The Poison Pie Publishing House presents:

October 1, 2026
The band entered borderlands between Molossia and Thesprotia, though the mountains made no effort to acknowledge either tribe. Foreigners named this land Epirus, a term that neither man nor mountain here chose to recognize. Exekias, who kept their calendar, belatedly alerted his bandmates to the passing of the solstice several days earlier. They had celebrated with no wine or feasting. Like wild animals, their observance of time was both attentive to the moment and neglectful of high days. "Easy to miss when you're on perpetual holiday," said Papa.

written while listening to:  Marco Parente - La Riproduzione Dei Fiori (Woland, W01, 2011, Italy, cd, discogs.com)

October 2, 2026
Upon an exposed ridge the trail split, one path leading down the slope toward the coast on their left, the other meandering further into the jagged peaks to the east. Papa gathered the band around him. "The peoples of these lands are given to prophecy," he said, "We would do well to get their blessing as we proceed." These words seemed strange to Andromache for she had not thought of Papa Krokodeilos as one who surrendered his fate to the whim of the gods. Everyone else could read in his voice a profound ambivalence.

written while listening to:  Guillaume Gargaud & Jukka Kääriäinen - Radial (Plus Timbre, PT138, 2022, Greece, cd, discogs.com)

October 3, 2026
Papa explained that they approached two sites renowned for prophecy. In the territory of the Thesprotians, a temple of stone and iron stood on the bank of the Acheron river, not three miles inland from the Ionian sea. Named the Necromanteion, this "Oracle of the Dead" granted passage through the gates of Hades. If the rites were carried out as prescribed and the sacrifice deemed worthy, pilgrims could speak to the dead. Orpheus had descended to the underworld at such a site in his attempt to lure his wife back to life with the music of his lyre.

written while listening to:  Raed Yassin - Phantom Orchestra, Sides A & B (Morphine Records, DOSER046LP, 2025, Germany, lpx2, discogs.com)

October 4, 2026
The other soothsaying site lay in the mountainous territory of the Molossians near the remote village of Dodona. It was said to be a secluded shrine of wood and wind, no less powerful a source of divination and, in fact, far more ancient than the Necromanteion of Acheron. The Oracle of Dodona appealed to the band because of its connection to the Earth rather than Hades. However, Papa steered them toward the coast for there he expected a better chance to replenish supplies at the adjacent town, which traded with sea-faring folk.

written while listening to:  Derek Bailey, Tony Bevan, T.H.F. Drenching, Sonic Pleasure & Alex Ward - Limescale (Incus Records, CD56, 2003, United Kingdom, cd, discogs.com)

October 5, 2026
The donkeys did not resent the gentle decline in elevation as the band made their way westward. The path was not well traveled and rocks littered the dirt trail. The wooden cart creaked as it wobbled along but the repairs that had been made in Sparta were solidly done. No one feared for Grandpa Dumpling's safety atop the rig. So they were delivered after a long day to the town of the Ephyra, which stood atop two hills on the far bank of the Cocytus River. Half a mile south, they spied the looming Necromanteion at the juncture with the Acheron.

written while listening to:  Keiji Haino & The Observatory - Authority Is Alive (Ujikaji Records, UJI-017LP, 2020, Singapore, ep, discogs.com)

October 6, 2026
The Cocytus was too deep to ford. Arriving late, the band camped beside the road. Thion and Ion shared a dislike of water and, once unhitched, proceeded to the bank only to drink. Sounds of the hubbub from night market vendors and carousers drifted across the water. The landowner of an estate that grew wheat and barley sent a farmhand to investigate the campfire at his fence. Papa's crocodilian complexion frightened the worker but his peaceful words assured him that they were but traveling musicians who would enter town on the morrow.

written while listening to:  Joëlle Léandre & Rémy Bélanger de Beauport - Jeux de mains (Tour De Bras, TDB900014LP, 2026, Canada, lp, discogs.com)

