Plàsi – Camino
“Scandinavian clarity and Mediterranean warmth” – a design element that fits oddly well when describing singer/songwriter Plàsi. On his latest EP, Camino, the Greco-Swede explores gentle, acoustic-folk with his trademark vulnerability. Hushed and intimate while simultaneously exploring the genre’s infinite bounds, Camino is an album that encourages you to break free from expectations and societal pressures. Instead, project mastermind Mikael Bitzarakis crafts natural-sounding songs that are the aural embodiment of following your passions and retaining a childlike sense of wonder.
Even when Plàsi is exploring heavy topics, like a rough father/son relationship on album opener “Father’s Eyes,” his music sounds warm and inviting. It speaks to his talent as a writer – exploring these hard-to-breach subjects with an underlying musicianship that makes them feel approachable and normalized. Here’s a little more from Bitzarakis about the powerful message beneath the song:
“… We don’t want to see or learn from our similarities. Instead, we’re just trying to be different from [our parents]. The lyrics are like a discussion between a father and a son. You get both sides. However, there’s a hopeful undertone. Maybe we can learn from one another instead of focusing on our differences.”
Plàsi starts out incredibly strong, but continues that excellence throughout the rest of the EP. “Waiting for Signs” is neck-and-neck with “Father’s Eyes” for our nod for album favorite – its bright arrangement and upbeat melodies acting as a ray of sunshine after the cathartic gut punch of its predecessor. “Efiga” may be the album outlier (it’s sung in Greek); even though I couldn’t understand the words, Bitzarakis’ hushed-yet-powerful voice transcends language. As you meander your way through “Heights” and the title-track, Plàsi’s songwriting range becomes truly evident. “Heights” is anthemic and expansive, while the album closer wraps things up perfectly.
Camino is out now (June 13th, 2025). It’s also available on Spotify and Apple Music.
Categorised in: Album Reviews
This post was written by Nick Sessanna