Lena Platonos

Gallop LP

Λένα Πλάτωνος (Lena Platonos) is a Greek musician, pianist and music composer. One of the pioneers in the Greek electronic music scene of the 1980s, she remains active until today. Lena was born on the island of Crete and grew up in Athens. She began learning how to play the piano at the age of two and became a professional pianist before turning eighteen. Soon afterwards, she received a scholarship and studied in Vienna and Berlin where she was exposed to jazz, rock and Middle Eastern music. She permanently returned to Greece in the late 70’s and began working with the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation. Her debut album was released in 1981 and marked a innovative change in Greek music by featuring the strong use of synthesizers, which Platonos had begun to experiment with.

‘Γκάλοπ’ (‘Gallop’) was Lena Platonos' second record that she solely composed, produced and sang. The record was released in 1985 and had a profound effect on the contemporary Greek music scene. ‘Gallop’ was composed in the wake of a painful separation and took several months to complete. Lena says, “It’s a study in the mythology of urban population of the contemporary metropolis and also a gaze into the future life of it.” The album is made exclusively of analog synthesizers and heavily features the iconic Roland TR-808 drum machine. Lena’s narrates each song, reciting her own surreal Greek poetry with unique skill. Lyrics deal with heartbreak, dreams, desires and the foresight of society’s obsession with computers in our daily lives. ‘Gallop’ is an album ahead of its time and Lena has an exceptional talent for conceiving issues that were to conquer Greek TV screens and newspapers many years later.

All songs have been remastered from the original master tapes for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The jacket is an exact replica of the 1985 edition featuring Lena’s original collage. Each copy includes a two-sided lavender 11”x11” insert with lyrics, photos and liner notes by Lena, filmmaker Antonis Boskoitis and fellow Greek musician Vassilikos. Prepare to become fully enveloped and entranced by this haunting masterpiece.