video @ https://youtu.be/ZnmfVBkzXnc

misty daydream
Vikings land on the shore
of my childhood

haiku by Michael Dudley http://michaeljdudley.com

For more information visit http://www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku

visuals (YouTube)

halF daydreaM [naviarhaiku484]

See accompanying visuals (YouTube) @ https://youtu.be/1E2l7woX7es

in dream world
was I laughing at a turtle?
winter seclusion

haiku by Kobayashi Issa https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/kobayashi-issa

picture by Todd Trapani https://unsplash.com/photos/ymEcUhbjCrI

For more information visit http://www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku

halF laughinG [naviarhaiku488]

I write, erase, rewrite
erase again, and then
a poppy blooms.

This is the death poem of Tachibana Hokushi, sometimes wrongly attributed to the Japanese painter Katsushika Hokusai.

Tachibana Hokushi, whose real name was Tachibana Genjiro, was born in Kanazawa in 1665. Hokushi was one of Basho’s most famous students at the time, and he even accompanied the great master during part of his famous journey through the narrow roads of the North, from Kanazawa to Matsuoka.

Haiku by Tachibana Hokushi

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

more halF unusuaL

halF erasurE [naviarhaiku557]

Be careful! ... The SoundCloud algorithm has deemed this not 'music' so won't be recommending to potentially interested listeners 😁 I wonder why I take that as a compliment?! 😉

More on the 662nd weekly Disquiet Junto project, Spin Cycle — The Assignment: Record a piece of music that pits one bicyclist against another — at https://disquiet.com/0662/

halF spiN [disquiet0662]

More on the 676th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Sub Melody — The Assignment: Bury a slow melody deep inside a drone — at https://disquiet.com/0676/

halF suB [disquiet0676]

paperweights
on the store’s comicbooks –
spring breeze

The author of the week is Takai Kito, a disciple of Yosa Buson. Despite becoming a professional haikai master in 1771, Kito remained one of Buson's most trusted disciples until the death of the great master and was the de facto coordinator of Buson's haikai group.

haiku by Takai Kito: https://rehaanengineer.weebly.com/semi-mechanical-moons-to-accompany-an-edo-period-haiku-by-takai-kit333.html

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

halF comiC [naviarhaiku587]

Oh NO! 😱 Look what's come out in the wash! 😳 It's a re-re-re-remix ... ! 😮

So this all started with a remix of a brilliant Tingle Taspestry ASMR video, which you can sink your teeth into at https://youtu.be/JrczIGHyJzU ...

A 'stress busting' experimental super loop version that forms the basis of THIS track can be sampled at https://youtu.be/yb6mBbDePxY ...

Enjoy!! 😁

More on the 695th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Disquiet Junto Project 0695: Clean After Each Use — The Assignment: Put a piece of music through the dryer — at https://disquiet.com/0695/

halF drieD [disquiet0695]

steady spring rains...
both dream and reality
Mount Yoshino! 

Ōshima Ryōta was a Japanese poet of the Edo period. Some sources say he was a disciple of Yosa Buson, while others say his master was Hattori Ransetsu. He's mostly remembered for his essay “Bashō ku kai” 芭蕉句解 ('Study of Bashō's haiku') published in 1759, a magnum opus of his studies and literary theories on Matsuo Bashō's work.

Haiku by Ōshima Ryōta: https://thepoetryhour.com/poets/oshima-ryota/

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

halF realitY [naviarhaiku591]

Phew! Thankfully this track didn't pass muster with the SoundCloud algorithm ... and so won't be recommended to potentially interested listeners ... Always a signal that something is probably worth a listen! 😁

See the accompanying video at https://youtu.be/wjrGJtwQnP0

This project is the first of three that are being done by the Disquiet Junto in collaboration with the 2025 Musikfestival Bern, which will be held in Switzerland from September 3 through 7. The festival topic this year is « Kette » — which translates, as the organization explains, to “Chain”: “Chains connect but they also bind. They create relationships but also restrictions. As a gift they look nice, feared when used in vice, and yet they can span bridges across fire and ice.” All three Junto projects will engage with the work of Svetlana Maraš, who is the Composer-in-Residence for the 2025 festival.

