In March the new Ataraxia album “Saphir” will be released on Cruel Moon/Cold Meat.
“An album inspired by the magical, symbolic and mystic nature of gardens – as the hanging gardens of Babylon, the Arabian gardens, The medieval hortus conclusum, the zen garden and the English romantic gardens. Gardens have been often represented as an universal door to cross this dimension to enter the one of myth and dream.
The harmony governing the elements composing a garden is the same governing the elements composing music and all of this creates beauty, the aesthetic taste for life. In “Saphir”, nature and art are mixed together to contrast an environment and life-style mainly based on what is functional and productive; we focus our attention on the most precious gift the human being should never be obliged to renounce to, i.e. the freedom to dream.
The music is rich and nuanced; classic and flamenco guitars, romantic pianos, pads of atmospheric keyboards, noble sonatas, choirs and somptuous back vocals, Francesca’s vocal broderies and a great use of eastern and classic percussions from darbouka, to bendhir, frame-drums, timpani, udu, cymbals and bells
The album will feature 10 new songs and the presence of Ataraxia’s welcome and talented percussionistRiccardo Spaggiari. The booklet will contain numberous exclusive photos, all the lyrics and some interesting writings about Gardens.”