Various Artists - The Rough Guide To Greek Cafe

A sublime collection of songs from the tavernas and cafe bars of Greece, featuring the irresistible and enriching sounds of contemporary Greek artists and trends. From the joyful vibrancy of Athens to the sublime tranquillity of the islands, Greek music is the soundtrack to an outdoor life of the streets, beach tavernas and cafes. Kick back and relax to the enchanting sounds of this Mediterranean cafe culture. Comes accompanied by a free bonus CD by Dimitris Mistakidis - '16 Rebetika Tragoudhia Paigmena Me Kithara' (16 Rebetic Songs Played On Guitar). This is Dimitris Mystakidis' first solo album, from 2006. Rebetika is the original urban underclass music of Greece, which received a huge boost on the arrival of a million refugees from Asia, and was at its creative zenith from the 1920s to the 1950s. This bonus CD is an excellent reminder that guitar, and not just bouzouki and baglamas, was always part of the genre's traditional instrumentation. Most of the songs, by various composers, date from the 1930s.