motel void

The first name that came to mind while listening to Camino, the new EP by Plàsi, was my longtime favorite José González. The precise acoustic guitar work and an atmosphere that feels both pleasant and slightly ominous… it didn’t surprise me to learn that Plàsi is of Swedish-Greek descent and has even toured with González.

The EP features five tracks, with the standout single being the fourth song, Height, which has already earned over 100,000 plays on Spotify. Interestingly, this track leans more experimental than the others, thanks in part to its more electronic background and layered backing vocals. About a third of the way through, it shifts, building tension with ambient textures and subtle noises – the result is strangely haunting yet magical.

I also felt a similar sense of melancholy in the opening track, Father’s Eyes, which almost sounds as if it could have come straight from one of González’s acclaimed albums. An excellent, slightly western-inspired riff, a simple but energetic beat, and a captivating vocal. And that retro-style video is a real treat! A similarly striking riff can be heard on Efiga, another highlight of the EP. Its repetitive groove carries a subtle Middle Eastern vibe, giving the song a kind of mantra-like quality – and it also happens to be Plàsi’s first track sung in Greek, which adds a nice touch of variety.

To be honest, I find myself more drawn to Plàsi’s darker side – Father’s Eyes and Height are tracks I love listening to through headphones while on a walk. Other songs on the EP, like Waiting for Signs and the closing track Camino, have a lighter, more playful and generally pleasant tone – this side of his music also works well, but while I’d take Father’s Eyes or Efiga out into the streets, Camino feels more like music for a cozy café breakfast – both moods have their place, of course.

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