Pueblo Nuevo Netlabel is pleased to present “A fragile balance (Fourtounis)“, album from multicultural improvisation group Boss, Sambo, Chagas, Nobara & Silver T.

“‘Fourtounis’ is the name of the local seafood tavern (that serves more than just seafood) where I indulge in the habit of sitting and relaxing during the summer afternoons (as well as during other times of the day and other times of the year), after a refreshing swim in the sea.

‘Fourtounis’ is the name of the place where I sit enjoying the company of my wife Christina and my friends (more than friends actually, my brothers I should say), Christopher the Lawyer, Thomas, Giorgos and Kostas the Teacher. There we meet to drink ouzo and chat about everything imaginable.

That is the place where, one afternoon, quite possibly under the influence of the drink, I had an idea: listening to the sound of the sea and contemplating the rocky shore, I got out my drumsticks and my brushes and using those accessories as well as my bare hands, I improvised on the rocks, the sand, the pebbles and the water. It was an idea that at first seemed really simple but proved to be quite challenging, since, besides actually playing and improvising, I also had to negotiate the rocks on which I was forced to balance.

I really don’t know if I succeeded, but the most important thing is that through the music I managed to gather around me some special friends and wonderful musicians, whom I thank from the bottom of my heart for their invaluable help:

Matthias Boss – Violin.
Mauro Sambo – Alto sax.
Paulo Chagas – Oboe.
Rogelio Nobara – Acoustic guitar.

I would also like to thank the whole “Fourtounis” team, who allowed me to use the name of the establishment and who didn’t laugh at me too hard watching my struggles to balance and stand upright on the rocks: Sotiris, Dionysis, Babis, Grigoris, Joe the Terrible, Anastasis and Antonis for his magnificent photos.”

Chris Silver T – Field recording, objects.
(Athens, Greece / October 2016)