ALEXANDROS PAPADAKIS - ORI SPANA (BARE MOUNTAINS)

Always, as long as I can remember, the mountains have created a special interest in me. Their form, sometimes gentle, sweet, accessible and sometimes rough, hard, relentless, influenced my psyche, as a result of an involuntary internal fermentation, "building" diverse characteristics. Growing up, I decoded my appreciation for these stone volumes: On the one hand, they are something larger than the immediate human scale, therefore the awe-inspiring effect comes inevitably. On the other hand, they are an integral part of the culture of my special homeland, my home and by extension mine. Ardachtos, my village lies among them, living and breathing in the mountains - from the mountains. This work, therefore, constitutes, perhaps, a subterranean and unconscious (in its original form at least) minimal tribute to him... Nevertheless, in order not to be misunderstood, I must clarify that I do not contrast the mountains with the sea, which is equally magnificent, if not more so. Mountains and sea constitute an inseparable whole in the place that we mortals call Crete. After all, the stature of the aorgi has its starting point in the glass... I feel a great need to warmly thank the contributors to this digital disc, without whom its creation, as well as its publication, would have been impossible: Nikolas Troullinos from Melampes, with his so handsome, virtuoso and old Agiovasiliotis penia on the lute. Also from Melampiano, Giorgis Periklakis with his rhythmic lute, but also his rich, solid and warm voice. Nikos Sfinias from Nomikiana of Sfakion, with his high aesthetics and mastery of the lute and the coloration of his voice, who also composed lyrics in the "Complaint" of the album. Giannis Vynihakis from Kastrino, who sweetened us with his mandolin and his voice. I left the women of the musical group last. First, Eugenia Toli Damavoliti, whose voice and interpretation gush like spring water from the bowels of the Cretan land. Then Zacharoula Vryllaki, an emerging lyricist from Spili, who happily entrusted me with her mantinades for the 2nd time. Many thanks to Stelios Stamatogiannakis for the concession of the recording studio "Ichogramma" and to the sound engineer Nikos Kefalogiannis, who put up with us for many hours, writing and erasing. I thank from the bottom of my heart Andreas Aerakis, who offers me the opportunity to satisfy my artistic vanity, recording and capturing sounds, and to my dear friend and folk poet Stavros Tzanis, who wrote the introductory note of the album. Finally, I would like to thank all of you who will give this creation a chance to listen and help it travel.

Enjoy listening!

Papadakis E. Alexandros Participants

In alphabetical order:

Yiannis Vynihakis: Mandolin

Yiorgis Periklakis: Lagouto, vocals

Nikos Sfinias: Lagouto, vocals

Evgenia Toli Damavoliti: Vocals

Nicolas Troullinos: Lagouto

Download & Streaming: https://orcd.co/vgjva72