Please note this is an old page and Fly Global Music has now moved. Please follow this link and search for the entry in the new site.

What is it with Greek guitarists? This is less rock orientated than Apostolis Anthimos with more of the Metheny feel of cinematic landscapes. Tassos is aided by Frenchman Robin Fincker (tenor sax), Yaron Stavi (acoustic bass) and Asaf Sirkis (drums). Asaf is in great demand as we keep (inadvertently) featuring him (he’s in Artie Fishel’s The Promised Band, Altzmon’s Orient House Ensemble and Tim Garland’s Lighthouse Project and The Meier Group (a project led by Swiss guitarist Nicolas Meier).

All of the nine tracks are Tassos’ compositions. ‘Ivis’ and ‘Over The Summer’ are a little slow but even so, there’s lots going on. ‘Over The Summer’ is particularly impressive and fights to show it’s jazz-rockin’.

The whole album is in some ways a rehearsal for the title and last track, ‘Wait For Dusk’. If you like some ambient jazz with a rock edge, then this is the sublime chill. Also check, ‘Lights In The East’ and ‘Gemini’ (Wow! Asaf on drum break).

Generally not as obviously Nucleus influenced as Gianmarco Liguori’s Stolen Paintings but it’s yet another hugely impressive debut album. Definitely a group effort.

They record company says, “The idea was to create a fresh sounding, contemporary group that combines lyrical, extended-form compositions with high energy improvising.” I reckon that they achieved that, even if the high energy is a ‘controlled’ high energy. Konnex Records have showed that there’s more to Berlin than just the minimal techno scene.

Hectic Mix nominations: ‘Wait For Dusk’, ‘Lights In The East’, ‘Next Village’, ‘Gemini’

Reviewed: Tassos Spiliotopoulous Quartet - Wait For Dusk (Konnex Records) Cat. NO. KCD516
1. Ask Harry 06:17
2. Lights In The East 07:15
3. Gemini 07:23
4. Back Again 07:53
5. Next Village 05:26
6. Ivis 06:17
7. Over The Summer 07:08
8. Other Ways 07:19
9. Wait For Dusk 04:07

Links:
www.myspace.com/tassosspiliotopoulos
www.konnex-records.de