Here we have the debut album from improvisational musicians Potamos, which feature Harris Lambrakis on Ney (an end-blown flute that figures prominently in traditional Persian, Turkish, Jewish, Arab, and Egyptian music), Gilad Atzmon (woodwind), Vironas Ntolas (guitar), Xrisostomos Boukalis (double bass) and Nikos Sidirokastritis (drums). This is the first time I have come across this label so checked out their website where they say this is about “Rediscovering our passion for improvised music”, and I think the only musician in the group I have previously reviewed is Atzmon, who has been involved in various releases on Moonjune and others.
I listen to a lot of improvised music these days, much of which is guitar and often effects led, but here we have an album where Atzmon is often to the fore, Lambrakis often providing a supporting role and Ntolas some additional colour with the others sometimes controlling the foundation or going off on their own tangents. The use of woodwind in this setting means the music somehow feels more honest and with plenty of space, and there is no doubt we get some unusual Mediteranean and Eastern feelings with the use of the Ney, making this quite a different album from many. It has a World Music style which is somewhat removed from the Jazz and Free Jazz improvisation I often listen to, and often these songs have a defined leader who has an idea which the others follow, as opposed to everyone striving to take their time in the spotlight. This means that while it does feel free it is less atonal and more structured than many, which is somewhat strange in this field and I am not sure it always works.
It has taken me more time than usual for me to get inside the minds of the musicians with this album, but I am sure that is more to do with my lack of knowledge in this area than those playing, and I am intrigued to hear more from this label in the future.
Rating: 7/10
Links:
https://aesthetiko.com/