Natalie Merchant resurrects the dead

American singer and songwriter Natalie Merchant releases her fifth album “Leave your sleep” this week; an album composed entirely of poems set to music. The names of certain poets, Charles E. Carryl, Rachel Field, Robert Graves, Christina Rossetti, Robert Louis Stevenson, Ogden Nash, Edward Lear, flashed across the screen before merchant said “Ghosts right?”

The perception that these poets have nothing left to say after being deceased motivated Merchant to revive their words in her latest album, which she is calling a resurrection of “dead flat pages”. The idea of such an album, only being released later this week, has been met with expectation and apprehension.

While some argue that the words of the poets to the artists bluesy rhythm and music is a great addition to her repertoire and the body of jazz music in general, others argue that it misses the point of poetry which requires “dead flat pages”. Whether the poets wanted their words to be set to music or not aside, the very idea that the poets’ names were recognised is enough indication that they are not dead, or obsolete.

The novelty of the poetry and music may not be enough for audiences to get on board. The sound will have to do more than accompany the words, but bring something new to something most people have already heard.

The double disc album features the following poems:

Disc 1:
1. "Nursery Rhyme of Innocence and Experience"    
2. "Equestrienne"    
3. "Calico Pie"    
4. "Bleezer's Ice-Cream"    
5. "It Makes a Change"    
6. "The King of China's Daughter"    
7. "The Dancing Bear"    
8. "The Man in the Wilderness"    
9. "maggie and milly and molly and may"    
10. "If No One Ever Marries Me"    
11. "The Sleepy Giant"    
12. "The Peppery Man"    
13. "The Blind Men and the Elephant"  

Disc 2
1. "Adventures of Isabel"    
2. "The Walloping Window Blind"    
3. "Topsyturvey-World"    
4. "The Janitor's Boy"    
5. "Griselda"    
6. "The Land of Nod"    
7. "Vain and Careless"    
8. "Crying, My Little One"    
9. "Sweet and a Lullaby"    
10. "I Saw a Ship A-Sailing"    
11. "Autumn Lullaby"    
12. "Spring and Fall: to a young child"    
13. "Indian Names"

“Leave your sleep” is available from WantItAll for the Best Price of R330.