The odd couple behind this project are Giorgis Xylouris on vocals and laouto (a Cretan long-necked lute) and Australian drummer Jim White, probably best known for being one of The Dirty Three.
Named after a mountain top in Crete, this is more improvisational and voice orientated than the duo's mostly instrumental debut, Goats, from 2014. As with that album it is produced by Fugazi's Guy Picciotto.
It opens with the dervish-like and cathartic title song and Forging only to be followed by an eight minute Hey, Musicians, an altogether more brooding and melancholy piece.
Giorgis' voice goes even deeper and darker for the spoken word intonation of Erotokritos (Opening) which, somewhat improbably, also features Will Oldham (aka Bonnie 'Prince' Billy) on wordless backing vocals.
White's main party piece comes with the percussion-led instrumental Short Rhapsody while the roles reverse for the similarly duelling dynamics of Pretty Kondillies.
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For the closer, The Feast, Giorgis's father Antonis Xylouris, who performs under the name Psarandonis, guests on lyra (a bowed instrument), a contribution that makes it the most Dirty Three-like of the seven tracks. Giorgis' wavering and emotionally strained voice, however, makes it a weird variation on post-rock.
It's a bizarre conclusion to an enjoyably eclectic album that is defiantly at odds with any trend or narrow musical genre you care to come up with.
Xylouris White's website
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