Teranga Beat レコード& CD

Review: The debut album from Greek group Evritiki Zygia is named in honour of "Ormenion", a historical region in northern Greece that was first inhabited during the Byzantine era. As it borders both Turkey and Bulgaria, for centuries the region has been a melting pot of cultural - and particularly musical - traditions. The music showcased on the album has similarly eclectic, mixed-up roots, combining traditional instrumentation with the kind of fuzzy sounds, hallucinatory motifs and electronic riffs most readily associated with late 20th century psychedelic music from Turkey. It's an intriguing and hugely enjoyable blend all told, with highlights including the mind-altering brilliance of "Ormenion", the hazy intensity of "Maritsa" and the all-action vocal number "Anastenariko (Firewalking Dance)".