Reimagining classical works and traversing the [needless] boundaries between contemporary classical, folk and experimental music, she has the kind of resolutely individual approach that has made artists as diverse as Anna Meredith, Esperanza Spalding and Polly Harvey so intriguing.
Instead of physical copies, the album can be bought digitally along with a votive beeswax altar candle deliciously scented with almond fragrance. The candle was made from a 3d scan of myself as I appear on the album cover. Made in collaboration with Vassiliki Riala (÷χρονικό) and Savvas Avraam at Thinker Maker Space in Nicosia, Cyprus.
Album release performance at Fengaros Reacts online festival
Video for ‘Almonds for the Present Moment’
Album lyrics and translations (album credits below)
Bright morning stars are rising
Bright morning stars are rising Day is breaking In my soul
Oh where are our dear fathers? They are down in the valley praying Day is breaking In my soul
Oh where are our dear mothers? They are gone to heaven shouting Day is breaking In my soul
Hamlet’s Song
Over the water I see
our home And neither rain nor
snow nor tired bones Will keep us on the shore
Won’t you come live
with me, and be my love?
Over the water we’ll
build a little house Where I will make you
eggs in the morning And pour you whiskey
in the moonlight Under the eaves
Won’t you come live
with me, and be my love?
Το Άρωμα
Ολου του κόσμου
τα καλά να τα `χα δεν τα
θέλω ας έχει ο κόσμος
τα καλά κι εγώ αυτόν που
θέλω
Ήθελα να `μουν
άρωμα που βάνεις στα
μαλλιά σου σε κάθε σου
αναπνοή να μπαίνω στη
καρδιά σου.
Όσα άστρα έχει ο
ουρανός ο ήλιος, το
φεγγάρι έτσι κι εγώ θα σ’
αγαπώ μέχρι να μπω στον
Άδη
Για σένα κλαίω
και πονώ και
βαριαναστενάζω μα τέτοιο πόνο με
χαρές χιλιάδες δεν
αλλάζω
The Perfume
If I could have all the joys in the world I would not want them, let the world have its joys and I the one I desire
I wish that I were a scent that perfumes your hair, so that with each breath I could enter your heart
As much as there are stars in the sky, and the sun, and the moon, so much will I love you, until I travel to the underworld
I cry and suffer for you and sigh heavily but I would not trade such pain for a thousand joys
The Blackest
Crow
As time draws near my dearest dear when you
and I must part how little you know of the grief and woe in
my poor aching heart. Each night I suffer for your sake, you’re the
only man I love so dear, I wish that I was going with you, or you
were staying here.
I wish my breast were made of glass wherein
you might behold upon my heart your name lies wrote in
letters made of gold. In letters made of gold my love, believe me
when I say You are the one that I will adore until my
dying day
The blackest crow that ever flew would
surely turn to white if ever I prove false to you bright day
will turn to night. Bright day will turn to night my love, the
elements will mourn if ever I prove false to you the seas will
rage and burn.
And when you’re on some distant shore,
think of your absent friend, and when the wind blows high and clear, a
light to me pray send. And when the wind blows high and clear,
pray send your love to me that I might know by your hand write how
time has gone with thee.
Folia
de Reis*
Ai que orar bendita hora Com as três Marias
Ai, são horas de agradecer Com as três Marias
Agradecer com a palavra Com as três Marias
Foi o melhor que aconteceu Com as três Marias
Eu agradeço à São José Com as três Marias
Ai, são horas de agradecer Com as três Marias
Vai receber o prêmio dela Com as três Marias
Foi lã na glória verdadeira Com as três Marias
The Revelry of Kings
Praise now this blessed hour oh, three sisters
These are hours for giving thanks oh, three sisters
Give thanks with your words oh, three sisters
The greatest of events has come to pass oh, three sisters
I give thanks to saint Joseph oh, three sisters
These are hours for giving thanks oh, three sisters
You will receive her gifts oh, three sisters
An event of true glory oh, three sisters
* Folia de Reis is the Brazilian folkloric celebration of the adoration of the magi. The “three sisters” refers to the stars of Orion’s Belt, a constellation associated in many traditions with the biblical magi. I want to thank the brothers Daniel Fernandes and De Leon Fernandes for sharing their knowledge of this tradition as it is practiced in the municipality of Muriaé in Minas Gerais. The song as it appears in Abundance was based on a recording of a procession in which Daniel and De Leon participated.
