The Steams: Wild Ferment 2018 + Mild Conquest 2022

 

The Steams is a Mystical psyche-based rock group from Athens. They started playing music in 2012,

but only released their first official music samples in 2016, with the recording of a two-track single (Feed / Green Fire). In the process the lineup changed and today consists of: Panos Dimitropoulos (vocals), Andreas Kokovikas (guitar, vocals), Gustav Penka (drums, vocals) and Alex Bolpasis (bass, production).
                       

In 2018, after gathering all their musical ideas and coming up with the final form, The Steams entered

the studio to record their first album, entitled Wild Ferment. The production was made by Alexis Bolpasis himself at Unreal Studioz in Athens. The mastering was done in Los Angeles by Dave Cooley, a mastering engineer who has collaborated with artists such as Paramore, Tame Impala, Wolf Alice and Isaac Hayes. It includes nine tracks and has been described as “one of the most interesting debuts we have heard in Greece in the last several years”.
                       

Like other bands in the English-speaking hard rock scene (eg Villagers Of Ioannina City), The Steams

utilize the musical heritage of American psychedelic rock and combine it with traditional Greek music. It is characteristic that in Wild Ferment one can hear instruments such as Cretan lyre or lute. Another key feature of The Steams music is that they tell a complete story with their songs, in which everything plays a role: from the music to the lyrics and the artwork.
                  

Pulling heavily from the American acid rock that crested in the late 60s without going as far as the

screeching solos filled with feedback. Instead they settle for the more mature and mystical influences of early 70s classic psychedelia. Their debut album “Wild Ferment” was released in June 2018, which was shortly sold-out and now re-pressed in white vinyl.
                   

            
2023 found them opening for the Black Angels show in Athens,

kickstarting a long tour with both Greek and EU dates. In June 2022 they released their second album ”Mild Conquest”, a contemporary tragedy that expands their sound beyond the boundaries of “classic” rock by marrying traditional instruments, polyphonics and narratives with groovy rhythms, massive guitars and Dionysian outbursts. They have performed alongside The Cure, The Black Angels, Peter Murphy (Bauhaus), Khruangbin Lumerians, etc.  
                   

THE STEAMS - WILD FERMENT 2018

                    

Two years after their first single release—"Feed/Green Fire"—The Steams have returned with their first

LP, ‘Wild Ferment.’The title "Wild Ferment" speaks not only to the album’s content, but als" to the evolution of the band since their first release. "Wild Ferment’ is composed of impressionistic and evocative pieces, meandering between sweet melodies, heavy riffs, and dynamic drum beats.
                  

Eastern influences blend with the sound of Californian psychedelia to create a kaleidoscopic

experience. Incorporating collaborations with guest musicians playing traditional Greek instruments—the Cretan lyra, the laouto, and tsabouna (the Greek bagpipe) adds to the albums novelty and takes listeners on a immersive journey beyond the boundaries of the ‘psych rock’ genre.
                  

The Steams – Wild Ferment
Label: Not On Label (The Steams Self-released) – TSWF001
Format: CD-R Limited Edition, Stereo
Country: Greece
Released: Mar 22, 2018
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Rock

TRACKS

                   

01. The Harvest    6:35
02. Ever Lasting    3:43
03. Amdajitr (the odyssey of young)    5:17
04. Fjordian Blue    3:50
05. The Drought    4:38
06. Ephemeral Joys    3:27
07. Perfect Storms from Afar (Featuring – Ψαραντώνης)   5:10
08. The Beautiful    4:59
09. Black Sand    6:10

LINE - UP

                   

Panos Dimitropoulos - Vocals, Guitars (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Andrew Kokovikas - Guitars (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Simon Esnafides - Bass (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Gustav Penka - Drums, Percussion (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Psarantonis - Vocals, Cretan Lyra (7)
Dimitris Sideris - Lute (1, 5)
Alexandros Kleidonas - Tsambouna (1, 7, 9)
Kostas Stergiou - Sax (8), Lute (9)

NOTES

Wild Ferment in limited edition of 50 numbered gold CD-R's
All music arranged, deployed and performed by The Steams
All music/lyrics written by Panos Dimitropoulos

Flac Size: 288 MB

THE STEAMS - MILD CONQUEST 2022

             

Four years after their debut album “Wild Ferment”, The Steams have returned with their sophomore

record “Mild Conquest”. With impactful storytelling through thoughtful lyrics and wild charismatic echoes, The Steams paint very layered and etherial landscapes. Lofty melodies with powerful chords, traditional instruments such as the qanun, lute and bagpipe and a surprising cameo by greek pop star George Mazonakis prologuing one of the songs, make Mild Conquest an exploratory album that will penetrate deeper into your memory banks with each listen.

