★★★★
Xylouris White’s second albumBlack Peakrepresents the pairing of two virtuosic musicians and the union of two divergent musical styles.
Greek folk music collides with Australian post-rock, resulting in an exploratory hybridised torrent of frenetic energy and palpable intensity. This is a record simultaneously anchored in tradition and yet free; it’s elemental and celebratory, a travelogue that explores the union of cultures and shared ground.
The collaboration of Dirty Three’s Jim White and Crete’s George Xylouris is no happy accident. The pair have a long association, going back to the early ’90s when Xylouris would sometimes sit in on Dirty Three sets. Festivalgoers will remember seeing the pair at All Tomorrow’s Parties when they backed Antonis Xylouris (George’s father), better known as Psarantonis, a world-renowned singer and lyra player. He makes an appearance here on closing track ‘The Feast’.
In appropriate fashion, there are moments of reckless abandon and hysteria dotted throughout the record. Tracks like ‘Black Peak’, ‘Forging’ and ‘Short Rhapsody’ are hypnotic, percussive and frenzied.
It’s the sort of music that might inspire you to down copious shots of ouzo and dance all night with good friends.
Xylouris White’sBlack Peakis out now and available through Caroline.
