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Post by petea on Feb 1, 2021 12:56:56 GMT
Hadestown by Anaïs Mitchell is often described as a folk opera and this version is the concept album version of it. It is basically the re-telling of the Greek 'tradegy' about Orpeus and Eurydice and is clearly something that Ms Mitchell has had a fascination with for a number of years. Some versions of the songs in one form or another pop up in her earlier (and even her later) work and the whole 'opera' was first performed as part of a live concert back in 2006 with various collaborators. The album version was releaseed in 2010 and was available on both CD and vinyl record (although the latter was quite limited it seems). It is an ensemble piece with various singers playing the charcters. In 2016 an expanded, Broadway version of the 'opera' was produced although Anaïs Mitchell does not perform in it. This was also performed in Canada and the UK. When I first heard Anaïs Mitchell I was none too sure of her voice. However, her song writing and delivery were so compelling that I very quickly got used to it and now like it. On the album she plays the role of Eurydice and so appears on the opening track, so you are thrown into her sound straight away. There are a mixture of styles on the album based on the part of the tale involved and the way she chose to present the character, but I find that they blend together well and enhance the story. The instrumentation and recording is very good I find and she has chosen the players and performers well and, if you find one of the YouTube recordings of a live performance, you can see that the cast is clearly having fun. Her other work is worth investigating too and is always interesting and musically well presented.  play.qobuz.com/album/cdcjiq7xrbo2a |
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Post by MartinT on Feb 1, 2021 14:36:20 GMT
Great left-field choice, Pete. I've never heard of it or her!
Looking forward to giving it a listen.
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Post by John on Feb 1, 2021 15:00:24 GMT
This is new to me so will listen later this week
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Post by Slinger on Feb 1, 2021 15:01:45 GMT
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Post by Slinger on Feb 1, 2021 16:25:01 GMT
Greg Brown just about drags this from a three to a four. Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon (Orpheus), and Ben Knox Miller of The Low Anthem (Hermes) are both good, but I can't bring myself to actually like Anaïs Mitchell's voice no matter how hard I try. Ani DiFranco isn't awful. Greg definitely steals the show for me though. There's more about the stage show that this was taken from here. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadestown |
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Post by petea on Feb 1, 2021 16:59:19 GMT
Her voice is an acquired taste I admit. The link is for the 'Broadway' show rather than the album / toured version. I like her original arrangements much better though. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadestown_(album) |
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Post by MartinT on Feb 1, 2021 19:48:52 GMT
Yes, it's difficult to get past her voice. Small amounts, possibly. The backing singers are good and the recording has a certain vitality to it.
I'm not a great one for stage shows, musicals or opera, so listening through this was a bit of an effort.
I love the cover artwork. 2/5.
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Post by ajski2fly on Feb 2, 2021 12:12:22 GMT
A quiet day on the re-modelling of the bungalow, so I whilst doing some accounts and stuff I sat and listened to this. Some of it I quite liked, some of the the more ambient tracks in particular. I found Anaïs's vocal rather annoying in places, for me it comes over like several female singers today who have what sounds like a put on airy voice with a lisp, I may being doing her an injustice bit not for me really. I am not a great fan of musical stage and opera so this was a bit of challenge as well.
All things considered its a 4/5 as I am not likely to listen again.
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Post by John on Feb 2, 2021 12:28:04 GMT
Her voice is just not for me I like the music behind the voice but I just cannot get past the vocals. Sorry her voice takes me to Hades
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Post by Slinger on Feb 2, 2021 15:36:52 GMT
I can't believe that nobody's mentioned Tom Waits yet. Some of the instrumentation on Greg Brown's numbers particularly have a very Waitsian edge to them, and then, of course, there's a touch of Waits-lite to his voice as well.
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Post by petea on Feb 2, 2021 15:51:04 GMT
I can't pick that up at all, Paul despite being a huge fan of Tom Waits. Growling voice yes, but the delivery, phrasing and feel are quite different I think and his voice 'breaks' in a very different way. One of the things that distigusihes Tom Waits song writing / delivery is the way he carries melody through the phrasing and lyrics. I don't hear that here.
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Post by Slinger on Feb 2, 2021 15:59:49 GMT
I can't pick that up at all, Paul despite being a huge fan of Tom Waits. Growling voice yes, but the delivery, phrasing and feel are quite different I think and his voice 'breaks' in a very different way. One of the things that distigusihes Tom Waits song writing / delivery is the way he carries melody through the phrasing and lyrics. I don't hear that here. Yes, I know what you're saying, and you're right, but it's not one particular thing, more an overall "feel" that reminded me of Tom. Actually, the most " Tom Waits" song is probably #3 "Way Down Hadestown" which doesn't feature him at all.  |
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Post by ChrisB on Feb 2, 2021 16:23:31 GMT
I can't believe that nobody's mentioned Tom Waits yet. He-heh, extremely funny indeed, as I came to this thread to say exactly that! Some of the vocal phrasing and the junkyard jazz playing is Tom Waites in extremis, to my mind. I feel like I might have to check to see whether he was involved or is related to her! I hear it all over the album, not just on the Greg Brown tracks |
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Post by petea on Feb 2, 2021 16:43:07 GMT
A quiet day on the re-modelling of the bungalow, so I whilst doing some accounts and stuff I sat and listened to this. Some of it I quite liked, some of the the more ambient tracks in particular. I found Anaïs's vocal rather annoying in places, for me it comes over like several female singers today who have what sounds like a put on airy voice with a lisp, I may being doing her an injustice bit not for me really. I am not a great fan of musical stage and opera so this was a bit of challenge as well. All things considered its a 4/5 as I am not likely to listen again. Her voice is quite striking and I can see why people struggle with it and I did too when I first heard her, but as I said, I found her writing and delivery were so compelling that I simply got used to it. It is certainly not 'put on' as it is the same as her spoken voice. I like her other albums a lot, especially "Young Man in America" and find her a skilled songwriter / story teller. |
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Post by ChrisB on Feb 3, 2021 0:12:12 GMT
I liked it quite a lot. It was playing quietly in the background as I worked today and I intend to do that again tomorrow. The voice, although a bit of a surprise to begin with, was fine.
I shall score it tomorrow.
Thanks Pete.
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Post by ChrisB on Feb 11, 2021 17:01:32 GMT
I am playing this again, but this time it's on the main system. And I've got it playing at...err...shall we say that it's at quite a 'demonstrative' volume...?
The recording is great!
I'm thinking it's going to be a four out of five from me. Not quite Ambrosia, but definitely better than your average rice pudding.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Pete.
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 2, 2021 16:40:56 GMT
Different !
Female vocal is always going to be a struggle for little me anyway...
This one even less so
Not for me Pete. Thanks for the listen
Lots of good music going on ....
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