Setting aside the music itself, compilations like these are incredibly interesting because they provide a window into a completely different time. In a way similar to Washington Phillips’ The Key to the Kingdom or Robert Johnson’s The Complete Recordings, this collection of Marika Papagika recordings from the 20’s presents a portrait of an artist most likely unknown to many people in modern times. 
Rebetika isn’t a genre with which I am at all familiar, so going into this album I really had no idea what to expect. I immediately noticed that many of the tracks were much longer and more developed than singles usually were at the time, often utilizing unique song structures. Papagika’s voice is captivatingly beautiful, mysterious and enigmatic in an enjoyable way. Interestingly, many of the scales and intervals used in her melodies were ones I personally associate with Eastern folk music, but they communicated a completely different mood than the spiritual mysticism often found in those compositions. The frequent use of harmonic minor intervals seems to contradict the friendliness of the music.
I’m probably going way too in depth with my descriptions here. Regardless of my analytical observations, the compilation was ultimately very enjoyable, and I’ll definitely be checking out more Greek folk music in the future.
Noise Not Music 