Album Name: Odos Eis Ouranon-La Via Verso el Cielo
Artist: Ataraxia and Autunna et sa Rose
Year/Label: 2005 / Independent
[Buy at Equilibrium Music]
Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell
Two Italian bands join forces for a pretty special limited edition two-cd set. Ataraxia have recorded several albums and gained some loyal fans over the years. Their mix of ethereal sounds and neo-classical music is uniquely expressed on their disc.
Francesca Nicoli’s vocals are special as is the band arrangements. Vittorio Vandelli plays his guitar like a virtuoso throughout. The singing is in English, French and Italian giving the songs a universal appeal. These performances are acoustic, making it an intimate record.
The dramatic textures of “Bonthrop” give Nicoli’s diva-ish vocals a deep resonance.
“Tu es la Force du Silence” sees her stretching her elastic vocal chords to become Diamanda Galas mixed with Edith Piaf. Vandelli’s in fine form on the guitar as well.
“Seas of the Moon” is beautifully weird, with a spoken word bit adding to the quality of the song.
Autunna et sa Rose sees that group interpret its songs with voice, piano and cello. Soprano Sonia Visentin proves an apt voice for these special songs. This was my introduction to the band so it’s made me want to hear the rest of their work.
Here it seems they are quite a find. “Caresses aux Coeurs” sees Simone Monatari’s cello taking centre stage while Visentin adds a gorgeous vocal.
“Gentiane Percluse” is calmly evocative with the piano line like drops of falling rain.
“Slow Rain” is stern and lovely.
This cd is a bit of a rarity and I highly recommend it to adventurous souls.
Posted on August 11, 2005
Track Listing
Ataraxia tracks
1. Strange Lights
2. Shelmerdine
3. Bonthrop
4. Tu es la Force du Silence
5. Ophelie
6. Faust in una Sala Maledetta
7. Seas of the Moon
8. Les Tisseuses Lunaries
9. Velues Les roses
10. Fuga Trionfale
11. Oduarpa
12. Medusa
Autunna et sa Rose tracks
1. L’art et la mort
2. Caresses aux Coeurs
3. Gentiane Percluse
4. La Morte de Virgina
5. Slow Rain
6. Rose Jaune de Novembre
7. Vergänglichkeit
8. Landshaft der Vergangenheit
9. Canzona
10. Egypt
11. Temps Fume