See the following pages for more information on this local tradition: www.instagram.com/jornadatresreis/?,www.muriaecity.com.br/news-148-grupo-de-folia-de-muriae-tem-cancao-gravada-por-artista-internacional
Almonds for the present moment
On a mountain high,
one summer’s day, I laid down my woes to die. With a pair of my baby
shoes and a picture of me when I was small I wept goodbye to
all the pain and trying
And said, “I will love
you, till we both die and we’re buried in the cold, cold ground and you become a part
of me again
So long my woes, Fare thee well.”
As the sun sank low
and the moon rose high, I gave these words away. And to the sound of a
familiar tune I burned the pages that you gave to me, put my hands to my
chest and prayed, for your release, and mine
And said, “I will hold
you when you are scared and I’ll listen to your small, small voice And you’ll become a
part of me again.
So long my woes, Fare thee well.”
Alte Laute Justinus Kerner
Hörst du den Vogel singen? Siehst du den Blütenbaum? Herz! kann dich das nicht bringen Aus deinem bangen Traum? Was hör’ ich? alte Laute Wehmüt’ger Jünglingsbrust, Der Zeit, als ich vertraute Der Welt und ihrer Lust. Die Tage sind vergangen, Mich heilt kein Kraut der Flur; Und aus dem Traum, dem bangen, Weckt mich ein Engel nur.
Sounds from the Past trans. Richard Stokes
Do you hear the bird singing? Do you see the blossoming tree? Heart, can that not bring you Out of your fearful dream? What do I hear? Old sounds Of a melancholy youthful breast, From that time when I trusted The world and its joy. Those days have gone, No meadow herb will heal me; And from the fearful dream, Only an angel will wake me.
Lu Cardillo
Sto crescenno nu bello cardillo Quanta cose che l’aggio ‘mpara’ Adda ire da chisto e da chillo Ll’immasciate po’ m’adda purta’ Siente cca’ bello mio lloco ‘nnanze c’e’ na casa ‘na nenna ‘nc’e’ stà tu la vide ca nun è distante chella nenna aje da ire a truvà.
Si la truove ca stace durmenno pe’ ‘na fata gue’ nun ‘a piglia’ nu rummore nun fa cu li penne guè cardì tu l’avissa scetà? Si affacciata po’ stà a lu barcone Pe’ na rosa l’avisssa piglià? Gue’ cardi’ vi’ ca lla’ nun te stuone Va vattenne cardi’ n’addurà.
Si la truove che face l’ammore ‘stu curtiello annascunnete cca’ ‘nficcancillo deritto allu core e lu sango tu m’aje da purtà. Ma si pensa vattè chianu chianu Zitto zitto te nce l’aje accustà. Si afferrà po’ te vo’ co’ la mano priesto ‘mpietto tu l’aje da zumpa’.
Si te vasa o t’afferra cianciosa tanno tu l’aje a dire accussiì: “lu patrone pe’ te nun reposa puveriello pecchè adda murì.” T’accarezza te vasa ah… viato chiu’ de me tu si certo cardi’ Si cu’ tico cagnarme m’è dato doppo voglio davvero muri’.
The Goldfinch
I'm breeding a lovely goldfinch what a lot of things I need to teach him! He must flit here and there And carry messages for me. Listen to me, sweet bird, not far from here there is a house, a girl lives there you can see it, it's not far - that’s the girl you must seek.
If you find her sleeping don't mistake her for a fairy don't rustle your feathers be careful, goldfinch, not to wake her. If she's standing at the balcony Don’t mistake her for a rose! Goldfinch, take care not to get intoxicated go from there, goldfinch, don't inhale her
perfume.
If you find her making love Take this concealed knife stick it straight into her heart and bring me her blood But if she's thinking, move very softly, Approach her oh so quietly And if she catches you with her hand you must spring quickly in her bosom.
If she kisses or embraces you You must say to her: “My master cannot sleep for love of you, The poor thing, why must he suffer?” If she caresses you, and kisses you More blessed are you than I, little bird, If I could exchange places with you, I would be happy to die.
