(Asphalt Tango)
Once banned by both the Greek and Turkish authorities, rebetiko is the blues of the Aegean, with its songs about love, drugs, gangsters and low life that originally flourished back in the 1920s and 1930s, in the era after the enforced population exchanges between the two countries. The style is, rightly, back in fashion, thanks to Greek bands such as the London-based Mavrika, and now comes a soulful new set from Çiğdem Aslan, a young Turkish-born singer who moved to London to study music. With a cool, quietly emotional approach, she sings love songs, drug songs such as Out For Leek, and songs about Mortissas, good-time girls who knew how to enjoy themselves but remained staunchly independent. Thankfully, there are translations provided for the defiant At The Cafe Aman or Veil, about a lady determined to take off her veil and head to the taverna to have fun.
Rating: 3/5
Pop and rockFolk musicWorld musicGreeceEuropeRobin Denselowtheguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds |
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