Various Artists - Chamber Music (James Joyce) (Fire Records) Released: 12/05/08

James Joyce was an Irish expatriate writer and has been widely acknowledged as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. He spent most of his adult life outside Ireland; however Joyce’s psychological and fictional universe was rooted in his native Dublin. In 1907 he wrote a collection of 36 poems which he had published as a book and named it Chamber music. Although it is widely reported that the title refers to the sound of urine tinkling in a chamber pot, this is a later Joycean embellishment, lending an earthiness to a title first suggested by his brother. Joyce had declared to his wife some years later that he had written the poems when he was lonely and looking for love and that he’d always wished they could be put to music.

Well over a 100 years later he should be happy to know his wish had been granted. A good few years in the making, comes the epic 36 artists interpretation of James Joyce’s collection of poems charting love from innocence to experience. With contributions from major established artists, such as Ed Harcourt, Willy Mason, Mercury Rev and REM’s Peter Buck, mused with cult instrumentalists such as Jessica Balliff and Gravenhurst, it provides a well rounded and unified expression of Joyce’s early love-hungry verses. A mixture of spoken word and psychedelic folk brings individuality from each artist.
 
Opening poem ‘Strings in the earth and air’, which is simply numbered ‘I’, is sang beautifully by Glaswegian singer/songwriter Monica Queen. The choice of opening the collection with alternative rock style guitars and steel slide has you engulfed on first listen and with her beautiful folk vocal, which at times holds comparisons to Nancy Griffiths and Stephanie Dosen is so fitting to the lovely words in which Joyce wrote “…There's music along the river/For Love wanders there/Pale flowers on his mantle/Dark leaves on his hair..”. Using this middle verse of his poem as a chorus the sound of ghostly echoes in the background allows you to feel enchanted by the love ditty. Ed Harcourt brings poem number ‘III’ ( aka At that hour when all things have repose) to life with psychedelic/gothic influences, he uses a lengthy intro and speaks through a microphone to distort his voice as he simply reads the poem “…Play on, invisible harps, unto Love/Whose way in heaven is aglow/At that hour when soft lights come and go/Soft sweet music in the air above/And in the earth below.”
 
Willy Mason’s baritone Americana vocals are hard to mistake and its hard not to feel some warmth from his delivery. His version of poem ‘XIV’ is no different, his performance is simple and effective just accompanied with acoustic guitar “..I wait by the cedar tree/My sister, my love/White breast of the dove/ My breast shall be your bed…” Minus 5 are a relatively unknown band in the UK but with a relatively large icon on guitar. Peter Buck’s (REM) side project contribute there talents on the shortest poem in the collection ‘XIX’ (aka Be Not Sad) again very simplistic but along the psychedelic route. Vocal’s are lacking power and the thought does enter your head, if only Michael Stipe had sang it.

Mercury Rev opt for spoken word with there contribution on poem number ‘XXIII’. The poem sounds evocative and although it is a less surprising, the fact that they have stuck to minimalist features along with backing of sonic textures, the relay of the poem sets them apart from the other artists. Closing poem ‘XXXVI’ comes from Seattle based band Kinski, who also opt for spoken word over aboriginal sounding beats. The female vocal comes from Lucy Atkinson as her low yet distinctively American tones declare “…They cry unto the night their battle-name/I moan in sleep when I hear afar their whirling laughter/They cleave the gloom of dreams, a blinding flame/Clanging, clanging upon the heart as upon an anvil…”.
 
This musical adaptation of James Joyce’s Chamber Music is oozing individuality, with every artists providing there own unique talents. The CD is aptly packaged with delightful original artwork by Stephanie Black, which captures the real essence of Joyce’s poems with simple diagrams of the chambers of the heart drawn over sheet music. This is a real treat for any fan of music and literature.