Alasia

Greek culture has given the island of Cyprus one of its most beautiful names:  Alasia.  In this name, etymologists read a link with the sea - that of an island within, of and by the sea, from a land that the poet says is "kissed by the sea".  We can thus understand the richness, the singularity, the dazzling splendor of an island surrounded by peoples, civilizations, turmoil, shivers from History, and yet a miracle of immaculate light, contemplative dignity, and ancient breaths.  

Vakia Stavrou places her Alasia in the center of the world, in the middle of a Mediterranean of hearts and minds.  It's not enough to talk about her pure voice, her radient inspiration, her enchantments of a sensitivity expressed in many languages... There's a sophistication of hers that takes after the miracles that the Ancients attributed to the fertile imagination of inspired Gods - that which made them outline on the edge of a simple path the majestic brilliance of a sublime flower, that with which they wove on the night of constellations, summing up in a few stars, the extravagant destinies of complicated heros.  Likewise, Vakia Stavrou sings in Portuguese accompanied by a solo guitar, bringing to mind the the gem of Bill Evans on his piano; she performs a folk song in Greek which comes off as an existential bossa that only Tom Jobim would've known how to write... 

With Vakia Stavrou, everything is understated.  Few notes, few gestures, few instruments.  And everything erupts from this clever reserve:  meloncoly and sunshine, contemplation and the storm of sentiment, the heart laid bare and the vertigo of the soul.

Bertrand Dicale

Distribution: 

Vakia Stavrou: Vocals, Guitar, Composition
Carlos Bernardo: Arrangement, guitar
Inor Sotolongo: Percussions
Guillaume Robert: Double bass
Octavio Angarita: Cello

Collection VOX POPULI