What wondrous love is this What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my
soul What wondrous love is this, O my soul What wondrous love is this, To cause the Lord of bliss, To send such perfect peace To my soul, to my soul, To send such perfect peace, To my soul.
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will
sing To God and to the Lamb, I will sing To God and to the Lamb, Who is the great 'I am' And Christ the son of man I will sing, I will sing And Christ the son of man, I will sing.
When we're from sorrow free, we'll sing on,
we'll sing on When we're from sorrow free, we'll sing on When we're from sorrow free, we'll rise and joyous be and through eternity we'll sing on, we'll sing on and through eternity we'll sing on.
Ήρθ' ο καιρός να φύγουμε
Ήρθ' ο καιρός να
φύγουμε, ροδιά μου, ροδιά μου στα
σπίτια μας να πάμε, μικρή ροδακινιά μου
Και πάλι θ'
ανταμώσουμε, ροδιά μου, ροδιά μου στης νύφης τα
πιστρόφια, μικρή ροδακινιά μου
Αρνιά θα ψήσουμε
παιδιά, ροδιά μου, ροδιά μου θα φάμε και θα
πιούμε και θα σας ευχηθούμε
The time has come to leave
The time has come to leave, fruit of my heart, we are heading home, little fruit of my heart
We will meet again, fruit of my heart, we will dine in the house of the bride, little fruit of my heart
We will roast lambs, fruit of my heart, we will eat and drink, and wish you well
I tagli e i piaceri
I don't understand
what brought you to me or which of the winds
have blown you away. But it doesn't matter
now, please hear me when I say
ti ringrazio per tutto quello che
mi hai dato.
Siamo tutti umani nel
bene e nel male, portiamo in noi dolori
nascosti. And if the snows fall
late in spring, the grasses will die.
Thank you for the love
you gave to me, i tagli e i piaceri.
The wounds and the joy
Thank you For everything you gave to me
We are all human, for better or worse We carry hidden pains within us.
The wounds and the joy.
Bist du bei mir
Bist du bei mir, geh
ich mit Freuden Zum Sterben und zu
meiner Ruh.
Be you with me
Be you with me, I will go with joy To death and to my rest.
(1) Appalachian folk hymn; (2) (5) and (11) written by Sophie Fetokaki; (3) love song from Leros, Greece; (4) processional song commemorating Theophany, Muriaé, Brazil; (6) Lied by Robert Schumann; (7) Appalachian/Ozark ballad, U.S.A.; (8) Neapolitan canzone, Italy; (9) Sacred harp hymn, U.S.A.; (10) traditional dance song from Epirus, Greece; (12) aria by Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel (often attributed to J.S. Bach)
Sophie Fetokaki: vocals, guitars, harmonium Lefteris Moumtzis: electric guitar, mandolin, electric bass, double bass, synths, vocals Fred Thomas: piano, banjo, electric bass, double bass, acoustic guitar, percussion, drums, harmonium, synths, vocals
Andreas Trachonitis: drums on (10) Odysseas Toumazou: electric guitar on (6) Giorgos Kalogirou: laouto on (3) Ewan Bleach: saxophones on (4) and (10) Veronika Aloneftou: santouri on (3) and (11) Eleni Era: backing vocals on (11) Eleni Era, Vassilis Philippou, Lefteris Moumtzis, Fred Thomas, Alexis Kasinos, Yionny F. Avraamides: Choir of Wondrous Love
Produced by Lefteris Moumtzis, Fred Thomas and Sophie Fetokaki
Recorded and mixed by Andreas Trachonitis at Studio eleven63, Nicosia, Cyprus With additional recording by Fred Thomas in London and Alex Harker in Huddersfield Mastered by Yiannis Christodoulatos at Sweetspot productions
Art direction by Sophie Fetokaki and Ragnar Helgi Ólafsson Photos by Michael Kyprianou Scenography by Lydia Mandridou Album design by Ragnar Helgi Ólafsson
With special thanks to Aristos Aristofanous (for The Blackest Crow) and Shakallis Dance School (for the sayia).
Abundance was partially funded by the Youth Board of Cyprus / Οργανισμός Νεολαίας Κύπρου.
