212 - Sigmatropic : Sixteen Haiku and Other Stories

On Sixteen Haiku and Other Stories, a slate of international guests help Akis Boyatzis and Sigmatropic recast their original, Greek-language interpretations of George Seferis' poetry into English, in the process bringing the Nobel laureate's evocative work to their own varied audiences. The recording's guest list is rather impressive, from an indie standpoint at least. Shoving off with no less an eccentric talent than the inimitable Robert Wyatt, Sixteen Haiku drifts soundtrack-like through 22 unnamed pieces ("Haiku Five," "Haiku Six," etc.) According to Boyatzis' liner notes, the guests involved recorded their respective vocal interpretations over Sigmatropic's existing tracks; the resulting musical threads tie together what might otherwise be a mess of tangled voices. The album percolates with electronic programming, and the grooves of what might be labeled indie electronica. Processed bits of guitar build subtle melodies over thick bass, wildly varied drum loops, faraway snatches, traditional instrumentation, and assorted blips of human laughter and muttering. Ultimately, however, Sixteen Haiku and Other Stories is about words and voices. Wyatt, Laetitia Sadier, Alejandro Escovedo, and Edith Frost dress their performances in personal nuance, but never outpace the poetry itself. (The artfully simplistic couplets are included in the accompanying booklet, along with a brief Seferis bio.) "I am raising now/A dead butterfly/With no make-up," Cat Power sings in "Haiku 10." It's brief at just over a minute. But the track's atmospheric buzz is sold by Chan Marshall's particular phrasing. This holds true throughout the album. Despite all the distinct personalities and their clever interpretations, no one piece ever really stands out. Instead, they each pour a spoonful of sparkling crystals into Sixteen Haiku and Other Stories' rejuvenating mineral spring. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide

In 2002 Akis Boyatzis (founder of Sigmatropic) released an album that put music to the Haiku poetry of Nobel Prize winning Greek laureate George Seferis. Now he is taking this work to an international audience by re-releasing Sixteen Haiku & Other Stories with newly recorded English vocals supplied by a collection of renowned alternative artists. Amongst the talent roster are Robert Wyatt, Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Edith Frost and Mark Eitzel. Stylistically the album spans everything from pop, world, ambient, acoustic and rock-lite. It's also littered throughout with unexpected twists that keep the music from being easily classified although the over-riding mood is cinematic, dramatic as well as meditative. Sigmatropic balance a combination of electronic and traditional instruments, beats and rich arrangements that create a surprisingly cohesive landscape despite so many styles being employed. Due to this it helps, rather than hinders having so many vocalists and vocal styles on hand. From the smooth Euro sound of Stereolab's Laetitia Sadier (Haiku One) to The Walkabouts Carla Torgerson (Haiku Five & Haiku Six) with her sparkling pop vocal. Robert Wyatt (Introduction 'On Stage') is, as usual; spooky as is Edith Frost on Haiku 8. Lee Renaldo speaks one his tracks (Haiku Twelve) like a man possessed but also delivers one of the softest and most beautiful songs (Haiku Sixteen). Pinkie Maclure's Warm Water is divine and Chan Marshall (of Cat Power) manages to keep it together long enough to deliver another one of the best tracks (Haiku 10) which also features one of the kookiest lyrics; "I am raising now a dead butterfly with no make-up". The lyrics, being Haiku poetry, are naturally brief, as are many of the songs although along with the sixteen Haikus this album also features five longer works. Limited quantities include a bonus disc which features two remixes and three of the Haikus recorded by different vocalists. All in all this is an intoxicating and brew and those not put off by the artiness of the project are likely to discover a unique and fine album. Wayne Davidson

Premièrement, excellente initiative: seize haïkus (court poème d'origine japonaise, apparu au XVIéme siècle), issus de l'oeuvre du poète Grec George Seferis, musicalement modernisés et chantés par des artistes reconnus (Robert Wyatt, Steve Wynn, Lee Ranaldo FROM SONIC YOUTH, Mark Eitzel, Howe Gelb, Cat Power, Laetitia Sadier, chanteuse Française, il faut le préciser, de Stereolab etc...) et moins connus mais tout aussi talentueux (James Sclavunos, Edith Frost, Carla Torgerson, Akis Boyatzis, Simon Joyner...).Deuxièmement, un résultat au delà de toute espérance. Toutes les interventions, je dis bien toutes, sont absolument magnifiques et dressent un panorama musical très large et d'une qualité inespérée. De l'électro au rock débridé en passant par le folk, la pop le jazz ou l'expérimental, chaque morceau envoûte, que ce soit par la trame musicale servant d'écrin aux oeuvres de Seferis (mandolines, guitares, violoncelles, sampling, piano, harpe celtique, glockenspiel, basse....), ou par la splendeur des voix (olala la petite Laetitia sur "Haïku one", par exemple!).Je ne mentionnerai aucun morceau en particulier, même si évidemment, je me réjouis de la présence de Lee Ranaldo. Ils sont tous superbes et cet album s'écoute du début à la fin sans sauter le moindre titre; c'est tout simplement un grand album, de ceux qui accompagnent votre vie au quotidien, et toutes les humeurs qu'elle engendre.De plus, avec vingt-deux titres sur l'album et six autres sur sur le bonus disc, vous en avez pour votre argent et surtout, pour un sacré moment de bien-être et de bonheur musical intense.Même pas à écouter, à "pomper" ou à se procurer de telle ou telle façon: à acheter, ni plus ni moins, et à garder précieusement et jalousement à portée de main, dans l'ipod, dans le mp3, bref sur soi. (25/04/2006) Tatapoum

01. Robert Wyatt Introduction
02. Laetitia Sadier Haiku One
03. Martine Roberts Haiku Two
04. Mark Mulcahy Haiku Three
05. Alejandro Escoedo Haiku Four
06. Carla Torgerson Haiku Five
07. Carla Torgerson & Akis Boyatzis Haiku Six
08. Akis Boyatzis Haiku Seven
09. Edith Frost Haiku Eight
10. Mark Eitzel Haiku Nine
11. Cat Power Haiku Ten
12. Simon Joyner Haiku Eleven
13. Lee Ranaldo Haiku Twelve
14. Alex Gordon Haiku Thirteen
15. Akis Boyatzis Haiku Fourteen (a)
16. John Grant Haiku Fourteen (b)
17. James William Hindle Haiku Fifteen
18. Lee Ranaldo Haiku Sixteen
19. James Sclavonos The Dead Sea
20. Pinkie Maclure Water Warm
21. Howe Gelb This Human Body
22. Steve Wynn The Jasmine

Bonus

01 Robert Wyatt Intro (Rhodes mix)
02 Mark Mulcachy Haiku 1
03 Edith Frost Haiku 6 (Vangelis Zisis mix)
04 Carla Torgerson Haiku 13
05 Dead Sea (original Sigmatropic version)
06 Howe Gelb This Human Body (Antonis Livieratos mix)

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