Marika "Politissa" Frantzeskopoulou was a Greek singer from Constantinople, reknowned for her precise, fluid and graceful performances and depth of feeling. Backed by some of the best musicians of the era on lyra, violin, oud, kanonaki and guitar, Marika's repertoire and techniques drew from Byzantine and Ottoman musical traditions. She possessed an ability to devastate her audience through her expressions of grief, exile, and tragic love, running the gamut of cafe aman, torch songs, lilting and fragile odes to heartache, heavy Piraeus style rebetika, and ecstatic Near-Eastern climaxes, all with a visceral sense of atmosphere, emotion, and fatalism.

Marika's voice is complimented beautifully by her backing musicians, creating a pulsing acoustic foundation over which her voice soars with clarity and purpose. LP version includes a 12 page color booklet with rare photographs, full lyrics, and extensive notes (Bandcamp version includes booklet in PDF format). Produced in collaboration with Tony Klein (Greek Rhapsody, Mortika) and Stavros Kourousis (From Tambouras to Bouzouki) and co-released by Olvido Records (A. Kostis, Alexis Zoumbas). Restoration by Michael Graves. 160g black vinyl LP in reverse-board jacket with 12 page large format insert.
A1Νιαβέντ Μανές = Niavent Manes Guitar – * Lyre – * 3:32A2Η Καμωματού = I Kammomatou Finger Cymbals – * Oud – * Violin – * 3:14A3Ματζόρε Μανές = Matzore Manes Violin – * 3:15A4Δεν Με Τουμπάρεις = Den Me Toumbaris Guitar – * Guitar [Second] – * 3:12A5Όλα Τα Μέρη Σκοτεινά = Ola Ta Meri Skoteina Finger Cymbals – * Lyre – * Oud [Oudola] – * 3:07A6Σ' Ένα Γλέντι Τα 'μπλεξα = S' Ena Glenti Ta Mplexa Guitar – *, * Kanun – * Oud – * Violin – * 3:17B1Αρνάκι = Arnaki Finger Cymbals – * Lyre – * Oud [Oudola] – * 3:01B2Πεισματάρικο = Peismatariko Guitar – * Guitar [Second] – * 3:10B3Τζιβαέρι Μανές = Tzivaeri Manes Violin – * 3:21B4Μοσταάρ Μανές = Moustaar Manes Lyre – * Oud – * 3:14B5Ραστ Μανές = Rast Manes Guitar – * Lyre – * 3:28B6Νινί Μανές = Nini Manes Lyre – * Oud [Oudola] – * 3:02

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