Symphony n. 1: Cupid & Psyche

by Höstsonaten

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impressivelad Something of a minor masterpiece, a genuinely successful fusion of prog rock with bombastic classical symphonies. Just a very tasty listen.

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6

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Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Symphony n. 1: Cupid & Psyche, Alive In Theatre - The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner, Summereve, Autumnsymphony, Springsong, and Winterthrough. , and , .

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1.	The Sacrifice 04:41	buy track
2.	Zephyr 03:46	buy track
3.	Love Scene 04:11	buy track
4.	Unmasking 06:03	buy track
5.	Venus (1st Trial) 04:03	buy track
6.	Entrapped (2nd Trial) 03:48	buy track
7.	Sheep and Water (3rd Trial) 03:16	buy track
8.	Underworld (4th Trial) 04:38	buy track
9.	The Awakening 02:53	buy track
10.	The Ascension 05:53	buy track

about

Höstsonaten is a name that should today be familiar to any prog-maniac, a creature with an ever-changing line-up, according to the needs of its founder Fabio Zuffanti who, for this “Symphony n. 1 – Cupid & Psyche”, collaborates with keyboardist Luca Scherani (La Coscienza di Zeno, La Curva di Lesmo), the primary responsible for arrangements and orchestrations.

The classical/symphonic element, always present in every Höstsonaten album, here is further emphasized and elaborated, and constantly mixed with the urgency of rock music, the elegance of jazz and the timeless folk charm. The sources of inspiration are clear: Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky for the classical component, the most symphonic Genesis and our beloved New Trolls, in their “Concerto Grosso” version.

Everything rests on a solid mythological and literary basis, as deduced from the work’s title: the album is entirely instrumental, but each of its ten songs is associated with a chapter of the “Cupid and Psyche” novel, a famous story written by Lucius Apuleius in his “Metamorphoses”, here especially revisited by writer Pee Gee Daniel.

A highly anticipated return four years after the previous studio record, and a further confirmation of today’s state of health of the Italian prog scene, as well as the unstoppable creativity of the duo Zuffanti & Scherani, the current Höstsonaten’s tutelary names.

Höstsonaten è oggi un nome che dovrebbe ormai esser noto a ciascun prog-maniac che si rispetti, una creatura variegata dalla line-up in costante mutamento in base alle esigenze del suo fondatore Fabio Zuffanti, che si avvale per questo “Symphony n. 1 – Cupid & Psyche” della collaborazione del tastierista Luca Scherani (La Coscienza di Zeno, La Curva di Lesmo), autore degli arrangiamenti e delle orchestrazioni.

La componente classico-sinfonica di Höstsonaten, da sempre presente in ogni album, è qui ulteriormente enfatizzata ed elaborata, nonché costantemente amalgamata con l’urgenza del rock, l’eleganza del jazz e il fascino senza tempo del folk. L’ispirazione è chiara: Stravinsky e Tchaikovsky per la componente classica, i Genesis più sinfonici e i nostri cari New Trolls di “Concerti Grosso”.

Il tutto poggia su solide basi mitologico-letterarie, come deducibile dal titolo dell’opera: l’album è interamente strumentale, ma a ciascuno dei dieci brani è associato un capitolo di “Amore e Psiche”, celebre racconto di Lucio Apuleio tratta da “Le Metamorfosi”, qui appositamente rivisitato dallo scrittore Pee Gee Daniel.

Un attesissimo ritorno, a quattro anni di distanza dalla precedente prova in studio, a ulteriore conferma dell’ottimo stato di salute della scena prog italiana odierna, nonché dell’inarrestabile creatività del duo Zuffanti & Scherani, attuali nomi tutelari di Höstsonaten.

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released April 8, 2016

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Höstsonaten Genoa, Italy

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