                  

Inspired by the American acid rock that peaked at the end of the 1960s, as well as the more mature,

mystical influences of classic psychedelia of the early 1970s, the four-member band The Steams is currently at the forefront of the Athenian neo-psyche scene.
                

The Steams – Mild Conquest
Label: Not On Label (The Steams Self-released) – none
Format: CD, Album, Stereo
Country: Greece
Released: Jun 10, 2022
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Rock

TRACKS

                

01. Entrance    4:15
02. Lament (prologued By George Mazonakis)    4:18
03. Ladies in the North    4:55
04. The Union    4:09
05. Algerian Eyes    4:17
06. The Horror    5:53
07. Binding Circles    3:26
08. Little Empire    3:41
09. The Crown    7:20

LINE - UP

                    

Panos Dimitropoulos • Vocals, Guitars
Andreas Kokovikas • Guitars
Alex Bolpasis • Bass, Percussion
Gustav Penka • Drums
Vasilis Tafas • Cencer [Algerian Eyes]
Giorgos Stogiorgis • Qanun [Entrance]
Nikos Tsantanis • Lute [Entrance, The Union, The Horror!], Tsampouna
[Entrance, Lament, The Union]

George Mazonakis • Recitation of the “Origin of Tragedy” (by Aristotle), prologuing "Lament", recorded by Kostas Kalimeris at Black Rock Studios, Santorini.

Flac Size: 306 MB

                

THE STEAMS

                    

[Δεν είναι λίγες οι φορές που ανακαλύπτουμε εντυπωσιακές ελληνικές μπάντες και αναρωτιόμαστε πώς

και δεν τις γνωρίζαμε τόσο καιρό. Είναι βέβαιο ότι κάτι τέτοιο θα συμβαίνει και με τους The Steams, σε όποιον ακούει το debut άλμπουμ τους που κυκλοφορησε το 2018. Τα πρώτα χρόνια της ιδέας για τη δημιουργία του συγκροτήματος, ο Πάνος Δημητρόπουλος, δημιουργός των συνθέσεων και του γκρουπ έμενε τους μισούς μήνες του έτους στη Σαντορίνη, με αποτέλεσμα το νησί αυτό να έχει επηρεάσει τον ήχο τους.
                  

Αν θέλαμε να προσδιορίσουμε τη μουσική τους, θα έλεγε κανείς ότι κινείται σε rock μονοπάτια με

στοιχεία ψυχεδέλειας. Πριν κυκλοφορήσουν το πρώτο τους άλμπουμ, το 2016, το συγκρότημα θα κυκλοφορήσει ένα CD με τίτλο Feed/Green Fire, που περιλάμβανε δύο τραγούδια της μπάντας. Για τα δύο κομμάτια ο Πάνος Δημητρόπουλος δήλωσε πως κυκλοφόρησαν μαζί, γιατί λειτουργούν αντιθετικά μεταξύ τους. Συμβολίζουν την αρχή του συγκροτήματος και υπάρχει ένας ρομαντισμός.
                 

Τον Μάρτιο του 2018, δύο χρόνια μετά από το πρώτο single, το συγκρότημα θα παρουσιάσει την

πρώτη ολοκληρωμένη του δουλειά. Το Wild Ferment είναι μια αλληγορία για την «Άγρια Ζύμωση» —ένας βιοχημικός/οινολογικός όρος και αναφέρεται στη μετατροπή του μούστου σε κρασί καθαρά και μόνο από φυσικές ζύμες, μια διαδικασία για την οποία απαιτείται πολύς χρόνος.
                     

