ATARAXIA – Des Paroles Blanches
ATARAXIA - Mon Seul Desir
ATARAXIA – A Calliope...Collection
ATARAXIA - Suenos
ATARAXIA - Os Cavaleiros Do Templo
ATARAXIA - Orlando

ATARAXIA – Des Paroles Blanches (MCD 2003)

(Arkadyss Creations www.arkadyss.cjb.net )

Well, it is some time ago, since the last release of Italy´s finest ATARAXIA, but actually, „Des Paroles Blanches“ ist a beautiful new release on the the young Arkadyss label from France. The new stuff comes out as 3-track MCD in a nice DigiPak and later this year as 10“ vinyl release. Both editions are limited, so all lovers of ATARAXIA´s music should hurry up to get a copy soon.

As always, the music is nothing else than wonderful with a lot of influences from various musical styles since the middle ages and the voice of singer Francesca Nicoli is still uncomparable. I follow the career of ATARAXIA since their early Demo tapes and never could say anything bad about the releases, as they are definetly always of high quality.

„Des Paroles Blanches“ seems to be a bit more melancholic than former releases and deals conceptually with the wide and open sea and lonely beaches. The combination of acoustic Guitar sounds, Flutes and Clarinet and flowing Synthesizer sounds is irresistible and over all, there is always the many-sided voice of Francesca. Sometimes it reminds me a bit on This Mortal Coil meeting Richenel, so „Des Paroles Blanches“ will satisfy fans of the mid 80s 4 AD sound a lot, even, if it isn´t a copy of it, of course.

ATARAXIA are still an outstanding band and one of my all time favourites and this release is a perfect start for a new label. I hope, Arkadyss will release such high quality stuff in the future, too!

„How many seas died to soothe your pain, making your skin white salt and aquamarines your eyes. I know what it means to fall asleep in an ocean of tears. And I hope no more sea will ever die.“ (A.P.)

ATARAXIA – Mon Seul Desir (CD 2002)

(Cruel Moon/Efa)

This latest release of Italy´s ATARAXIA is a bit different to former releases, but of course it is still a wonderful album. The difference is, that this seems to be not a conceptual work, which presents a special topic or musical aera. It sounds like every song stands for itself and so we get to hear various musical styles, from medieval sounds and oriental influences to melancholic ballads and much more. The whole music this time is very many sided. My favourite track is the wonderful „A L´Aube“, but all other songs are fantastic, too. Finally there is a hidden track at the end of the album and the CD has a nicely designed booklet. So, „Mon Seul Desir“ will satisfy all ATARAXIA fans definetly. What else to say...? (A.P.)

ATARAXIA – A Calliope...Collection (CD 2002)

(4th Dimension/Efa)

Is there anybody out there, who does not know the Italian band ATARAXIA yet? Well, I can´t believe it, but if yes, this wonderfully designed compilation is the perfect beginning for those people, ´cos it features 16 tracks from mostly all the releases in the past decade. This is a perfect view on the work of this outstanding band, which uses millions of influences from many countries and centuries, but also has developed a very own style, which is uncomparable to any other band. ATARAXIA sound very original. I know all their releases from the very first tapes on and I was never disappointed about them. Even if I do not buy many actual releases, there was always the „hunger“ for new material of ATARAXIA.

The CD comes in a nicely packaging with a mini poster and a full colour 32 page booklet. Beside Kirlian Camera, ATARAXIA are my all time favourite band from Italy and I really hope to see them live some day.

If you do not own all their albums yet, „A Calliope...Collection“ is a „must have“ for every collection. A bit of Neo Folk, a bit of medieval sound, some Gothic influences and the wonderful voice of Francesca Nicoli make this band something special, so get your copy of this limited release soon or you will regret some day. (A.P.)

ATARAXIA – Suenos (CD 2001)

(Cruel Moon/Efa)

What can I say to this latest album of Italia´s finest ATARAXIA? With each album through the last round about ten years, this band  carried me off into wonderful worlds of beautiness and dreams. So they do with “Suenos”, which again comes in a nice package without any plastic. The music is still influenced by many medieval elements, from driving dances to ecclesiastical chorals, from baroque sounding songs to rhythmic oriental tracks. Over all, there is the uncomparable voice of singer Francesca Nicoli, which stole my heart from the very first time I ever listened to ATARAXIA many years ago.

The album ist build of three parts. The first part “Ego Promitto Domino” contains four traditional medieval Songs, the second part “L´ame D´eau” is dedicated to “Water, Nostalgia and Silence” and contains a french inspired waltz beside 3 more tracks. The third and final part “Sandy Dunes” offers four tracks of “the Orient and the Mediterranian: Solemn airs, Marches and Flamenco”. The stylistic range is widely spread, much more than on former ATARAXIA albums, which have been often very conceptual works. I don´t have to tell anyone, that the sound and the musical quality are perfect, and I wonder, why the band did not receive much respect outside the Gothic-scene yet (in Germany), like, for example, Dead Can Dance did. Anyway, so I can think, that ATARAXIA compose their music exclusively to me, which is a wonderful idea. If you do not know ATARAXIA by now, your are a) totally new in listening to fine music or b) you like only bands like Backstreet Boys or HIM. So now, it´s your turn to get all the brilliant releases together at once!!! Maybe it is a good idea to start with “Suenos”... (A.P.)
ATARAXIA - Os Cavaleiros Do Templo (CD + Video)

(Symbiose, P.O.Box 347, 2825 Monte Caparica, Portugal)

This is nothing else than an absolutely masterpiece, a release, that tops nearly everything I received in the last years. I don´t think, I have to tell you, that ATARAXIA are one of my favourite bands of the 90s and I love any of their releases, from the very first Tape to the latest CDs, but this Live-Release is so wonderful, that I want to cry the whole day and night.

The CD and Video come in a really nice box with insert and contain a concert from January 1998 in Portugal. The music is the same on CD and Video, but what is really great is the Video of course. A really professional work with footage from the Gig, mixed with some impressions of a Performance. I´ve never had the chance to see ATARAXIA live, but this Video presents a little bit of the magic, that must be at a Concert of these genious people from Italy. I cannot repeat it it enough, this release is a must for every collector of brilliant music, not only for fans of medieval-influenced sounds. By the way: singer Francesca Nicoli doesn´t have only a fantastic voice, but also is an absolutely beautiful woman. Buy or die! (A.P.)

ATARAXIA - Orlando (MCD)

(Prikosnovenie, 5 Rue Desire Colombe, 44100 Nantes, France)

After a period of silence, Italy´s finest band releases three new CDs in a short time. Beside the swedish release of "Historiae" and the magnificent Live-Video/CD Box, here is a Mini-CD featuring 5 tracks, based on Virginia Woolf´s "Orlando". This time, all the stuff is more classical inspired and experimental, than medieval, but woderful as we know it from ATARAXIA. Francesca Nicoli shows another time, how many-sided her voice is, on this release more like an additional instrument, than a singer´s voice. Maybe this short work shows the direction, into which ATARAXIA´s music could go on in the future. Really serious and possibly more interesting for real fans, than for a large audience. (A.P.)