III
Filippos Pliatsikas & Pyx Lax
(Φίλιππος Πλιάτσικας & Πυξ Λαξ)

About:

August 1967

Pliatsikas was born in Athens, his parents settled there after they left Agiá, a small village in central Greece. Living in Kaminia (one of the poorer parts of Athens) he met Mpampis Stokas, and Manos Xydous. Influenced by the new wave of British heavy metal (with Iron Maiden upfront) and Pink Floyd the threesome started to rehearse as a band in the garage. Later on, Pliatsikas found more inspiration in the Ethenko composers like Dalares and Theodorakis. The two influences came together in Pyx Lax in 1989.

The early songs tell about their life in lower-class inner-city areas is influenced by the revolutionary passion of their neighbours (who lived through the dictatorship). In 1990 they released their first album ‘Ti allo boris na pis pio apla?’ (What else can you say more simply?) and receive positive critical acclaim. In 1991 the follow up is called ‘Diskoli keri’ (Hard Times). During the nineties the band would keep on releasing albums and slowly grow out to one of the most popular bands in Greece. A highpoint in their career was a 1997 live performance together with George Dalaras at the Iera Odos club (the show was also released on cd). They were invited by Dalaras himself because he felt the musicscene in Athens felt asleep and needed a waking up party. In July 1999, Pyx Lax joined their voices with those of the Italian folkband I Muvrini for the single ‘Ase tin ikona na mila’ (Let the image speak) containing three songs with Sting participating in the last one. That year the live appearances were topped off by their opening for R.E.M. in Athens under the banner of the Rockwave Festival.

In 2004 Pyx Lax split up due to the fact that they felt they were on an artistic dead end. On their last album ‘The End’ (Τέλος) they perform together with artists like Giorgos Ntalaras, Haris Alexiou, Vasillis Karras and Onar. By that time Pliatsikas already had a solo single, ‘Dachtilidia tis Avgis’ (Rings of the dawn), and an album ‘Ena vrochero taksi’ (A taxi in the rain) released (both in 2002). On his debut album he gets help from Eleftheria Arvanitaki. In 2003 he joins Haris Alexiou for a duet on her album ‘Os tin akri tou ouranou sou’. ‘Ti Den Emathe o Theos’ (What God Didn’t Learn) released 2005 sells 20.000 copies in it’s opening week confirming Pliatsikas status as a solo artist. A symphonic album ‘Taxidevondas me allon iho (travelling with a different sound) is a 2006 interlude before his 2007 record ‘Omnia’ which reaches platinum sales. To prove that he tries to broaden and modernise the greek musical tradition a Nigerian-greek rapper MC Yinka joins him on two tracks. It pays of and on his 2009 he continues on his patht to mix new musical elements on his album 'Μπαλαρίνες επιτρέπονται'.

On the web:

- Filippos' website: http://www.pliatsikas.com

What do we think:

DB: Pliatsikas totally took us by surprise when we some him in the Melkweg in Amsterdam. Hardly heard of the man (while being famous in Greece itself) he confinced us with an honest and powerfull performance. Only 75 people turned up but he didn't seem to care and gave a great show anyway. We immediatelly bought two of his soloalbums. Great artist that tries to give a modern approach to the old greek musical traditions by incorporating progrock, folkrock and even hiphop into it. An artist to keep an eye on.

PR: As DOUBLE BASS described, it must have been quite a test for popular Greek artist Pliatsikas, performing in a small venue with only 75 people showing up. However, he gave all 75 people a great show, turning them all into fans for live. With his soft voice, very authentic, releaxed personality he stole our hearts. Furthermore, he and his band obviously played a lot of gigs together, because they sounded like a well-oiled machine. If you are interested in Greek popmusic with some touches of rock and folk, Pliatsikas is your thing.

If you like this, you probably like.. / european counterparts:

Gibonni (Croatia)

Miossec (France)

Recommended abums:

Solo:

Ena Vroxero Taxi - 2002

♪♪♪ - Ti Den Emathe O Theos - 2005   

♪♪♪♪ - Ομνια (Omnia) - 2007

♪♪♪♪ - Μπαλαρίνες επιτρέπονται (Ballerinas Allowed) - 2009

With Pyx Lax:

♪♪♪ - Paixe paliatso ta tragoudia sou teleionoun - 1997

♪♪♪ - Haroumenoi stin poli ton trelon - 2003

♪♪♪♪♪ - Telos: Live sto Lykavitto - 2004

Further listening:

Gia tous pringipes tis dytikis ohthis - 1994; O mpampoulas tragoudaei mono tis nyhtes - 1996; Yparhoun hrysopsara edo? - 1999; Ta dokaria sto grassidi perimenoun ta paidia - 2001

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♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided