Customer Reviews

16 Haiku & Other Stories

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I can't believe this CD isn't more popular, given its interesting mix of artists and its beautiful and evocative melodies and lyrics. I think it would appeal to a wide variety of music fans, from those into ambient sounds to anyone who digs unusual but catchy pop tunes, like the Talking Heads. I bought it after hearing Cat Power's song -- the shortest one on the CD, clocking in at an infuriatingly short 2 minutes. Besides the music, the CD bestowed another bonus: I discovered the work of George Seferis. Sigmatropic is a wonderful homage to his poetry and an exciting example of the interpretive possibilities of modern music.

I suppose it's an empty critique to say that the album does not showcase much strength in songwriting. Yet the album was the collaberation of 19 established vocalists (e.g. Cat Power, Robert Wyatt who is also featured on the new Bjork album "Medulla", and Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth), none of whom are working with their own lyrics but are converting the poetry of George Seferis to music.

The poetry is gorgeous, no doubt. The music itself matches and maybe excells Seferis' kaikus. Ranging from light acoustic experimentation to what borders on trance, the album is musically varied and stunning. It's amorphous in it's form and has little in the sense of forward motion or climax, but works tremendously well in it's soundscape and emotive atmosphere. In many ways, the work sounds like the product of a marraige between Miles Davis and Sigur Ros, with the occasional passionate affair with Bjork.

I like.