More on the 696th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Chain of Layers — The Assignment: Make music change by altering its layers — at https://disquiet.com/0696/

visuals

halF layereD [disquiet0696]

Messing with a crystal bell ... !

slanting sunlight rays
a warm hazy afternoon
the forest to hear

Marc Sheridan is an ever-curious person who loves what is just around the corner: the unusual and the mysterious. Even everyday objects and scenes can always be viewed differently.

He is English but currently living in the US, and he always remembers what Ansel Adams once said, "You don't take a photograph, you make it." Marc believes that photography rewards him with a greater connection to everything around him.

Lately, Marc has been writing haiku, but he's not sure whether he illustrates his photos with haiku or reveals his haiku through photography.

He has been published in numerous magazines in the US and the UK and has exhibited up and down the West Coast of the US for the past 23 years.

Haiku by Marc Sheridan: https://bsky.app/profile/northernvoodoo.bsky.social

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

halF slantinG [naviarhaiku592]

The strangest things happen when walking down the stairs at Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire, UK ... and all the sounds you hear here are from that odd little trip downwards ... see the video at https://youtu.be/TH2gczMinQ8

Thanks to the little kid who provided the vocal snippet! 🙏

So, this is the first third of a trio for the Disquiet Junto ... It's deliberately incomplete - simply a beat track ... Want to add another layer? What does it need to your ear? Check out the Disquiet brief for the next two weeks ... ❤️ Download this audio and have a play! 🎶🎡

More on the 697th weekly Disquiet Junto project, First Third — The Assignment: Record the first third of a trio — at https://disquiet.com/0697/

halF thirD [disquiet0697] 80 BPM

cloud and mist alike
rendered unnoticeable –
bright moon tonight!

Inawashiro Kensai (1452-1510) was a Japanese poet of the Muromachi period. He was a student of the famous renga poet Shinkei.

Haiku by: Inawashiro Kensai: https://collections.lacma.org/node/1015667

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

halF rendereD [naviarhaiku593]

I chose the brilliant track by https://soundcloud.com/torstengoerke for this Disquiet Junto brief; to add a second part in an eventual trio ... https://soundcloud.com/torstengoerke/plastiq-disquiet0697?si=e511e161b08d44e789d92e107816d030&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Looking forward to hearing any additions to complete the triangle of collaboration! ❤️

More on the 698th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Second Third — The Assignment: Record the second third of a trio — at https://disquiet.com/0698/

halF plastiQ [disquiet0698] with Torsten Goerke

For this third of three, I chose the inspired track by Campos and Samplair from last week ... https://soundcloud.com/tannes-marrei/soothing-nightmare-carnival-disquiet0698-with-samplair

Check out my collaborators' brilliant work at https://soundcloud.com/tannes-marrei and https://soundcloud.com/user-248104983 ...

Enjoy! 🤗

More on the 699th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Third Third — The Assignment: Record the third third of a trio — at https://disquiet.com/0699/

halF nightmarE [disquiet0699] with Campos & Samplair

caged bird
glaring with envious eyes
at butterflies!
 

Among the four great masters of Japanese haiku, Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828) was the most prolific: during his lifetime he wrote over 20,000 haiku, hundreds of tanka, and several haibun.

Haiku by Kobayashi Issa: http://haikuguy.com/issa/search.php

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

halF cageD [naviarhaiku594]

I'm really taken with last week's Disquiet Junto track by audiosnafu and alanblip: https://soundcloud.com/audiosnafu/disquiet0698 and I was drawn to add a cheeky third part - hope I didn't ruin it!

