We are not going to talk here about the financial perpectives of Greece and what it means for its inhabitants, because this is a site focused on music and not about economy or commerce. However, you need some money in the proces of making your record, and people need the same to buy it. So, that's why this recording will only (for the moment) be released as a free download from the band's site or if you want to support, you can download it from cd-baby.com fot only 3 Euros. You can't sing it yourself for a price like that, like we say here in Belgium. There's no need for that, because Paul did, all by himself in his "Shelter" home studio in Malesina, Greece.
Our regular readers will know Paul Karapiperis from his band Small Blues Trap from their couple of cd's we already reviewed or from his solo-debut "Fifteen Raindrops In An Ocean of Blues Tales ". All of them are were cd's that were kinda special... very original sounding blues releases. Paul's typical voice, very simular to that of Tom Waits give it that special twist. Another thing that returns in all of his releases is the fact that he likes to create little soundtracks in his songs, using minimal sound effects to create a certain mysterious atmosphere for his lyrics. Also on this cd, most of the lyrics are spoken word. The ballads are hort stories or observations told against a musical background of merely dobro, acoustic slide guitar and blues harp. As can be expected, those lyrics are rather pessimistic and bitter this time. Listen, for instance, to "You Expect Me To Do The Right Thing" , where he gives his observations about the country's problems.
Indeed, if there is someone in Europe who has the right to have the blues it are the people from Greece. Paul Karapiperis proves this by bringing us a cd with music that has the sadness of the real old Delta blues, like we know it from the real fathers of the blues like Son House, J.B Lenoir or Mississippi Fred McDowell. Combine that bluesy sound with the modern "Waits" approach and you get a good idea of what to expect from this release. Okay, this is far from easy listening stuff, but for listeners who want to dig a little deeper and who like their blues a little more unique and full of passion, the second solo -recording from this Greek blues-poet might be just what they have been looking for.
RON
http://www.rootstime.be/CD%20REVIEUW/2012/JUL1/CD24.html