Topos

The Greek duo of lyra player Sokratis Sinopoulos and pianist Yannis Kirimkiridis’s first studio statement is a deep well of inspired musical dialogues that cross the idiomatic space between European folk tradition and chamber-jazz seamlessly. Bartók’s six “Romanian Folk Dances” appear in newly shaped guises throughout the album, with Sokratis’s painterly lyra playing setting a lyrical counterpoint against Yannis’s in turns rhythmically propulsive and quietly thoughtful accompaniment. This is the first time the duo is heard distilled from Sokratis’s acclaimed quartet (albums Eight Winds and Metamodal) and their conversations interlock gracefully, always responsive to one another and with a keen sense of space and atmosphere. Their own duo elaborations join the Bartók studies unnoticeably, as everything becomes connected by the pair’s fluid expression. Recorded in Athens, in February 2024, the album was produced by Manfred Eicher.