Search - Psarantonis :: Son of Psiloritis

Soulful and Magnificent Lyra Music with Vocals

Erika Borsos | Gulf Coast of FL, USA | 01/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Psarantonis and Ensemble (Georgis Xylouris on 12-stringed laouto and Achilleas Perisides on the 8-stringed lauoto) create a dazzling interpretation of Cretan music. Each note reminds the listener of the ancient music of Byzantium. The pentatonic scale and unique harmonics hold the listener spell-bound and transfixed as if suspended in time. Most spectacular is the lyra which occasionally sounds soft, sometimes strong and loud as it crescendos and decrescendos with different playing techniques. At times the lyra almost sings each note, other times the instrument whispers or explodes with exuberance and energy. There are trills, vibratos and pizzicato variations. This whole CD is a unique extravaganza of creativity and technical expertise. It is a joy to hear. Psarantonis voice is clear, crisp and sensual. He can also sound raw and earthy with a hint of the untamed, just like the Psiloritis mountains in Crete. Keep in mind, when ordering this CD from amazon.com it is a "special order". This means it might take longer than usual to arrive. However, it is well worth the wait. Erika Borsos (erikab93)"

RIZITIKA....

Ali S. ERDOGAN | MERSIN Turkey | 07/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Psarantonis...even the way the name sounds is mystical..I first heard his music not too long ago and I was struck by the uniqueness of the sound of the instruments and the vocals..
Where should I start??First of all Cretan music(which Psarantonis makes..) is not Greek music..yes the Cretans are Greeks but calling their music Greek music is obviously an understatement of the sheer beauty and matchlessnes of Cretan music..Cretan music is altogether a different story..the Cretan instruments are almost all peculiar to this big island..Many of them are not used anywhere except Crete..(Cretan lyra is the first that comes to mind..)..So when I describe Cretan music, I don't like to put it into the same category with Greek music..Cretan music itself is already a big music category for ethnic music lovers..at least I think that way..
Psarantonis got lots of albums..this is by Network company from Germany..this is not a bad album of him but actually his better and maybe the best albums are all from Greek recording companies( such as Lyra or Panivar)..so after listening to this album I would definitely suggest you to have a listen to his other albums as well..(especially "I reckon" by Lyra Records or again from Lyra,,the album called The Ultimate Rizitika album ; RIZITIKA..)
Psarantonis uses his voice in such a different way that it makes one feel as if his voice is alive and something altogether different than the body or person using it..This is real vocal art..
Psarantonis can be a big and also a first step to Cretan music which harbours lots of musicians.
When someone listens to Cretan music he or she can easily feel the Byzantium, Greek,Arabic,Turkish influence in the music but at the end Cretan music is extremely unique ..
I am sure Psarantonis or Cretan music will open a new and fantastic window on your ethnic music journey.."

Psarantonis.. a world phenomenon

Manolis | Crete Island | 05/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Psarantonis represents the higher gate of the Orphic secret scale, despite the fact that, according to all meaningless and insignificant modern "lyrical poets" whose labour is centred on the trivial and superficial embellishment of a cheap reproduction of the past, his scale is rather limited. Psarantonis' superb poetic value will henceforth deprive them of any chance of survival for the sake of posterity" by Yiannis Spyropoulos. "Once you meet a cretan lad you're overwhelmed by joy,lass, you wish it not and yet you smile without knowing why". MY gongratulations to Amazon.com for adding this superb record in the lists...And my gontratulation to who ever buy this one and others records of Psarantonis... And I suggest to all to come and visit Crete to saw him performing live in Crete Island, its fantastic"