Το πρώτο αυτό άλμπουμ, λοιπόν, είναι μια «άγρια ζύμωση» της μουσικής που κράτησε χρόνια και σιγά

σιγά ολοκληρώνεται. Μουσική που «ωρίμασε» στον χρόνο, σε ένα τέλειο μείγμα post-folk, folk, post-rock και ψυχεδέλειας, με εξαιρετική δομή και έχοντας καταφέρει να αξιοποιήσουν τις επιρροές τους (μουσικές και μη) με τέτοιο τρόπο, ώστε να έχουν δημιουργήσει πλέον τον δικό τους χαρακτήρα και αισθητική.
(Του Δημήτρη Σεργάκη)]
                    

[Με το δεύτερο άλμπουμ τους "Mild Conquest" το 2022, οι The Steams διεύρυναν τον ήχο τους με παραδοσιακά όργανα και πολυφωνίες, ενώ αυτό το καλοκαίρι ετοιμάζονται για την κυκλοφορία του

τρίτου δίσκου τους "Vile Wonders" μετά την επιστροφή τους από το πρώτο τους ευρωπαϊκό τουρ. Το ενδιαφέρον και ουσιαστικό με την καλλιτεχνική πρόταση των The Steams είναι ότι δεν χρησιμοποιεί την παράδοση ως εύκολο αισθητικό κόλπο για να ιντριγκάρει, αλλά το ενσωματώνει οργανικά στον retro χαρακτήρα της. Όπως και στο πρώτο δίσκο τους, "Wild Ferment", οι συμμετοχές μουσικών από διαφορετικές μουσικές σκηνές είναι αρκετές.
                

Εδώ μπορεί να μην ακούμε τη λύρα του Ψαραντώνη, έχουμε όμως το κανονάκι του Γιώργου Στογιώργη να απογειώνει μία από τις πιο εντυπωσιακές και πολύχρωμες συνθέσεις του δίσκου, το "Entrance".

Έχουμε, επίσης, την πολυποίκιλη συμμετοχή του Νίκου Τσαντάνη, ο οποίος χρωματίζει ορισμένα κομμάτια με τσαμπούνα και λαούτο, χωρίς να μπαίνει απαραίτητα στο επίκεντρο για μερικά μέτρα σαν ένα βεβιασμένο feature, αλλά γεμίζοντας ηχητικά τα κενά, απόλυτα ενσωματωμένος στις συνθέσεις (όπως στο "Union", που κάτω από την επιθετικότητά του κρύβει ένα μοιρολόι με τσαμπούνα για τους αδικοχαμένους μεταλλωρύχους).
(Από τον Μάνο Κορνηλάκη - Ορφανουδάκη)]

Pussy: Pussy 1969 (1993)

 

PUSSY were a Psychedelic Rock band with a rather risque name that invites all sorts of rude double

entendres, so no sniggering at the back. Their one and only album "Pussy Plays" (1969), featured a bizarre image on the cover of a startled pussy cat with VERY sharp claws. The band were formed in Hertfordshire, England in the mid-1960's and went through various name changes before apparently deciding on "Pussy" as the ideal name for a psychedelic sixties group, and why not. And so, without further ado, let's play Pussy.
                              

THE CREEPERS (PRE-PUSSY)

They formed in the mid-1960s in Hertfordshire, UK, by drummer Steve Townsend, singer Dek Boyce and bassist Jez Turner. Initially they were called The Creepers but when the psychedelic era came

along, they became We Shake Milk. Following an ad in Melody Maker guitarist Barry Clark and keyboardist Peter Whiteman were added to the line-up. It was through Barry Clark that his fellow ex-Fortes Mentum band-mate Danny Beckerman became involved with the band, in the capacity of producer, arranger, and songwriter. Later on, Barry Clark left and was briefly replaced by Gary Peters, before the band slowly disintegrated.
                          

