Camerata Mediolanense
Atalanta Fugiens (2cd+book)
Camerata Mediolanense are one of these extremely rare musical gems that are hard to categorise. The Italians defy all expectations and transcend the usual conventions about formats, style, and how to generally compose and perform music. With the sixth studio album 'Atalanta Fugiens,' Camerata Mediolanense return to what might be dubbed their 'classic style,' which means a strong set of percussion from the rhythm section with light touches of the keyboards achieving a perfect balance with the soaring melodies performed by all vocalists consisting of the wonderful sopranos Carmen, Chiara, and Desirée in the lead as well as harmonious choirs. The Italian ensemble's often rather martial rhythms are accompanied by high-impact melodies built on ancient scales. Two harpsichords, bass viola, and the recurring presence of disturbing sounds, the unconventional manipulation of reverb and delay as well as the use of noise, all aim to create a sound that touches both the heavenly and the infernal. It goes without saying that such carefully crafted music with a strong vocal focus is perfectly reflected in fascinating and well-researched lyrics. Limited deluxe edition, coming as hardcover book (18x18 cm, 48 pages), with lyrics and a bonus CD with 4 exclusive, additional tracks.