Themis Karamouratidis. Lyra. (19 tracks, playing time 58:06)

Eho Ena Schedio, a live recording of Themis Karamouratidis’s concert at the Theatro Kappa last October, is a showcase for the new generation of Greek musical talent. Composer Themis Karamouratidis’s music creates an ambience that alternates between melancholy nostalgia and soaring hopefulness. The same mood is echoed in the lyrics by Karamouratidis as well as his frequent collaborator Yerasimos Evangelatos and others. Equally captivating is the voice of Natassa Bofiliou, another emerging new talent, is featured on three tracks. All three command the listener’s attention, making Eho Ena Schedio a great listening album, the sort of thing you might put on late at night with the lights dimmed. Only one track breaks the mood; ironically, it’s “There She Goes My Beautiful World”, which, yes, is in English. It’s faster than the others, with a stronger, catchier beat that highlights Karamouratidis’s diversity as a composer. It’s a good track–good enough for one to hope this might be a new direction he’ll explore.