It’s magic. Again. But that is their speciality, so it’s hardly unexpected, although an EP is a trifle out of the ordinary.

Three curious encounters with their distinctive style finds you first patiently observing a gentle trickle of typically autumnal acoustic, as the simple lines start to overlay, and the background swelling of the keyboards build up the depth over which the lyrics in English are draped in a somewhat stark, pained manner.

The mystery I normally get from their work, with lyrics in French or Italian, is still preserved, because I can’t follow what they’re on about. Something to do with the sea.

‘Veules Les Roses’ is more of the same but the twin cortex of the two voices; one light, one dark, but neither soft, shows you the only thing you need to know. They have that special edge, because the vocals have edge, when they should seem simply polite.

‘Hovering’ sees the synth rise to prominence, evoking a settle spirit to this, with surging waves included. They’re almost the masters of Ethereal here, but with rays of divine sunlight instead of wispy mist. Their equally fabulous soaring high-pitched vocal style emerge, to lift you skyward, at which point the piece becomes weirder, surging itself, dreamlike and smoky.

Miss it and you’re an arse.

ETRETAT
VEULES LES ROSES
HOVERING

www.ataraxia.net
www.arkadyss.cjb.net

More beauty, with less of the grand constructs of some of their earlier works, because as they get ever better at weaving rich concoctions from the simplest of ingredients, the mystery is intensified when it appears to be in such a conventional setting. Although the synth can provide certain teasing sounds, we’re mainly talking about vocals and acoustic guitars, with the old bodhran filling in the percussive density. Yet out of these basic elements they make the most extraordinary moods come alive, far more arresting and enveloping than your typical Ethereal, Ambient or Industrial bands with a full arsenal at their disposal. It’s crazy!

There’s only two traditional pieces of music updated here, the rest being modern, but all very quiet and enigmatic.

What is most noticeable here is the richly warm, aromatic acoustics. Yesterday I pointed out how the vocals can seem to dance around the guitar, but on this album it’s like they’re serenading it, and swimming around it. In ‘Aliscon’ the simple sounds even drops down to a sparser feel where they sing about things with a sense of absolute wonder in the voice, and when they coast into the traditional ‘Jarem Gitti’ which doesn’t put over a stereotypical Eastern promise, the tiny ululations scamper through like naughty shrill ghosts.

It’s Vittorio Vandelli’s acoustic on ‘Sendero En Lago Verde’ which is the stunning musical star here, being chunkier, steadier, and more beautiful than ever! just as he uncoils elegantly throughout ‘Eaudelamer’, and there’s another thing. How come they do this so much better than others? Think what a boring thing acoustic and vocals can be and dredge up whatever hoary old Hippy Goth memories you may have. Ataraxia are nothing like that. They make it all seem intoxicating. I remain mystified.

On the final two tracks they have more modern moves, but still keep it under control. Where previously they’ve shown some wilder racketeering, here they are warm and cosy, with a hint of the sour and sinister. The final track actually starts as a medieval thing, with severe cooing and chirping, but then a gap appears, whereupon it seeps back in with synth and percussion stirring up the mix and guiding us out on the same tone but in a wholly different way, which is a clever idea.

More hugely captivating material. You have to love them. 

ALISCON
JAREM GITTI
EAUDELAMER
SENDERO EN LAGO VERDE
A L’AUBE
MUNDUS EST JOCUNDUM

www.ataraxia.net
 

08/24/03