BARRY CLARK

This late '60s UK psych with has a psychedelic and freaky, fuzz n' wah-wah guitar with swirling

STEVE TOWNSEND

keyboards and a classic '60s production loaded with all of the studio effects of the era. Pussy's Plays is undoubtedly also one of the most obscure and beautiful. Their line up has always been a mystery as they never revealed their identity. While Danny Beckerman continued to mastermind a series of pseudonymous releases from the Morgan console room, Steve Townsend, Dek Boyce and Jez Turner returned to the relative tranquility of Hertfordshire as the heart of a band called Twilly. In 2023  

 

Townsend released a comeback album with a new Pussy line-up, viz. Pussy - Pussy Plays..........Again.
                          

PUSSY - PUSSY 1969 (THE ALBUM)

                        

There's an air of mystery surrounding "Come Back June". It's a typical American west coast Psychedelic Rock song (from England) but who or what is June? Is it the month of June or is it a lady of the female agenda? Well, let's find out by delving into the lyrics:- "My world's breakin' in pieces, My

world's breakin' in two, My heart's breakin' in pieces, My heart's breakin' in two, Come back, June." ..... Mystery solved. The song is a boulevard of broken dreams where the lovelorn singer is clearly going through some deep emotional turmoil here after being dumped by his lovely lady June. Some of the best songs are written as the result of broken relationships though, and that's certainly true with this song too. It's no lilting ballad though. It's a rousing, rip-roaring opening burst of psychedelic sixties Rock.
                             

STEVE TOWNSEND

There's another great song on the way with "All of My Life". You can wait all of your life for a great song like this to come along, and then they all arrive together at once on one awesome album, and that's

proving to be the case here. "All of My Life" is like a gorgeous summer breeze. It's a song that's perfect for surfing the soaring California breakers at Big Sur, although you don't see too many surf boards in the heart of Hertfordshire, England, where this particular band hails from. We're continuing the sunny California theme now with "We Built The Sun". This is an altogether mellower groove, and not the psychedelic purple haze of the first two opening sunbursts of raw solar energy.
                    

BARRY CLARK

Side Two opens magnificently with "Tragedy In F Minor", which is no tragedy at all, but an absolutely

sensational instrumental that's simply sublime. It's a lavishly-produced lush symphonic epic that's positively awash with sensational strings, creating a rich tapestry of sound, guaranteed to carry you away on an ecstatic pleasure wave of sweet blissful dreams. We have lift-off! Just when you think this album couldn't possibly get any better, along comes "The Open Ground" to astound and delight us in equal measure. This is a psychedelic supernova of truly epic proportions!
                            

JEZ TURNER (POST - PUSSY)

Heavens above! This earth-shattering blast from the past has enough stored energy to lift the Space Shuttle up into orbit way above the Earth. This tremendous spacey music might even take you to the

STEVE TOWSEND

Dark Side of the Moon and back again, long before Pink Floyd travelled there with their stellar 1973 album. We're plunging back down to Earth now for "Everybody's Song", a storming psychedelic Jazz-Rock number where the dynamic keyboard player and wild wah-wah guitarist battle it out together to see who's the greatest musician of them all.
(By Psychedelic Paul)

Pussy Interview: It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine
                          

Pussy – Pussy
Pussy - Pussy album cover
Label: Background – HBG 123/5
Series: Background Series
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 1993
Country: UK
Released: 1969
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

                                     

01. Come Back June    3:59
02. All Of My Life    4:08
03. We Built The Sun    5:00
04. Comets    4:16
05. Tragedy In F. Minor    5:02
06. The Open Ground    3:35
07. Everybody's Song    4:20
08.  G. E. A. B.    5:28

LINE - UP

Bass – Jez Turner
Drums – Steve Townsend
Keyboards, mellotron – Peter Whiteman
Lead Guitar – Barry Clark
Lead Vocals – Dek Boyce
Guitar - Gary Reters

NOTES

Originally released in 1969 under the title "Pussy Plays".
Written By: Clark (tracks: 3, 6 to 8),
Beckerman (tracks: 1 to 5, 7, 8),
Townsend (tracks: 6)

This timeless psychedelic relic is a supersonic blast from the past. The album is an absolute masterpiece that sounds as fresh and original as it ever did, over half a century on from when Pussy first played. This outstanding album is the cat's whiskers!

This album is dedicated to Jimi Riley who reminded me of it.

Flac Size: 380 MB