For long time readers and subscribers, Antonis Antoniou is an old friend. As a member of the trio Monsieur Doumani (who has been our pick for Music of the Month twice in the last decade), and Trio Tekke, he has brought a modern political and aesthetic sense to the music of his home, Cyprus.

Kkisméttin (fate, destiny, kismet) was made during the pandemic lockdown we have all lived with, and Antonis took this as an opportunity to create new songs that could speak in various ways about that loss of freedom, and its parallels in the rest of our lives. He writes, "the enforced confinement also served as a reminder of the limitations to their freedom of movement and to other fundamental freedoms that have long existed in their divided country. There, and in particular in Nicosia, where Antoniou lives, streets have been forcibly cut into two by rows of concrete-filled barrels, placed there by the ghosts of the past. These barrels represent political agendas, but they also reflect the effects of blind nationalism, which does not allow Cypriots to enjoy the beauty of their island. Viewed on a more symbolic level, these rows of barrels could be seen as material expressions of alienation between people, chasms and corruption in society."

The songs on the album are not blunt political instruments, but are poetic references that cut slowly, but still cut deep.

I am very pleased to offer his new work as my pick of Music of the Month.

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Find out more about Antonis Antoniou on his web site.