STEVIE R – “OROPÓS” & “TA PAIDIA TIS GEITONIAS” {CHAPTER 24}
On July 15th, the London based producer Stevie R presented his EP “Ta Paidia Tis Geitonias”, finishing the journey he started only a few weeks ago with his previous release “Oropós.” Both of these artistic expressions come together to create a two-part mini album edited by the versatile English label, Chapter 24. The work also includes a collaboration with Parisinos, their indispensable friend of adventures and fellow manager of the rising star label Inside Out records.
In the endless sea of record releases where the speed of what’s new often seems to submerge us in the tyranny of repetition, Stevie R is a breath of fresh air that illuminates an unknown land. The key to this novelty is twofold: the folkloric elements of the Greek music, Rebetiko, which remind us to his homeland (Stevie R’s real name is Stavros Potamitis), and the avant-garde electronic music in analog. He calls this new laboratory of sound experimentation “Rebetrónica.”
Our top choice from part one is the original version of “Oropós”, where his formula seems to play out to perfection. The vocals are catchy and psychedelic, sustained by a resounding groove and Italo-style arpeggios. “Melina” seduces us with her acid disco evening wear and Kiwi rounds off the EP with a kick that is a little more “clubber” than the original version.
Part two opens with the namesake of the EP. It’s a kind of hallucinatory space Western that takes places in some arid landscape, where the backing vocals speak of an imagined tragedy. “Saté Saté Saté” is perhaps the most playful song. It’s the moment of satire in this surprising Greek theatre. The final act “Túka” takes us on a hypnotic trip to the cosmos, complete with robotic voices and rough modulations. Dionisos seems to steal the scene with his intoxicating ritual that multiplies itself on the dance floor.
We are living in dark times, where celebrations have come to a standstill all over the world. In a normal universe, we would have witnessed the launch of one of the most original works of the year, and “Rebetrónica” would quickly become the new beat of summer.
‘El Rufián Melancólico’
