Anna Vissi - Sinentefxi (2016)

15 years ago, back in 2000, Anna Vissi was releasing "Kravgi" (=Scream), and breaking record sales with 350,000 copies shifted. "Sinentefksi" (=Interview), her first set of new material in 5 years (the longest it has ever been between her releases), marks her hugely anticipated return, already welcomed by her fanbase (the fANNAtics, named after her). Consisting of 13 new compositions, and a cover ["Ahoristi (Give in to me)", a song from "Country strong OST"], this is her most diverse album in a decade, even more so than her 2005 "Nylon" record, which remains her most versatile to date. From the opening title track, a seemingly autobiographical power-ballad, to the closing one, full of sentiments and images, each song is different than the next. Pop and electronica, fused with elements of rock, latin, swing, folk, and psychedelia are mixed, creating a varied set that flows incredibly well, thanks to the original and inspired arrangements. The lack of laika (mpouzouki-oriented) songs is among the many surprises on here, considering they were a big part of her repertoire for nearly 2 decades.

Seems that Anna Vissi intended to intrigue fans and audiences, leaving behind her trademark sound, and opting for a more eclectic offering. She totally succeeded in doing so, creating a solid and consistent record, one that softly touches on her previous ones, but boldly stands on its own. The cover art, a nod to her 2008's "Apagorevmeno" (=Forbidden) album, symbolically links this new record with that set, which is considered to be a career best (her first record in 20+ years with no input from her mentor, Nikos Karvelas, the main writer of her albums since the mid-'80s - he is back on this new album). At 58, and 26 solo studio albums later, Anna Vissi stays current and relevant, always up for new challenges. As one of the leading and most successful Greek artists, with a vast catalogue of albums that defined her genre and turned her into the most celebrated and iconic pop artist in Greek discography (her "Apoliti" - meaning "superlative" - nickname is indicative), "Sinentefksi" is another glorious addition to her illustrious career. You will be thrilled to experience it!