Italian neoclassical darkwave band Ataraxi‘s Pomegranate – The Chant Of The Elementals is their 28th studio album, out now via The Circle Music. Alongside, a plethora of new singles and videos also released now comes a documentary, outlining how the album was made.
Ataraxia commented: “The Genius Loci is a natural and spiritual entity living and protecting a peculiar place. Our soundscapes are protected by the Spirits of the places inspiring our music. Watching the video, you will be able to listen to several album excerpts and float in the energy of the untamed areas inspiring them.”
You can check out the video documentary right here at RAMzine.
Pomegranate – The Chant Of The Elementals is said to take the listener on a unique musical journey, in a mystical walk through space-time between the past, the present and the future.
“The new Ataraxia album is a poetic race through the essence of the elements constantly inspired by the elemental spirits of nature to reach the athanor and embody the conjunction oppositorum or alchemical marriage,’ claim the band. “The white fire of heaven has brought us to fusion with Hlara Aralh, bearer of the courage of the heart.
“The unfolding of the notes infuses us with a comprehensive and pervading sense of freedom and lightness. The tongues of crystal flame that purify without burning envelop us and lead us to the purest, most instinctive and vivifying feeling. A question resounds ‘Do you still dream your dream?’ while the salamanders, live embers, lead us in the presence of Helios, the Sun, and we are asked: ‘Do you still feel the source?’
Commenting on previous single ‘Aura Magi’ Ataraxi said: “‘Aura Magi’ allows us to access the last phase of the new album journey that’s Rubedo. We are in the higher mental field. In this space, the ether paints sidereal distances, gives us the power of vision, the ability to communicate with the divine forces of the inter-worlds. It is an initiatory passage of renewal and balance, a mystical caress.
“We contemplate both earthly and cosmic mysteries as we are subtle fire wrapped in mortal flesh. This sonic journey catapults us back into the matter of the origins as renewed creatures. The new Ataraxi album is a poetic race through the essence of the elements constantly inspired by the elemental spirits of nature as the ‘Aura Magi’ video shows.”
You can check out the video here at RAMzine.
Established back in 1990, Ataraxia is an Italian ensemble of artists who explore and create music, poetry and visual art and who dedicated their lives to the “act of creation”. The band’s discography consists of 28 studio albums, including Il fantasma dell’Opera (Avantgarde, 1996), Historiae (Cold Meat Industry, 1998), Lost Atlantis (Cold Meat Industry, 1999), Synchronicity Embraced (Sleaszy Rider Records, 2018) and Quasar (AnnapurnA Production, 2020).
The new album features Francesca Nicoli – vocals, Giovanni Pagliari – keyboards, piano, backing vocals, guest musician Totem Bara on cello and timpani, plus Vittorio Vandelli – classical and electric guitars, programming and backing vocals, who also recorded, mixed and mastered it between November 2021 and May 2022.
Pomegranate – The Chant Of The Elementals features the tracks ‘Hlara Aralh’, ‘Oruphal’, ‘Ozoonhas’, ‘Nevenhir’, ‘Ode ad Afrodite’, ‘Ode a Dioniso’, ‘Aura Magi, ‘Hummingbirds’ and the bonus track ‘Amethyst’ that will appear on A5 & jewel case versions only.
The record is available in a total of five different formats and is now available via The Circle Music.
Previously released were the singles ‘Nevenhir’ and ‘Hlara Aralh’ – You can also check out the video for thosehere at RAMzine.
“This song shifts between spirit and matter enveloped by the liquid currents of Nevenhir, elemental spirit of water,” said Ataraxi regarding ‘Nevenhir. “In the music video, this subtle spirit is embodied by two twins, Neve and Nhir. They appear and disappear embroidering dreams. The new Ataraxi album is a poetic race through the essence of the elements constantly inspired by the elemental Spirits of nature.”
“The alchemical journey of the hero, the journey of all of us, goes on and enters the earth element represented by the depths of the forest and the cosmic dance of the deer.”
About the story behind ‘Hlara Aralh‘, Ataraxia commented: “The white fire of heavens has brought us to fusion with Hlara Aralh, bearer of the courage of the heart. The unfolding of the notes infuses us with a comprehensive and pervading sense of freedom and lightness. The tongues of crystal flame that purify without burning envelop us and lead us to the purest, most instinctive and vivifying feeling. A question resounds “Do you still dream your dream?” “Do you still feel the source?” Grace and Beauty welcome us in a triumph of flowery meadows, perfumes, colours, sensual whispers and enchanting arias.
“The video was shot on our Apennines in Italy where the genius loci that inspired the new album lives. Fire, Air, Water and Earth lead us hand in hand till we receive an initiation into the Quintessence. The new Ataraxia album is a poetic race through the essence of the elements constantly inspired by the elemental spirits of nature.”
You can also catch a prevew video of music on the album here at RAMzine.
