Review: Various Artists - Athos: Echoes from the Holy Mountain (FLEE)

I can't pretend I know anyting about the monks of the Athos monastery in the north eastern peninsula of Greece, but time to hear some 'Echoes from the Holy Mountain' from people that do.

First off, you gotta say, that's a very big bell on the cover!  

Apparently there's 2,000 monks in the area and they're been their for centuraries and in immersed in Byzantine chant and prayers; it's the Greek equilavent to Tai Chi Mountain in China.  

Following on from the album 'Ulyap Songs: Beyond circassian Tradition' earlier this year, this album that includes tracks by Holy Tongue, Jay Glass Dubs, Prins Emanuel 7 Inre Kresten Grupp, Jimi Tenor (who is still looking for love in outter space? - see review HERE), Gilb'r, Daniel Paleodimons, Esma & Murat Ertel and Organsa Ray.  There's also a 300 page book and a European tour.

All the tracks have a hynotic dubby vibe (Ed. hardly surprising) in a experimental/spiritual/world trippy environment that includes original field recordings from the 1960s.

Gibr's 'L'île Météore' and Jay Glass Dubs' 'Synapitc Riddles' probably best showcases this album but it's a shame Jah Wobble has spent so much time on South London buses recently as this would been ideal for a contribution from him.

Even so, if you've just had your holidays in the Aegean Sea island or Greek mainland, here's a bit of local culture you didn't come across - like I say, it's hypnotic to say the least.

PS. In the same region, Kolida Babo's 'Spirits Of Mauronoros' is coming out very soon on Veego Records (see review HERE) 

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Athos: Echoes from the Holy Mountain 

Release date: 27th September, 2024

Label: FLEE

Cat. No. :  FLEE006

Format: 2xLP + Book / Digital / Bandcamp