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GIORGOS VAROUTAS
SOLO
Giorgos Varoutas
"Chronostasis"
ReR Megacorp
2018
Tracklist
01. Arcadia I
02. Melisma
03. Arcadia II
04. Resonator I
05. Procrustes
06. Resonator II
07. Evolver
08. Chronostasis I
09. Chronostasis II
10. Melisma II
6 panel digipack CD
ReR Megacorp
order here
Chronostasis, from the Greek words χρόνος ''time'' and στάσις ''standing'' is an album of electronic, acousmatic and improvised music with elements of traditional music from a contemporary perspective, moving between the polarities of ancient and digital.
The work pairs two unique traditional instruments both dating back at least 2700 years ago, played by two world class soloists of traditional and contemporary music, Tokyo based Ko Ishikawa (Shō-Japanese bamboo mouth organ) and Athens based Harris Lambrakis (Ney-Middle Eastern wood fute).
The album also features contributions by co-members of Vault of Blossomed Ropes and Liminal Vanguard:
Nikos Sidirokastritis (drums), Vasso Dimitriou (arpeggione),
Stelios Romaliadis (fute), Anna Linardou (voice), Nikos Fokas (electronics).
Reviews
Mic.gr
Ondarock.it
europaeculturaelettronica
PROJECTS/PRODUCTION
Credits
Ko Ishikawa: shō
Nikos Sidirokastritis: drums
Harris Lambrakis: ney
Vasso Dimitriou: arpeggione
Anna Linardou: voice
Nikos Fokas: electronics
Stelios Romaliadis: flute
Giorgos Varoutas: guitar, electronics, sound design,
field recording, treatments, arrangements
Produced by G.Varoutas
Recorded by G.Varoutas & Gustav Penka at PiGi music studio, Athens
Mixed by G.Varoutas & Alex Bolpasis at Unreal Studios, Athens
Mastered by Bob Drake at Studio Midi Pyrenees, France
Artwork design by Vicky Aggelopoulou
Artwork photography by Stefania Orfanidou
Sculpture in artwork: ''Sleeping Boy'' by Oliver Laric
Vault of Blossomed Ropes
Triple Bath & VoBR releases
2014
LP, CD-R, DIGITAL
order here
Tracklist
01. Ordo ab Chao
02. Kaidan
03. Jodhpur
04. Celestial Mercury
05. My Vesica Piscis
06. Crater 101
Credits
Nikos Fokas: synths, electronics
Giorgos Varoutas: guitar, electronics
Stelios Romaliadis: flute
Anna Linardou: voice
Steve Jansen kindly contributed
Produced by VoBR
Recorded at Etidorhpa studio throughout 2013-2014.
Mixed by Alex Bolpasis and mastered by George Priniotakis at Artracks Recording studios, in Spring-Summer 2014.
Graphic by Themistoklis Pantelopoulos.
The debut album of the greek collective with references to the ambient-experimental scene and world ritual aesthetics, represents their first creative period and has received critical acclaim.
The opening track ''Ordo ab Chao'' features the poem ''Immortals'' by the great greek poet, photographer & psychoanalyst Andreas Empeirikos (1901-1975), read by the poet himself and arranged musically by VoBR with the contribution of Steve Jansen (Japan, Samadhisound).
The poem has been translated in English, especially for this occasion by Empeirikos' family approved translator.
A printed version of the poem is included in the LP version.
Reviews
diskoryxeion.blogspot.com
Anna Linardou
"Heterotopia"
Underflow records
2019
LP, CD, DIGITAL
Underflow records
Tracklist
01. Heterotopia
02. Apopse sto spitaki mou
03. Yalla Tnam Rima
04. Ahmedo
05. Alla campagnola
06. Little Sparrow
07. La harpe de melodie
08. Rosa's tune
Credits
Anna Linardou: voice
Giorgos Varoutas: sampling, sound design, guitar, electronics,
acoustic instruments
Nikos Fokas: modular electronics
Stelios Romaliadis: flute
Sofia Efkleidou: cello
Fuad Ahmadvand: santur
Produced by Anna Linardou & Giorgos Varoutas
Recorded by Panagiotis Chountas
Mixed by Alex Bolpasis & Giorgos Varoutas
Mastered by Taylor Deupree
Artwork & graphic design by Vicky Aggelopoulou
Anna Linardou is a vocalist exploring the human voice in all of its spectrum.
The multitude of styles she performs comes from the study of vocal qualities of modern singing, as well as traditional vocal idioms and extended techniques.
Her debut album is a variety of vocalities from different places and eras, transformed through a contemporary perspective. Vocal idioms of different traditions are blended with electroacoustics, sampling and free improvisation to create sonic landscapes of undefinable geography.
Appalachian bluegrass and throat singing, Lebanese lullabies and prepared piano treatments, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Medieval tunes, extended vocals, electronics, sampling and resynthesis of voice and acoustic instruments are elements that constitute a place where the singing voice crosses the barriers of style and celebrates its multi faceted nature.
