HÖSTSONATEN

HOSTSONATEN is another side project of Fabio Zuffanti. The music here is mellow and folk tinged with plenty of flute from the lovely Francesca Biagini, as well as lots of acoustic guitar and mellotron. I really like the picture of Fabio on the back cover smiling contently because that's exactly how I feel when listening to this music. HOSTSONATEN has just released their fourth album (2008), and each album represents one of the seasons. This is their debut and it has an autumn theme. As far as seasons go I rank fall as my third favourite. I do like the cooler weather after a long hot summer, but being from Canada you know the snow and ice isn't far behind. The leaves change colours and the birds start to migrate south, the air seems fresher. For me it means hockey is starting up, the baseball playoffs are at hand, and the NFL is well on the way. I completely agree with ZowieZiggy that the title track is to die for. It's 42 minutes long and is pure joy from beginning to end. I'll talk about the other three tracks first.

The album opens with a short cover of a MUGEN song called "Sinfonia Della Luna Part 1". MUGEN is a Japanese prog band by the way. This song features gentle flute throughout. "Remember You" is a 7 minute track that opens with acoustic guitar and reserved vocals. Drums, piano and flute help out after a minute. Excellent electric guitar solo before 5 minutes that goes on and on. Recorder follows. "The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner Part 1" is my second favourite song on here. Acoustic guitar, vocals, flute, drums and mellotron all stand out. We get some brief heaviness after 3 1/2 minutes. Some nice flute, acoustic guitar and piano 5 minutes in. Spoken words before 6 minutes as we start to get some atmosphere. Organ after 8 minutes followed by mellotron. Nice. More atmosphere 10 minutes in with mellotron. Just a great song.

"Hostsonaten (A Collection Of Autumnal Dances)" is the centerpiece at 42 minutes in length. It's divided into seven sections with vocals on three of them. Piano, acoustic guitar, flute and mellotron lead the way until vocals arrive 6 minutes in. This is so beautiful. The vocal melodies with acoustic guitar and mellotron after 7 minutes is heavenly. 9 minutes in some prominant electric guitar comes in tastefully. Drums and guitar get more aggressive a minute later. This contrasts so well with the fragile vocals and acoustic guitar that follow. Nice. Electric guitar is back 13 minutes in with piano and drums. Check out the soaring guitar with mellotron and drums 15 1/2 minutes in. The flute that follows reminds me of SINKADUS as vocals come back. No words for this gorgeous passage. Here we go again with the beautiful electric guitar solo as drums and waves of mellotron can be heard. This is so uplifting. The guitar stops before 19 1/2 minutes as we get a calm with piano. The tempo picks up with drums 21 minutes in including some sax a minute later then flute and guitar. A flood of mellotron 24 1/2 minutes in. Vocals are back 26 minutes in. The mellotron after 29 minutes is fantastic. The heaviness 32 minutes in with ripping guitar is incredible ! I absolutely love this part. Mellotron follows when it calms down some. Lots of piano after 34 minutes. The electric guitar is prominant again 35 1/2 minutes in. A minute later it sounds like the beginning of the song as flute and acoustic guitar gently play. It starts to build with some heaviness 38 minutes in. Electric guitar is back with mellotron. Nice. This continues to the end.

A must have for fans of beautiful Italian music. A solid 4 stars.