The Grexits - Kali Nichta
A new album by The Grexits… their third in a row, following the self-titled album (2017) and *For Sale/Πωλείται* (2019). The cover is based on the same motif as the first two albums, thus concluding what is presumably a trilogy. The song titles on the back are again written in Greek and Latin script, transcribed identically in each case, except for two (quasi-)translations: “Interview” and “The Ship from Piraeus.” The opener, “One More Ride,” is a song by guitarist and singer Albert Pöschl, sung in English and brimming with determination—the ride begins. “Cool Water,” an instrumental by Nikos Papadopoulos featuring inspired guitar playing by Pöschl, comes next—the band is in top form. In the interview, Papadopoulos touches on a theme that also appeared in a different form on the second album (“Kati Na Sou Po”), namely that people tend to talk a lot precisely when they should actually be listening. “Ironia” depicts a claustrophobic or even hopeless situation; the flood of light is supposed to bring some hope, but ironically, that is not the case. The song “Das Schiff aus Piräus” originated from a joint studio session with G.Rag/Zelig Implosion Deluxxe. Singer/guitarist G.Rag weaves a story to the tune of the well-known pop hit, in which—in the German-language version of the lyrics—both bands are given a place of honor under the original theme of the ship, with mentions of Prof. Deluxxe and the Grexits. All band members are playing along—two drummers, Michael Zelig and Josip Pavlov, in perfect sync with each other—and everyone is having fun, Two drunk sailors walk by, hooting and hollering, and a ska vibe also finds its way into the festival. The B-side opens with the sound of a creaking door—which could mean something funny or ominous, depending on the context. “Open The Door” blends punk and blues, two of the Grexits’ great loves. Pöschl sings, while Pavlov and Papadopoulos take turns contributing their voices. “Ine Ola Mavra” offers a nod to rebetiko, as we’ve come to expect from the band’s other albums. Originally written in 9/8 time and danced as a zeibekiko, the piece has been transformed into an instrumental surf track whose origins aren’t necessarily immediately apparent. “Interview (Reprise)” is stripped down to the basics and leaves room for guitar improvisation. Even a dream needs real space. “Don't Want To Know If You Are Lonely” is a punk classic—a powerful, melodic punk/hardcore song in its original version by the one-of-a-kind Hüsker Dü—presented here in a minimalist rendition that only hints at the song's original form toward the end. On *Alleine zu zweit*, the two bands—who are friends—can once again be heard performing together. This composition was created during the same recording session as *Das Schiff…*; Simon Dieu’s bass is, as it should be, front and center, and Pöschl pitched the whole thing slightly faster. To wrap things up, another song performed by both bands—this time one by Papadopoulos that is originally sung, at least at concerts. They wanted to add the vocals later, but the sound of the keyboard played by Fritz Schüpferling or Prof. Deluxxe—who plays the vocal melody—was considered so beautiful that they felt a spoken, almost whispering delivery was more appropriate for the part. The fact that, even when played in reverse during the second take, the lyrics still sounded like Greek to someone who doesn’t understand the language led to the title—which hadn’t existed until then—*It’s All Greek To Me*. The album is titled *Καληνύχτα*, pronounced *Kalinichta*, meaning “good night”—a farewell greeting when you’re on your way home or simply going to sleep. Whether this refers to the night outside or a creeping sense of darkness remains an open question.