Nino Batista - Polyhymnia

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POLYHYMNIA
Category:	Band
Genre:	eclectic/rock/folk/experimental
Duration:	1997 - Current
Members:	Nino - guitar, vocals, drums, keys, effects, noise Billy Giffen - guitar, bass, vocals, noise Raf - drums, percussion
Suggested Tracks:	"I'm Naive" "Bob Humphries" "Sleeping" "Alone For A Week (Silent For A Lifetime)" "Face Of Dawn"
Comments:	It would be pertinent to say that the trio known as Polyhymnia is, first and foremost, influenced by The Beatles. However, only select Polyhymnia songs actually sound "Beatle-influenced", so to speak. As a rule, Poly songs are eclectic, non-commercial, and to a certain degree rather self-indulgent. This can be clearly heard in the many tracks with "who cares about pitch" vocals, as well as some garage-sounding production on most all cuts. Their songs need to be listened to from beginning to end to get the full idea of what they are, as the band intentionally structured songs from beginning to end, with no "jams" or "extended solos" anywhere. The band of a thousand demos and one never-released album, Polyhymnia sleeps for long periods these days, but still is yet to be considered "broken up". Future sessions and recordings will happen, as they always do, and plans for promoting some of the better produced Poly tracks on the internet are formulating for 2005 and beyond. NOTE: Many, many Polyhymnia super-rough recordings are still missing from this catalog. These recordings, done by Billy and Nino between 1996 and 1997, are almost all on old cassette tapes (and there are a lot of tapes). As such, they need to be digitized and organized before they can be added here. Check back periodically as these old Poly sessions are added.
	Download Polyhymnia MP3's below! (If your browser does not play the MP3, it would be best to download the link to your drive so you can use the file on your MP3 player.) Read complete downloading disclaimer. If MP3's are not available on all tracks, it is because there would be a conflict in having these available for free when the respective band/project is currently active and promoting their material. I'll usually post a link to that band/project's website so you can hear any MP3's offered there.

YEAR	TRACK	NOTES / HISTORY	ALBUM / EP	CREDITS
1998	Vacuum Box I	A song about Nino's brief experience in working in the corporate world (a big oil company of all things...) Corporate stuffshirt executives can be heard mocked in the background throughout.	Awakenings	Nino: guitars, bass, vocals Billy Giffen: guitars Raf: drums
1998	Vacuum Box II	All acoustic version of the original, with different tempo. Was a "secret track" on Polyhymnia's never-released album "Awakenings".	Awakenings	Nino: vocals Billy Giffen: 12-str. guitar
1998	An Unfortunate Evening	Mellow yet intense tune by Nino with rhapsodic changes and reverb-rich vocals. One of Nino's favorite Poly songs.	Awakenings	Nino: guitars, vocals Billy Giffen: bass Raf: drums
1998	Timeline	Grunge-meets-punk-meets-experimental-noise. This Billy Giffen tune which was more or less a biographical/emotional release was recorded "live" in his living room when Poly moved their TMR Studio gear there for an entire weekend of recording in 1998. Billy changed the tempo of the tune on the fly for the last verse, and to this day no one knows why. A truly dirty track.	Normal Life Demonstrations	Nino: bass Billy Giffen: guitar, vocals Raf: drums
1998	Unexpected Enlightenment	Pretty tune by Nino about a fictitious girl he'd never met at the time. These days, Nino dedicates this tune to his wife. Recording on a day when Raf and Billy were unavailable, Nino took the challenge of recording all instruments solo - hence the shoddy drums.	Awakenings	Nino: guitars, bass, drums, vocals
1998	Awakenings	Quite possibly the worst blues jam (not counting it's predecessor) in the history of time, this obnoxiously long track showcased Billy Giffen's lyrics drastically modified at will by Nino. This is the only Polyhymnia track with any kind of "soloing" by the band members (albeit poorly). The backing track was recorded "live" while goofing around (and while watching TV), while overdubs were added later when the guys decided they wanted to use the jam on their never-released album. (note the "11-bar blues" structure done rather unintentionally.)	Normal Life Demonstrations	Nino: bass, guitars, keys, vocals Billy Giffen: guitars, vocals Raf: drums
1998	Awakenings v.0	This blasphemous blues jam was the original incarnation of "Awakenings", done by Nino and Raf only. After the jam, Nino added a plethora of overdubs including fuzz-crazy slide guitar, outta tune keys, synth cymbals, and lord knows what else. Later, this song was re-recorded with Billy as another jam, much longer, which became the final track for the never-released album "Awakenings". (it is believed that Raf actually fell off of his drum throne during the take.)	Awakenings	Nino: bass, guitars, keys, vocals, noise Raf: drums
1998	George & Gwen	Synth drums overlayed with countless tracks of keyboards, spoken word, guitars, bass, noise, various TV commercials, and a main storyline from an old classic film. (bonus points if you can guess the film! Email me. Or if you give up, here.). The bassline created for this piece was later used by Nino in his odd synthy solo tune, and used yet again for the Drop Trio tune "Barmecide" starting in 2003.	Normal Life Demonstrations	Nino: bass, guitars, keys, drum loop, vocals, noise
1998	How I Write	Poorly mixed track, this Billy Giffen tune lets the listener know his philosophy on songwriting. Billy has declared this song to be "@#$%^&" and he simply refuses to listen to it anymore to this day.	CFKRAA	Nino: bass Billy Giffen: guitars, vocals Raf: drums
