iafana Krina (Διάφανα Κρίνα = transparent lilies) had been the tip of the iceberg we used to call Greek Rock during late nighties and early 00s. Deeply lyrical, instrumentation that reached perfection and that mystery floating over the band was a greatly tempting combination. Thanos Anestopoulos with his exquisitely deep voice sung lyrics inspired from the poetes maudites and the band switched many times to different playing styles experimenting with new instruments and forms.
Their 3 first albums (Έγινε η απώλεια συνήθειά μας - Loss became our habit, 1996, Κάτι σαράβαλες καρδιές - Some Wrecked Hearts, 1998 & Ευωδιάζουν αγριοκέρασα οι σιωπές - The silence smells like wildcherries, 2000) are all masterpieces. The first one put the band on the map and it still contains their most recognizable songs. It was clearly depressing, purely rock and a totally different point of view in 1996. The second one was the most introvert one. Today, 12 years later, I still listen to new stuff in it. The 3rd was their most mature album. Guitars are on fire, great new songs are released and a strange balance between new sounds and old forms was achieved. Since then, an other 4 albums have been released but, in my opinion that was it.
A bright moment of their 4th album "Whatever's left of happiness" is today's song: El Hombe Solo (The lonely man). It is about a man that loved the world so much but ended up being alone. Really alone.
El Hombre Solo
Diafana Krina
He knew it would happen one day
that crack he used to carry
-boiling wound, bleeding silence-
would shatter him forever through and through
He shook the dust off him
and speechless moved on through the chilled wind
the kids behind Gazi swore at him
and someone poured water on him from a balcony
And dogs stared with tears in their eyes
him disappearing in the night's bottom
like someone who never existed
he who loved the world so much.
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