The Sound of Greece - Bouzouki

The Sound of Greece is an album from Greek composer/pianist Michalis Terzis, featuring the bouzouki in a starring role. Terzis himself doesn't actually play on the album, opting to compose and conduct instead. The compositions on this album are largely based around the concept of the symposium, lending the air of celebratory relaxation to the proceedings. In particular, Nikos Katsikis does a standout job on the mandolino bouzouki and Thanasis Vasilas on the baglama bouzouki. The composition style isn't entirely traditional, but instead tends to ride the line between the fully traditional forms and the more current styles of Greek music, especially those involved in film scoring (Mikis Theodorakis was a major influence on Terzis). What this comprises is largely the fusion of the bouzoukis with synthesizer parts as well as a more modern drum set in use. The song structures are somewhat circular, returning to the same motives again and again, but the concept works rather well here, lending something of a sense of familiarity to the affair. If one is looking for the classic forms of Greek music, other albums should probably be sought out, but for a peek at the contemporary movements, this album isn't a bad shot at all.