Reviews
diskoryxeion.blogspot.com
europaeculturaelettronica
africanpaper
The Depths Above-Άνω Βυθός
Underflow Records
2020
Tracklist
01. Anasa
02. Thrόιsma
03. Tori
04. Kladi
05. Yoru
06. Skaros
07. Yume
08. Yfala
09. Arashi
10. Bīto
11. Kaiki
12. Vythisi
Credits
Ko Isikawa: shō
Harris Lambrakis: ney
Anna Linardou: voice
Nikos Sidirokastritis: wood, floor tom, cymbal
Giorgos Varoutas: ac.guitar, electronics, objects, live sampling
Recorded by Gustav Penka
Mixed by Giorgos Varoutas, Gustav Penka
Mastered by Taylor Deupree
Artwork by Dimitris Sidirokastritis
Graphic Design by No Más / No More Studio
Video production by Africanastronaut
6 PANEL 2 CD DIGIPACK / DIGITAL
Underflow records
DIGITAL order here
''I was lying down across the stern, lulled by the gentle swaying of the vessel, inhaling the smoke of the torch and trying to discern the stars in the depths above.''
Al. Papadiamandis
This excerpt from Alexandros Papadiamantis's novel “The Rose-tinted Shores” sums up the aesthetic experience of the album “The Depths Above”.
Ko Ishikawa, Nikos Sidirokastritis, Giorgos Varoutas, Harris Lambrakis and Anna Linardou interpret the ecstasy of nature, wandering between ancient memory and imagination.
Ancient instruments, such as the Japanese shō and the Middle Eastern ney, a piece of acacia wood and a voice, combined with electroacoustic guitar, electronic sound and live sampling, reflect a poetic contemplation of the human condition between the sea and the depths of the sky.
The album was recorded in Athens on January 17, 2019, at the Underflow Record Store and Art Gallery, which was arranged accordingly for the project's audio and video recording needs.
Reviews
Esoteros
diskoryxeion.blogspot.com
africanpaper
Vault of Blossomed Ropes
"Etidorhpa"
Tadoma Records
2022
Tracklist
1. Never Less Alone than When Alone
2. The Adept's Brotherhood
3. The Alchemistic Letter
4. A zone of light deep within the Earth
5. The Cry from A Distance
6. What of this Ether
7. Vitalized Darkness
8. Motion of Matter
9. The Mother of a Volcano
10. Looking Backward
11. A Certain Point within a Sphere
12. Etidorhpa
13. The Fathomless Abyss
14. Oscillating Through Space
15. The End of Earth
16. Epilogue - I am the Man
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Tadoma Records
Credits
Anna Linardou | voice
Nikos Fokas | modular synths, electronics
Stelios Romaliadis | flute
Giorgos Varoutas | acoustic guitar, live sampling
Recording: Gustav Penka
Mixing: Alex Bolpasis
Mastering: Taylor Deupree
photography: Gerasimos Platanas
graphic design: Christos Georgatos
In memory of our dear friend Vassilios Filippakopoulos.
Recorded live in Suono studio, Athens in May 2019, during improvised sessions inspired by the book ''Etidorhpa; or, The End of Earth'' by John Uri Lloyd.
Skraut
"Unearthed"
Underflow Records
2024
Tracklist
SIDE A
1. The dream of Amara
2. Dendera Light
3. Aegri Somnia
SIDE B
4. Martyschka
5. Febris Exoticus
6. Return
7. Home
Limited edition Vinyl (LP) + Digital Album
Underflow Records
Consisting of seven real time compositions, this first sonic specimen incorporates the common musical intentions and sonic aesthetics of the three musicians.
The inner restlessness of each piece creates a liminal space, a threshold between organic and digital ambiences where subtle vibrations and resonating noises emerge. Linear schemes and straight melodic lines are here replaced by disorienting patterns and carefully crafted multiphonics.
Despite the abstract nature of the sound, the whole project is imbued by controlled dynamics and lively interplay. With an allusion to Tarkovsky’s Stalker and the hierological traditions of the East, the album concludes its thematic identity. Enigmatic yet simple, Unearthed constitutes Skraut’s first surreal sonic venture.
Credits
Skraut:
Harris Lambrakis - Ney
Simos Riniotis - Drums, objects
Giorgos Varoutas - Live audio processing
Recorded at Tadoma Studios, Athens
Mixed in Athens by Alex Bolpasis
Mastered in New York by Taylor Deupree (12k Mastering)
Designed in Finland by Ateljee Gammelin
CONTRIBUTIONS
Nikos Fokas | Arve Henriksen
"Nensha"
Underflow Records
2022
Steve Jansen
"Tender Extinction"
Steve Jansen Production
2016
info here
Steve Jansen
"The Extinct Suite"
Steve Jansen Production
2017
info here
Nikos Fokas
"The Eternal Creak Of The Icebreaker"
Midira Records
2016
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