My ten albums: Antonis Antoniou

(photo: Josip Bolonić)

Which 10 albums influenced you the most? This is a question that I will ask guests from the world music realm (musicians, producers, organizers, agents...), and I will share their answers to you every two weeks on these pages.

My first guest is Antonis Antoniou, a Cypriot musician who is known for his work with the Monsieur Doumani, but also for his solo work and what he did as a member of the Trio Tekke. Every year at least one of his projects occupies the top of the annual world charts. Last year it was his second solo album "Throisma", and for this year Antonis announced a new project - the band BuzZ' Ayaz. While we wait for their material, let's take a look at the ten albums that influenced him the most (plus 5 more that he couldn't leave aside):

Morphine - Like Swimming (DreamWorks/Rykodisc 1997) 

The trio has managed to invent such an exciting musical language, totally their own and so addictive (like morphine indeed). The slide bass technique of Mark Sandman perfectly blends with the baritone sax and with his grainy vocals, and the adventurous arrangements and riffs manage to bring out an extraordinary colour and groove. You find yourself hypnotised. This is one of the albums that I always return to in order to get inspiration (as well as to feel alive :))

Markos Vamvakaris - Ta rebetika tou Grammofonou No.23 (No.1,2,3) (Athinaiki Diskografiki 1950.)

If someone is not familiar with rebetiko music, the first place to start listening is here. Markos is the godfather of rebetiko music and no one can deny this. He is the reason why I bought my first tzouras and started learning how to play and sing - firstly his songs. . This is a very comprehensive anthology, one of the first to be released, although his music had been recorded and available since the 1930s.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold as Love (Track 1967.)

What can I say about Hendrix that hasn’t already been said? For me he was (and still is) a reference for almost everything. Mainly in the way he viewed the world and expressed it in his art. Specifically this album bears his distinctive energy in abundance, an energy that extends into the universe, or, maybe it actually emanates from the universe and is transmitted straight into our souls. And remember, this was the 1967! But it still sounds so fresh and relevant today!

Maga Bo - Quilombo do Futuro (Post World Industries 2012.)

I call him the wizard of production. The sound on this album is just so deep, everything sounds perfect and you can experience a full spectrum sonic adventure within a very sophisticated arrangement. Also very psychedelic and upbeat. I always include 2-3 tracks in my Dj sets and the reaction of the people on the dance-floor each time just confirms how good this record is.

Refree - el espacio entre (Tak:Til/Glitterbeat 2023.)

This is an absolute masterpiece. Raül’s control on every musical dimension and material is just unprecedented. The balance between acoustic and electroacoustic/electronic level is just right. Nothing unnecessary here. Everything is so well thought through and masterfully placed where it belongs with delicate gestures and economy. A sophisticated work but without any exaggerations, just pure musicality, poetry and mature art. The music is so ethereal but at the same time so earthy and organic and manages to reflect meanings of modern life. It’s breathing, it’s dynamic and alive, it’s about today, about us.

The aesthetic of the production is just so elegant and original, making this undoubtedly one of the most inspiring records of contemporary music.

Andy Moor & Yannis Kyriakides  - Rebetika (Unsounds 2010.)

The duo’s approach to revising rebetiko music is so pioneering on this live album. I feel that they grasped the essence of this very unique Greek musical style and managed to give it a fresh role in contemporary culture. It’s characterised by a rough and grimy quality preserving somehow this character from the old recordings, but at the same time all is done in a very subtle, sophisticated and modern way.

Thanasis Papakonstantinou - Vrachnos Profitis (Lyra 2000.)

This is a groundbreaking album. I still remember the impact it had (and still has) on me as well as on the Greek music scene when it was released. We had heard nothing like this before. The way Thanasis used tradition to create a whole new world, with so poetic lyrics and such a tasteful instrumentation is just remarkable.

BaBa ZuLa - Gecekondu (Doublemoon 2010.)

Everything about BaBa ZuLa is so distinctive. Their eastern microtonal melodies and the electric saz sound draw you into an oriental day-dream. This is a very colourful record with excellent compositions, deep grooves, dubby atmospheres and hypnotic/psychedelic spirit. It is an album that somehow manages to distort our sense of time and space. So addictive!

John Coltrane - My Favourite Things (Atlantic 1961.)

When I first listened to this album, I experienced some unmapped side of my soul. This was related to feelings of boundless freedom. It’s this unparalleled way Coltrane forms his phrasing on the soprano sax, it’s also McCoy Tyner’s touch on the piano with the unresolved chord progressions which make it just eternal. 

John Oswald - Plunderphonic (Mystery Tape Laboratory 1989.)

Oswald proves that you can be creative with almost anything. Everything that is in the digital domain is potential material to be used for creating new artworks. This album has opened up many doors in my imagination. 

+ 5 more:

The Velvet Underground & Nico - The Velvet Undeground & Nico (Verve 1967.)

Reginald Omas Mamode IV - Where we Going? (Five Easy Pieces 2019.)

Brian Eno - Ambient 1: Music for Airports (E.G./Polydor 1978.)

Dionysis Savvopoulos - Ballos (Lyra 1971.)

Noura Mint Seymali - Tzenni (Glitterbeat 2014.)