"Banned in Sparta" meets "The Odyssey"

#ForFansOf The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan and Matt Damon’s epic triumph The Odyssey resurrects the ancient world that turbocharged Western civilization — democracy, theater, philosophy, architecture, art.

If that era had a soundtrack, it would sound uncannily like Robin Batteau’s magical, mystical Banned in Sparta: eleven songs mosaic‑ed from the shards of pottery and scraps of parchment left behind by Greece’s great lyric poets. These were the original singer‑songwriters — Archilochus, Sappho, Alcaeus — performing with lyres the way Dylan or Taylor Swift perform with guitars today.

Bat­teau built these songs like a paleontologist assembling a T. Rex, filling gaps in the ancient fragments with “musical bones” of his own devising. And to bring them fully to life, he chose voices from our own Golden Age of singer‑songwriting: Eric Andersen, Carolyn Hester (who hosted Dylan’s first recorded appearance), Livingston Taylor, Kate Taylor, Tom Paxton, rocker Robin Lane, plus Tony‑winning actor James Naughton and his children Greg and Keira, Batteau himself, and newcomer Matt Nakoa. 

• Bonnie Raitt: dubbed him “The Love God”

Press Highlights on "Banned in Sparta"

• Goldmine: “Contemporary sounding… readily accessible, any scholarly insinuation aside.”
• House of Prog: “So enjoyable and a whole load of fun… well worth investigating.”
• Classic Rock History: “A lifetime of weaving together tradition and invention.”
• Let It Rock: “Robin’s comeback… was totally worth it.”

  

 Cross (of Gold)  Eric Andersen Breathy, resonant male vocal with bright guitar. A deep, introspective piece in which he asks himself,  "I still adore her? Is love like this a torture. Why is this crucifixion on a cross of gold?" “I love you / hate you / love you.”

Archilochus Re‑Deemed James Naughton  Bold male vocals over soft‑rock instrumentation. A soldier’s declaration of loyalty to the god of war — poetic, grounded, and free of self‑pity. The song states they want caring people in the trenches with them, not belligerent warm mongers, making it ideal for scenes about courage, grit, or moral conflict.  “I am a servant of the Lord God of War.”

In Her Loving Arms Carolyn Hester  Mid‑tempo contemporary folk with Carolyn Hester’s iconic, airy vocal dancing around Batteau’s strings. A portrait of a dangerous, irresistible woman — the kind men return to again and again. The song’s intimate feeling makes it perfect for scenes balancing warmth with risk.“In her loving arms, love the thunder and danger.”

Thracian Filly Tom Paxton Uptempo, Appalachian‑tinctured folk with Tom Paxton’s unmistakable voice. A playful comparison between a woman and a spirited horse, full of movement and charm. Fun and timeless appeal. A lively, percussive refrain celebrating her dance. Namedropping Olympus, Dionysus, and Dorian. His imagination on what he’d love to experience with the “Thracian Filly.”  Shake your hair, shake your hair, shake your hair, you Thracian Filly

 The Most Beautiful Thing in the World  Keira Naughton Soft female vocal with acoustic guitar. A meditation on beauty and what we leave behind. “Is the most beautiful thing in the world only the thing you leave behind?”