This CD is remarkable in a multitude of ways. A Greek of the diaspora, Christos Govetas plays and sings rebetika among other things, and if we judge from his work in "Pasatempos" in terms of substance, we would place him among the best interpreters of the old rebetika songs. Songs of Tsitsani, Mitsaki, Vamvakari, Skarveli, Hioti and other, that vary in style and interpretational requirements, are expressed in a way that surprise with the mood they create. Directness, austerity, simplicity and beauty, without make-up and other cheap tactics with which we have been consistently bombarded in the many years of the "resurgence" of rebetiko... ...I would place many of Govetas' re-interpretations immediately next to the originals: "San apokliros Yirizo", "Kaike ena sholio", "Oso varia in' ta sidera", "O Boufetzis"... This urges us to focus our attention on our compatriot who lives in Columbus' country... Yiorgos Papadakis 4/18/07 My advice: if you like classic Greek song go straight to Trehantiri and get hold of this CD. Bouzouki player Christos Govetas and his wife Ruth Hunter have teamed up with Dave Bartley to produce 15 exquisite versions of songs by Tsitanis, Vamvakaris, Mitsakis and others. Anyone who knows Greek art – whether it be music, writing or film – will recognise in this CD an atmosphere that is quite unique to that country. It is a kind of melancholy rooted in the existence of ordinary people in a particular place and time. The performances capture this perfectly, which is why Greeks to whom I have played these songs have been visibly moved by them. In adopting a minimalist approach – essentially bouzouki, accordeon, guitar and the perfectly matched vocals of Govetas and Hunter – the musicians have recreated the format in which these songs actually passed into the folk experience of Greece. This is less from recordings than from the constant interpreting of the music in popular settings – tavernas, cafés and various social gatherings. The subtle intelligence of the melodies as well as the sad humour of the lyrics are restored by Govetas’s delicate bouzouki work and the duet’s faultless but unshowy vocals. The song selection contributes to this – emotionally heavy material is avoided in favour of pieces such as Apopse Kaneis ‘Bam’, I Serah and Mes tis Pendelis ta Vouna. With so much of what is labelled ‘rebetika’ being little more than posturing and pretension I have developed an aversion to the term. Here, though, Govetas, Hunter and Bartley make the songs new again. The press notes describe this CD as a ‘rare gem’; it deserves to be an extremely well-known gem. Chris Williams froots magazine UK It is heartwarming to listen to a recording like Pasatempo, and realize that the rembetika songs are still alive and well in the United States. Christos Govetas, lead singer and bouzouki/baglama-player could take his place on the palko with the best ensembles in Greece. Ruth Hunter does a fine job both as a singer and accordian player, and Dave Bartley's guitar-playing ties the ensemble nicely together. I loved the selection of songs, which varies from early, less common Smyrna songs (Kaike ena scholeio -A School Burned) to classics from the golden age of Piraeus-style rembetika such as Yennithika yia na pono -- I was born to suffer). A song that's all-too-seldom recorded and which is one of the masterpieces of the rembetika repertoire is "Mes tis Pendelis ta vouna," first recorded by Stratos. It was a pleasure to hear it sung so well. Talking of Stratos reminded me that the first ensembles that perofmred rembetika in Piraeus were a mixture of Greeks and refugees. This group is also a mixture, and I'm really impressed at how the non-Greek members have adapted to the style. Gail Holst-Warhaft To all lovers and aficionados of Greek urban popular music, both rebetika and laika (or to all those who just like any good music): Christos Govetas and Ruth Hunter's new CD, O Pasatempos, is an absolute must. It is among the few rebetic revivalist Cd's (of which there are a plethora) which, I believe, truly captures the flavor and spirit of the music and songs, especially the latter rebetic/laika of the post WW II era. For me the "feel" of these songs lies not so much in the excellence of the instrumentation (bouzouki, baglama, accordion, guitar) but in the amazing vocal styles of both Christos and Ruth. Especially impressive is Ruth Hunter, whose vocalizations embodies the era so much truer than many of the big name singers of contemporary Greece ( with their lackluster wispy voices) who often started as rebetic revivalists. The somewhat "smokey" and "metallic" quality of the voice puts me in mind of the great Greek Jewish rebetic singer, Stella Haskil. Among the songs that stand out for me, are: Oso Varia Ein' Ta Sidera, Ta Mandala, San Apokliros Yirizo and Serah. of course I must thank Ruth for including the one song I always request from them at Balkan Camp, Yennithika Yia Na Pono. One gem which was unknown to me until I heard Ruth and Christos' version at a Tucson symposium last year is, To Laiko Tsigaro. The only song on the CD which disappointed me was Mes Tis Pendelis Ta Vouna, maybe because I can't get the original 78 out of my head with its haunting violin accompaniment, but that is my own hangup. Joe Graziosi BACK TO KYKLOS ENTER
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