Xylouris Ensemble – Aera

Listeners will fall trance-like into Xylouris Ensemble’s album Aera; mentally following the players up the fret board, dancing and twirling without moving at all. This music has a magical effect on the mind.

Middle Eastern melodies rise and fall, trapping listeners into yearning for the siren-like voice that calls out from Helidonaki and disappears again. It is repetitive and rhythmic and makes the listener want to dance and wish that they knew the traditional steps.

Later the kind male voice comes in and fades out again, making the voice another of the instruments used on this delirious album. (SP)

***1/2 /5