Monsieur Doumani – Pissourin (Glitterbeat Records, 2021)
Pissourin (Darkness) is the fourth album from Cypriot band Monsieur Doumani. The band has a new lineup. Founding member Angelos Ionas left the band and was replaced by guitarist Andys Skordis, who was previously Monsieur Doumani’s touring guitarist. Skordis joined the band full-time and started contributing his own ideas.
Although Monsieur Doumani’s music still rooted in Cypriot traditions, the band ventures into exciting and innovative progressive folk territory by adding psychedelic rock-style electric tzouras along with the band’s trademark deep trombone lines and bursts.
The album’s title refers to experiences at night, when it is dark as well the creatures that inhabit it like owls and mysterious hobgoblins. “Our idea was a concept, an album that was a portrait of the night,” says bandleader and founding member Antonis Antoniou. “Something that began in the place between sleep and dream and waking. It gave us the concept, a quest through the night for the meaning of life, to feel things we did when we were kids: innocent, true, honest. A chance to leave behind what keeps our mind and soul down and to be able to fly towards freedom and love.” The pissourin (Cypriot dialect for total darkness) “brought us the different elements – the moon, stars, planets, rivers – and the creatures that appear in the songs are actors in this quest.”
The lineup includes Demetris Yiasemides on trombone and vocals; Andys Skordis on guitars, percussion, loops and vocals; Antonis Antoniou on tzouras, synthesizers, electronics, stomp box and vocals. Guests: Martha Frintzila on vocals; and Angelos Ionas on backing vocals.
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Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.