Check out my wonderful collaborators:
https://soundcloud.com/audiosnafu
https://soundcloud.com/alanblip

More on the 698th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Second Third — The Assignment: Record the second third of a trio — at disquiet.com/0698/

halF shortdronE [disquiet0699] with audiosnafu and alanblip

Yesterday (24th May, 2025) was Drone Day ... https://droneday.org ... This calming little track is a little late, but in honour of the sound of the drone ... Enjoy! ❤️

halF droneD

A little journey inside ... enjoy! 🤗

See the accompanying visuals at https://youtu.be/gn13h7YLVCg ...

halF meaninG

You can't quite see it in the photo out the window, but there's a carpet of plum slate in my back garden ... Great sonic fodder for a little rhythmic experiment like this! It's a bit ASMR-y if you're into that sort of thing too ... Also, I guess because it's just rhythm, you might feel it's ripe for additional parts. It's downloadable (85 BPM) if that remix prospect takes your fancy 🤗❤️

SO great to be part of the 700th Disquiet Junto!! 😁🔥

More on the 700th weekly Disquiet Junto project, View Frame — The Assignment: Share a peek out your window and some sounds inspired by the view — at https://disquiet.com/0700/

halF vieW [disquiet0700]

spring dream…
not becoming unhinged
is what’s unbearable

Konishi Raizan was a famous haiku poet of the Genroku period (1688-1704). He was a disciple of Nishiyama Sōin, and after his death, his works were anthologized in Imamiyagusa, which was published in 1734. He wrote this poem after the death of his only son.

Haiku by Konishi Raizan: https://www.poemofquotes.com/famoushaiku/raizan.php
 
To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

halF unhingeD [naviarhaiku596]

I filled my gap with Alain Badiou ... for a change ... Excerpts from the brilliant European Graduate School video of Badiou lecturing in English on the Subject of Change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBxf_hncrN8

More on the 701st weekly Disquiet Junto project, Gap Ear — The Assignment: Break apart a piece of music and fill the resulting spaces — at https://disquiet.com/0701/

halF voiD [disquiet0701]

orchids by night –
within their fragrance looms
their blossoms’ white!
 

One of the four great haiku masters, Yosa Buson studied both Japanese and Chinese poetry. He was also an accomplished painter, and most of his poems were accompanied by paintings, resulting in a more diverse and individual set of works than the one by his main historical influence, Basho.

Haiku by Yosa Buson: https://www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/html/202207/202207_12_en.html
 
To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

halF orchiD [naviarhaiku597]

I 'misused' Microsoft Word to create this ... see the accompanying visuals at https://youtu.be/6dIBIYtLmE4 ... and hear the 'spinoff' track at https://soundcloud.com/half-unusual/half-akjhdjsdmnn ... I think you'll agree, it's the best use of the word akjhdjsd,mnn to date ... 😁😜 ... Oh, and lead vocals by the Word robot! 🤖

This project is the second of three that are being done by the Disquiet Junto in collaboration with the 2025 Musikfestival Bern, which will be held in Switzerland from September 3 through 7. The festival topic this year is « Kette » — which translates, as the organization explains, to “Chain”: “Chains connect but they also bind. They create relationships but also restrictions. As a gift they look nice, feared when used in vice, and yet they can span bridges across fire and ice.” All three Junto projects will engage with the work of Svetlana Maraš, who is the Composer-in-Residence for the 2025 festival.

We are working again at the invitation of Tobias Reber, an early Junto participant, who is in charge of the educational activities of the festival. This is the seventh year in a row that the Junto has collaborated with Musikfestival Bern.

More on the 702nd weekly Disquiet Junto project, Chain of Applications — The Assignment: Make music by misusing a piece of music software — at https://disquiet.com/0702/

halF wrotE [disquiet0702]

Errr ... lead vocals by the Word robot! 🎤🤖

So, this popped out of the process for yesterday's Disquiet Junto project ... I was originally going to use the Microsoft Word 'Read Aloud' function in that track, but got side-tracked in the key tapping noises and 'bips'! 🙊

You can hear the sister track at https://soundcloud.com/half-unusual/half-wrote-disquiet0702 ... and you'll also see where akjhdjds,mnn comes from ... underlined in red in the thumbnail because the wisdom of Word has designated it a spelling error ... 

Enjoy! 😁

halF akjhdjsd,mnN

after the typhoon
I walk around alone -
sunshine everywhere

Hosomi Ayako (1907–1997) was a prominent haiku poet from Aogaki, Hyogo. After a series of personal tragedies, including the deaths of her husband and mother, she found solace in haiku during an illness. She later married Sawaki Kinichi, leader of the modern haiku group Kaze, and was deeply involved in the haiku community until her passing at 90.