October 7, 2026
Late at night, Andromache woke to the deep cry of Megaera calling for help. The terror in the giantess' voice chilled her blood. She heard Mama Chloë instantly reply. In moments both Mama and Papa were on their feet. A great deal of rustling reached Andromache's ears. She dressed to leave the tent when Grandpa bade her wait. "Exekias is having a fit," he explained. While the poor health of Megaera's husband had always been clear, no one had ever mentioned seizures. "There's nothing you can do to help," he whispered, "Come, lie back down."

written while listening to:  Isabelle Duthoit & Franz Hautzinger - Dans le Morvan (Relative Pitch Records, RPR1182, 2024, United States, cd, discogs.com)

October 8, 2026
Of course, Andromache could not simply ignore the plight of her companion yet, when she emerged from the tent, she found Triballos and Hektor standing idly by. Mama had crawled into the tent with Megaera and Exekias. Groans and sounds of thrashing escaped from inside. Papa had already collected her bag of herbs, a bowl of water and a towel. He stood just outside, waiting for his wife to request an item. Andromache called out, "How can I help?" The dwarf answered for Papa, "Stay back, Synder. Let them tend to him and it'll pass. It always does."

written while listening to:  Evan Parker, Barry Guy & Paul Lytton - Concert In Vilnius (NoBusiness Records, NBCD 123, 2019, Lithuania, cd, discogs.com)

October 9, 2026
The fit lasted several minutes, a veritable eternity for all within earshot of the agonized groans. Andromache and Hektor found a way to be useful, re-kindling the fire to warm water. Mama passed a bloody rag out to Papa, who handed it to Andromache. Seeing the anxiety on her face, he said, "He bit his lip, nothing more." She took the rag to the Cocytus and wrung it clean. In the morning, a somber mood hung over the band. Exekias did not emerge from the tent. "Eat," Papa ordered the band as Mama prepared breakfast. "We pay a visit to Epyrus today."

written while listening to:  Tomeka Reid, Kyoko Kitamura, Taylor Ho Bynum & Joe Morris - Geometry of Phenomena (Relative Pitch Records, RPR1200, 2024, United States, cd, discogs.com)

October 10, 2026
Flat-bottomed punts transported people and goods across the Cocytus and Acheron. None could accommodate the donkeys or wagon. Past the confluence of the two rivers the land gave way to a wide and shallow marsh. Larger versions of these ferries carried pilgrims up from the coast to the Necromanteion. The ferrymen and their long poles naturally conjured images of Charon poling the dead to the underworld. Papa concluded that it was too much trouble to bring the donkeys. "Besides," Mama added, "Exekias needs bed rest today."

written while listening to:  Todd Neufeld - Mu'U (Ruweh Records, 005, 2017, United States, cd, discogs.com)

October 11, 2026
While it was natural to assume that Megaera would remain behind, tending to her husband, this was not how things turned out. "Megaera's presence as we walk through town attracts welcome attention," Papa explained, "and her songs are invariably the crowd favorites. We need her with us, if we're to make the most of our visit here." As if on cue, Mama Chloë chimed in, "Why not leave Synder with Exekias? I've shown her how to brew the herbal broth. He'll be in good hands." Thus was the flutist's relative importance in the band made clear.

written while listening to:  Agustí Fernández - Aesthetic of Prisms, disc 6 (Fundacja Słuchaj!, FSR30/2024, 2024, Poland, cdx7, discogs.com)

October 12, 2026
After she had watched the six cross the Cocytus and climb the hill to Epyrus, Andromache entered the tent with Exekias. He lay on his back with a folded blanket under his head. She judged his complexion no more wan than usual. He was awake and glanced over at her. "You are to be my nursemaid," he said to dispel the awkward silence. "I'll do my best," she promised, keeping her tone upbeat in an attempt to convince them both how amenable she was to being left behind. She hid from Exekias her prayer that no fit recurred while Mama was gone.

written while listening to:  Avey Tare - Eucalyptus (Domino, WIGCD393, 2017, United Kingdom, cd, discogs.com)