. Karavitis & G. Marianos     Kritiki Sousta (Fast Dance From Crete)    
D6     –Nikos Karakostas & M. Kallergis     Tzarama (Shepherd Flute Song)    
D7     –S. Zeimbillas & I. Mailles     Kalymniki Sousta (Dance From Kalymnos)