Αργιλέδες

A vinyl only release limited to 500 copies with a 4 page 8.5" x 11" insert and download code. Arghiledes is a trip to the underworld. One Greek in Hades vying to enchant the shades. Steeped in the sounds of the 1930s Piraeus Quartet, this selection of recordings is the outgrowth of a decade long engagement with the rich heritage of early 20th century Greek music. Utilizing an array of traditional instrumentation (including trichordo bouzouki, baglamas, worry bead percussion on whiskey glass, zills and many more), Arghiledes is a work infused with improvisational fire and constructed on the emotionally cutting modes of Anatolia. Heavy influence is drawn from the music of Markos Vamvakaris, the renown patriarch of the bouzouki; his composition "The Sniffer", a musical portrait of a malevolent drug addict, is given a faithful rendition. Another of his songs "At Phaliro Where You Swim" is interpolated into the lead off track, which takes a more experimental sound-based approach. This LP is an attempt at working within the tradition of hasiklidika, hashish songs which spilled from late night dens of iniquity known as tekedes. Though inspired by music of greater vintage, these pieces also sup at the altar of 60s and 70s psychedelia and dub as evidenced by the head turning grind and swirl of tracks like "Tsamiko Hijaz" and "Harmanis". A true solo record in the overdub manner of Todd Rundgren and Tony McPhee, all sounds were performed, treated and mixed by D. Charles Speer.