1998	Alone For A Week v.0	Billy Giffen tune performed with effect--filled vocals and instrumentation, vintage African percussion and drums, and cool digital effects. This was the first rendition of the song, before it was lengthened, modified, and given a new sub-title.	Normal Life Demonstrations	Nino: bass, guitars, effects Billy Giffen: guitars, vocals Raf: percussion
1998	Alone For A Week (Silent For A Lifetime)	Final version of Billy Giffen's premier Polyhymnia song, this near 6 minute re-recording of the original showcases Raf's percussion and kit work, Nino's solid bassline, as well as Billy's emotional vocal delivery on the final verses. One of Nino's favorites.	Awakenings	Nino: bass, guitars, effects Billy Giffen: guitars, vocals Raf: percussion, drums
1998	Seems So Cold	Nino's four grandparents all died within 15 months from 1996 to 1997. This is his thoughts and feelings from that experience. One of the more touching, sensitive Polyhymnia tunes. The vocals were recorded with a weird chorus effect on them as an experiment. This was later supposed to be changed, but alas, that never happened. The trio plans to re-record this song in 2004, among others.	CFKRAA	Nino: bass, guitars, keys, vocals Billy Giffen: guitars, vocals Raf: drums
1998	Sleeping	The true Polyhymnia epic song, "Sleeping" was Billy Giffen's dream-like opus written over several months. Billy simply wrote down every dream he could remember having every morning during that time. Then he wrote a lengthy prose poem that touched on every one of those dreams, and ultimately it all became this trance-like track. Raf's steady yet expressive drumming keepts the mantra feel for all 9+ minutes. The dream is uncomfortably ended by a digital alarm clock sound, done by Nino and Billy with a guitar and a bass.	Awakenings	Nino: bass, effects Billy Giffen: guitars, vocals Raf: drums
1998	Streetlamp	Not to be outdone by the 400,000 other songs in the world that begin with rain and wind sounds, Polyhymnia put together this mellow number about life, love, and a lone streetlamp complete with sizzle-cymbal-only percussion and fretless bass.		Nino: bass, effects Billy Giffen: guitar, vocals Raf: percussion
1998	Teafoam	Wild fuzz guitar, digital effects, and a lot of insane experimentation. This noise piece by Nino was the only track recorded from the planned experimental/noise album "Full" by Polyhymnia. The album was never actually created, but the concept of an experimental album evolved later into Billy and Nino's Mofongo project. A guitar riff heard in the middle of this song was later resurrected and used in the very short lived Deep Elder song "Early Mind".	CFKRAA & Full (never released)	Nino: guitar, effects
1998	Face Of Dawn	This Nino track features some no-shame falsetto vocals and very cool Lennon-esque chording as well as a rare guitar solo, all done by Nino & Billy.		Nino: guitars, vocals Billy Giffen: bass, vocals
1998	Shine	A simple song about advice, myths, news reports, and other so-called facts in life that you are bombarded with daily - and Nino's reaction to said comments. This very happy Nino song starts with a fake phone conversation with classical LP in the background, and features a fun rhythm section by Billy and Raf complete with fuzz bass and bouncy drums. Listen for the banter and laughing between band members at the ending of the song.		Nino: guitars, vocals Billy Giffen: bass Raf: drums
1998	Just Passing Through	The first multitrack Polyhymnia recording. A somber Nino & Billy tune sung by Billy, with drums added rather hastily by Raf after the song had been recorded.	Awakenings	Nino: guitars Billy Giffen: bass, vocals Raf: drums
1998	Rolling On Nice And Luscious Dirt	A hokey number written by Nino, with sticks recorded by Raf in a towel. Long story. Tune also features Nino playing his dad's vintage 1967 Hofner "Beatle Bass". As for the name, well, think of it's acronym :)	CFKRAA	Nino: guitars, bass, vocals Raf: sticks!
1998	Grand Ride	Recorded at Billy's house during a weekend long recording spree, this tune by Nino features a dominant 12 string acoustic guitar, creepy & uncomfortable vocals and subtle drumming by Raf.	CFKRAA	Nino: 12 str. guitar, vocals Billy Giffen: guitar Raf: drums
1998	Come Take A Waltz With Me	A medieval sounding tune, this Billy Giffen number in 3/4 showcases some of his story telling lyricism. The melodic guitar in the background was EQed to mimic a muted horn. Sort of. A truly unique Poly track.		Nino: bass, guitar Billy Giffen: guitar, vocals Raf: drums
1998	Bob Humphries	Created and recorded on the fly, this memorable Polyhymnia recording is as whimsical as it gets. Mellow, yet delightfully insane, the song depicts the story of Bob Humphries finding a small treasure while taking a stroll. The song was performed when recorded, and never played again, so this recording is the only time the song has ever been played by Polyhymnia.		Nino: guitars, vocals Billy Giffen: bass, vocals Raf: drums
2002	I'm Naive	Hands down, the best Polyhymnia song thus far. Written in 1998 but never recorded, this track showcases Polyhymnia's evolution as of 2002. Not having recorded since 1998, the band decided to lay this song down almost 4 years later as it has been their favorite song they've played for some time. Music and lyrics by Billy coupled with Nino's haunting vocal melody were complemented by a new sound: a performance on flute by Nino's wife Tara during the break and ending of the song. Between Billy's genius song, Raf's powerful and expressive drumming, Tara's gorgeous flute work, and the overall production of the track, this is not only Nino's favorite Polyhymnia song of all time, but also one of his favorite songs ever.		Nino: guitars, bass, vocals Billy Giffen: guitar Raf: drums Tara Batista: flute