Spanning 76 minutes, Lamenta has, thus far, peaked at #9 on The Roots Music Report's Top 50 World Album Chart. Inspired by Epirus traditions from that rugged region in N.W. Greece, Lamenta journeys into the more inventive territory of world jazz. From the village of Kerosovo, where she serves as an artistic director for a music and dance festival, Xanthoula Dakovanou then collaborated with several masterful musicians to express music and dance that reflect feelings of loss, separation, exile, sadness and sorrow. Some songs even deal with physical death (lamentations known as miroloi).

Xanthoula Dakovanou has created the music for a contemporary dance piece that incorporates Greek traditional and contemporary dance stylings. It was staged and choreographed by Koen Augustinjen and Rosalba Torres Guerrero. Referring to Magic Malik, Rosalba once stated, “He’s an old soul who can reach the sacred, with his musical celeste qualities. We needed this contrast between the earth, ground and sky and the energetic pump he brought in order to be liberated at the end."

Opening with a haunting atmospheric scene of Ourania Lampropoulou’s santouri (hammered dulcimer) and Magic Malik’s flute, we hear Dakovanou sweetly sing (in Greek), “Rise up from the Earth ... make your fingernails hoes, make your palms shovels …. Come shed black tears, and perhaps, raise me from the dead.”

Some incredible Greek musicians assist on the project, many associated with the Nikos Filippidis Ensemble. The album was cut in Athens as the musicians were already there recording with flutist Magic Malik. Arranging the music so that it taps traditional roots but evolves with contemporary elements, the 16 musicians start the journey slowly with traditional forms then allow each song’s genesis to take shape with jazz and even some rock influences.  Band members are Nikos Filippidis (clarinet), Magic Malik (flute, voice), Ourania Lampropoulou (santouri), Lefkothea Fillipidi (voice), Kostas Filippidis (lute, voice), Kleon Antoniou (electric guitar, voice), Solis Barkis (percussion), Avgerini Gatsi (voice), Dimitris Brendas (clarinet, kaval), Stefanos Filos (violin), Dimintris Katsoulis (violin), Panagiotis Katsikiotis ‘Tsiko’ (drums), Antonis Maratos (bass), Alexandros Rizopoulos (percussion, voice), Thanassis Tzinas (voice),  Xanthoula Dakovanou (voice, musical artistic direction).

Spanning over eleven minutes, “Pogonisia of Separation” (Πωγωνίσια του ξεχωρισμού) introduces the voices of three singers that ask questions, accompanied by enchanting instrumental dialogue. We hear additional laments (“Vgika Psila” and “Leventis”), Greek polyphonic songs (“Vlacha”), a lively instrumental inspired by Epirus berati dance (“Electric Berati”),  before the journey embarks on the 15-minute “Charon's Feast,” inspired by two traditional songs describing the feast of Charon among mortals, featuring violins and clarinets. I can relate to its invitation – to enjoy life, as there is no feasting in the underworld! Dakovanou’s short self-penned summation, “Zoé” (which means Life) closes the set with polyphonic singing exclaiming, “Our life is a lie, how can I explain it? One morning, one noon, and one evening. Eat, drink and be merry lads; for he who goes to the underworld does not come back.” 

Viewed as a whole from start to finish, Lamenta is a musical ceremony that leads listeners from profound lamentation to catharsis, and then to liberation and life. It’s unique music, both meditative and rapturous, that provides spiritual connection between this world and the other side. For some therapeutic sonic exploration and a breather from the hectic nature of life, Xanthoula Dakovanou’s Lamenta is an ideal candidate for such respite that will lead you full circle back to life itself. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)