There’s no denying Ataraxia’s influence on the neo-classical / medieval / renaissance musical genres, as their music has been massively revered by both music fans and musicians since the band’s 1994 release Simphonia Sine Nomine, and over the years this admiration as well as their fanbase has swelled considerably with many citing the band as successors to Dead Can Dance’s majestic crown, which is surely an honour in anyone’s book.

To honour the breathtaking attributes and spinetingling charms of Ataraxia’s music, the Hong Kong-based label Ultramail Prod have produced a sumptuous multimedia feast in the form of the devilishly sublime Oil on Canvas set. Known for releasing art editions of musical releases in highly collectable limited editions, there were always high expectations on Ultramail Prod to see how they would deliver this collection of Ataraxia’s works. However, even on the very first glimpse at this beautifully executed and realised set, you can’t help but be highly impressed with the amount of work that has gone into its production, design and delivery.

Housed inside a matt black card slipcase is a lavishly printed 96-page full colour hardback book, a six-panel digipack CD and three full colour postcards. The book itself consists of photography by Raffaella Graziosi, Mick Mercer and Livio Bedeschi, with each collection of photos, although very different from one another, framing and complementing to varying degrees the atmosphere, haunting aesthetic and striking charm of Ataraxia’s music. The book also contains lyrics to accompany the songs on the CD as well as striking portraits of the group’s four members. As a standalone item in itself, the book is stunningly compiled and presented, and it’s all too easy to forget that its purpose is to complement Ataraxia’s music. Once you press play on the accompanying CD you realise that has been done almost perfectly, but more on that shortly.

The three accompanying postcards feature some striking sculptures that have been captured on film by Mick Mercer, which may be a name familiar with those of you who come from a more goth background, as he has released numerous books on the genre that refuses to give up the ghost. As with the photography in the book element of this package, the postcards once again echo the atmosphere and bittersweet ambience of the music itself, and are a lovely little addition to this release.

The final and unarguably most important piece of this release is of course the 14-track compilation CD of Ataraxia’s music. Again housed in a stunningly presented digipack, the CD is a visual feast. However, it’s not until the plucked strings opening notes of ‘Fengari’ ebb delicately from the speakers that you realise how the majestic alluring nature of this package pulls together around the timeless nature of Ataraxia’s music.

Collecting together 13 tracks from the band’s extensive back catalogue, Oil On Canvas documents the band’s development in sound, clarity and depth with an allure that can’t help but prick the senses whilst the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention. The music is vibrant, emotional and brimming with captivating bittersweet warmth. With an evocatively presented charm and subtle passion, the band is able to produce an array of music that is nothing short of a deeply rooted ethereal joy to behold. And throughout the progression of this collection of tracks this is demonstrated time and time again, which shows not only the tremendous musicianship of Ataraxia themselves, but also the label’s skill in compiling this album to demonstrate the beauty and delicateness of their music.

Drawing a close to the album is the exclusive track ‘Rashan’, recorded in 2008, which demonstrates the evocatively moving atmosphere that Ataraxia produce via their multi-faceted ethereal / Eastern / heavenly sound and approach. The track is almost impossible to pigeonhole as one specific genre or another, which is a definite credit to the band themselves.

Oil On Canvas is a collection that works brilliantly in  two ways; it offers a stunning introduction to the music of Ataraxia to newcomers to the band’s material, and yet for those who are already awestruck by their work, it offers up a wonderfully unique presentation of this which is a sheer joy to behold.

The album is available in two limited editions, the first being the one reviewed above, which is limited to 800 copies, and the second a much rarer edition of 200 copies only, which is signed by the band and features additional postcards and a poster. Both are likely to disappear before too long, so if you have any interest in Ataraxia’s beautifully moving works, then you need to get hold of a copy of this before it disappears forever.

www.ataraxia.net

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