Originally released in Greek early last year, Boyatzis’ musical adaptation of the poetry of Nobel Laureate/compatriot George Seferis undergoes an international makeover. Eighteen guest vocalists from both sides of the pond (including Robert Wyatt, Alejandro Escovedo, Mark Eitzel, Steve Wynn and Howe Gelb) add English translation to power-popper-cum-sound-collagist Boyatzis’ delicate noise paintings. Superb offerings from The Czars’ John Grant (“Haiku 14B”) and Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo (“Haiku 12”) are the most linear, but Cat Power’s “Haiku 10” and Carla (Walkabouts) Torgerson’s “Haiku 5” are softer and more smearily beautiful.
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