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  • Sigmatropic 'Sixteen Haiku & Other Stories' - Cargo Records UK

    Tongue Master

    Sigmatropic 'Sixteen Haiku & Other Stories' CD

    £3.99

    Back in 2001 SIGMATROPIC had the idea to create a sprawling and magical musical trip: a musical accompaniment to an imaginary journey. The album " 16 Haiku & Other Stories " is based on the Japanese chopped up poetry style Haiku. But this isn't just any poetry. This music is based on the work of the great Nobel laureate GEORGE SEFERIS. His Haiku poetry, in which he had adopted in his early life, was an ideal inspiration to a musical adventure that involves all the elements of nature.

    The wisdom & simplicity of these short poems float around the embracing music in a carefree manner. Anyone that has travelled through the majestic Aegean and experienced the sea and stars will clearly identify with SEFERIS'S colourful observations. AKIS BOYATZIS is the nucleus of SIGMATROPIC and has created an atmospheric musical odyssey that invites this poetry wordplay. His programming skills weave an ethereal spell full of Spartan peaks and bleak terrains. The voiceovers float around like a magic wand spelling out stories about colours, nature and the seasons. The soundtrack " feel " quality of this recording is grainy and mystical and ideally compliments the masterful poetry.

    After this album was released in its original format in Greek, early 2002, spurred on with its success AKIS BOYATZIS stuck his neck out enough to boldly extend an invitation to overseas musicians: to recreate the spirit of this album, retaining the same music with the same poetry translated into English. And thus here is the English version of his original dream. Eighteen vocalists from diverse musical backgrounds and from far flung cities, each choosing and singing their favourite Haiku. Each individual vocal is a sparkling testament that has enriched this international project, which features an outstanding and diverse range of cult alternative vocalists from both sides of the Atlantic, instantly making this one of the greatest albums ever to come out of Greece.

    Together with SIGMATROPIC & AKIS BOYATZIS the full guest vocal line up for " 16 Haiku & Other Stories " is a truly awesome musical motley crew:
    CAT POWER, MARK EITZEL, ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO, ALEX GORDON (Lincoln), JOHN GRANT (The Czars), EDITH FROST, HOWE GELB, JAMES WILLIAM HINDLE, SIMON JOYNER, PINKIE MACLURE, MARK MULCAHY, LEE RANALDO, MARTINE ROBERTS (Broken Dog), LAETITIA SADIER (Stereolab),JAMES SCLAVUNOS (Nick Cave & Bad Seeds / The Vanity Set), CARLA TORGENSON (Walkabouts), ROBERT WYATT, STEVE WYNN.

    * The finished album will include a little film ditty with SIGMATROPIC, & friends fooling around on the legendary island of Patmos. Apart from AKIS BOYATZIS'S " colourful " shirt and Julia the odd donkey, you will also spot CARLA TORGERSON as well. It is a little musical taster to what is on the album.

    * Initial quantities of the album will carry a bonus disc that will feature alternate version and remixes that are not of the album. Artists scheduled to be on the bonus disc are ROBERT WYATT, EDITH FROST, HOWE GELB & CARLA TORGERSON.

    * At the time of the album release an exclusive 12-inch single will also be issued. This limited edition single will contain exclusive vocal versions & takes that are not featured on the album. Artists scheduled to have their alternate versions featured are EDITH FROST, JAMES WILLIAM HINDLE, MARK MULCAHY & CARLA TORGERSON.
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  • Sigmatropic 'Dark Outside' - Cargo Records UK

    Tongue Master

    Sigmatropic 'Dark Outside'

    £3.99

    v

    Tongue Master

    Sigmatropic 'Dark Outside'

    £3.99

    It is quite a rare thing to find a debut album, by a non US/UK artist, to have such an impressive array of musical guest vocalists. But that is what happened in 2003, with Sigmatropic & internationally acclaimed debut: Sixteen Haiku & Other Stories'. This album had an astonishing 20 guest musicians singing the Haiku poetry of Nobel laureate George Seferis on a spellbinding musical odyssey. Diverse artists such as Robert Wyatt, Mark Eitzel, Howe Gelb, Alejandro Escovedo, Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Cat Power & Laetitia Sadier (Stereolab), to name a few, appeared on a beautiful sprawl of music created by main Sigmatropic henchman Akis Boyatzis. This haunting soundtrack-like album was exotic & far removed from the customary musical travails of the acclaimed guests. Nevertheless they all agreed in unison that they were honoured to be apart this dazzling fusion of Mediterranean folktronica with its swirly twinkly electronica. It was a challenge they enjoyed & cherished.

    Armed with the international acclaim of the album Akis Boyatzis embarked on producing & writing a major part of Carla Torgerson's (Walkabouts) solo debut Saint Stranger' (Glitterhouse). His talent is etched all over this album which has some sublime moments of Can-like tinged grooves. A twee Country Folk album it isn't!

    On the new Sigmatropic album Dark Outside', it is immediately apparent that Akis Boyatzis is in a buoyant mood & is making a mark as a great singer as well. The Sixteen Haiku & Other Stories is more of a themed album and as a long musical odyssey that it is, it only featured Boyatzis on several vocal tracks. On Dark Outside'Akis Boyatzis unveils a mature & compact contemporary album balanced between his own & guest artists'vocal duties. There is an additional Sigmatropic member introduced as well, vocalistAnna Karakalou, who injects a breathy & sensual tone. There is a sterling guest cast as well with vocal participations from: Robert Fisher (Willard Grant Conspiracy), Howe Gelb, Carla Torgerson (Walkabouts) & Jim Sclavunos (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds / Grinderman / Vanity Set). Mixed byIan Caple (Tindersticks, Tricky), Dark Outside'is a fluid album that combines the dreamy aspects of Electronica & Rock elements together. Robert Fisher excels in participating in 2 tracks as you have never heard him before! In Song In My Wallet' he is in a Gospel toned & commanding role singing over a majestic toe-tapping groove, as in Blue Side Of The Sun we find him engaged in Eighties Power Pop mode. A sternHowe Gelb is in a Trip-Hop vibe together with Anna Karakalou in White' as Jim Sclavunos delivers Ours At Least' with the aplomb reminiscent to Michael Gira's legendary mellow' Swans phase.

    But Akis Boyatzis does complement the visitors contributions with some great vocal deliveries of his own, such as on the magical & playful EE Cummings poem Maggie And Milly and Molly And May', the stark & sombre intro Position One' or the tight & spiky New Life'.

    It has been a 4 year wait since the excellent Sigmatropic release Sixteen Haiku & Other Stories', but Dark Outside' delivers a cracking second shot which will undoubtedly ensure Sigmatropic cement their reputation as an innovative & creative force.

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