Haiku by Hosomi Ayako: https://wkdhaikutopics.blogspot.com/2007/03/hosomi-ayako.html
 
To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

halF alonE [naviarhaiku598]

My good friend https://soundcloud.com/delirium-funk gave me his Bastl Kastle to play with ... and this rainy, ricey ritual little number slowly emerged from that crazy little box! Enjoy! 😁😜

rain rituals -
if the gods are here now
to see the paddies

Takarai Kikaku was one of the most accomplished disciples of Matsuo Bashō, famous also for writing a manuscript describing his master’s final days, and the immediate aftermath of his death.

Haiku by Takarai Kikaku: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takarai_Kikaku

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

halF rituaL [naviarhaiku599]

More on the 704th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Right on Cumulus — The Assignment: Compose 8-bit music inspired by a Cory Arcangel / Super Mario video — at https://disquiet.com/0704/

halF 8biT [disquiet0704]

VERY exciting to be contributing to the 600th Naviar Haiku Challenge!! 🎉❤️

thinking of us
the sound of wind
among the pines

Andrea Cecon is a hearing aids technician, a traveler, and a haijin published all over the world. His first ebook won 3rd place in the Sharp Writ Book Awards contest in 2011 (category: poetry). Residing in Cividale, Italy, with his wife, Russian haijin Valeria Simonova-Cecon. He finds his inspiration in memories, travels, and everyday life…

Haiku by Andrea Cecon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Andrea-Cecon/author/B00955O0CA?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

more halF unususaL

halF uS [naviarhaiku600]

The first sentence of Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert M. Pirsig is, "I can see by my watch, without taking my hand from the left grip of the cycle, that it is eight-thirty in the morning."

More on the 705th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Book Start — The Assignment: Let the beginning of a book help you begin a new piece of music — at https://disquiet.com/0705/. This week’s project was proposed by Neil Stringfellow.

halF icanseebymywatcH [disquiet0705]

Welcome to a little deep (haiku) space TidalCycles livecoding play! 😁😜

pulling light
from the other world . . .
the Milky Way

Yatsuka Ishihara (1919–1998) was a Japanese poet and co-founder of the journal Aki 秋 with Akira Matsuzawa. He also served as an advisor to the Modern Haiku Association (Gendai Haiku Kyōkai) and the Association of Haiku Poets (Haijin Kyōkai).

Haiku by Yatsuka Ishihara: https://www.brooksbookshaiku.com/MillikinHaiku/writerprofiles/JonesOnIshihara.html
 
To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

halF milkY [naviarhaiku601]

Another little TC livecoding experiment ... this time with a few sounds from my bathroom ...

More on the 706th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Tile One On — The Assignment: Make the most of your bathroom — at https://disquiet.com/0706/.

halF tileD [disquiet0706]

yet another little livecoding experiment ... enjoy! 😁

scent of plum
in a flash of rising sun!
the mountain path

This week's challenge features a poem by the greatest master of haiku, Matsuo Bashō.

Haiku by Matsuo Bashō: https://www.thehaikufoundation.org/omeka/items/show/206
 
To find out more and participate, visit https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

halF pluM [naviarhaiku602]

See accompanying visuals @ https://youtu.be/H_Bwdd2KUMQ

Spoken word: Michael Finnissy - Music Matters, BBC Radio 3, 9th April 2016

Listen to the whole episode on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b0769hbg

halF fivefortysiX [featuring Michael Finnissy]

A deep listening mission to isolate and really appreciate the relief of the repeated phrase ...

halF hiddeN

Welcome to halF unusuaL, an evolving space inspired by play in the spirit of ‘hai’ (meaning “fun” or “unusual” in the word haiku). Here, improvisation connects the unexpected, mining the boundary between music and non-music to shape sound worlds that feel oddly familiar in their oddity. Listen freely, explore deeply, and for the sounds to live for your eyes as well as your ears, please stop by the YouTube channel. Thank you for joining this journey! Your support helps keep this afloat ... and is HUGELY appreciated 🥰

halF unusuaL

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